iPhone app

A basketball app for kids: what parents should know

If your child wants to get better at basketball and you are thinking about an app, you probably have questions about privacy, screen time, cost and whether it actually helps. This guide answers them for Handles AI, a ball-handling trainer for iPhone.

Is it safe? Privacy and accounts

This is usually the first question, so here is the short answer:

• No account. Your child does not create a login, enter an email or build a profile to train.
• No video is recorded or uploaded. The camera is used live to see the ball and your child’s body. Tracking runs on the iPhone itself. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

The camera is the coach’s eyes, not a recorder. It sees each dribble, decides whether it counted, and moves on.

Is it active time or screen time?

Your child is not staring at the phone. The phone leans against a wall about 8 feet away while Coach Ace calls moves out loud. Your child listens, dribbles and glances at the screen between drills. It is closer to having a coach yell out moves than to playing a game.

Sessions can be short. A few minutes a day of focused dribbling is a solid habit for a young player, and that leaves plenty of time for shooting, playing with friends and doing other sports.

How much space you need

• About 8 feet between the phone and your child, so the whole body and the ball are in frame.
• A flat surface that a basketball bounces well on: garage floor, driveway, patio, basement or a gym.
• Enough light for the camera to see the ball. Outdoors in daylight is great; a dim room is harder.
• Room around them so a loose ball will not hit a TV, window or a younger sibling.

No hoop is needed. If you are training inside, a smaller or softer ball can keep the noise down; see how to dribble quietly.

How to set it up

1. Download Handles AI: Basketball Trainer on the iPhone.
2. Choose a level when you start. Pick the lowest level for a young or new player. You can also set position, dominant hand, goals and training days so the plan fits.
3. Lean the phone upright against a wall, shoe or bag at about waist height, with the camera facing the open space.
4. Have your child step back until their whole body and the ball show on screen.
5. Start the free 20-second tryout and watch the first session with them.
6. Turn on training-day reminders if you want a nudge on the days they planned to practice.

What to expect at different ages

Every child is different, so treat these as rough guides, not rules.

Younger kids, roughly 6 to 8

The ball may feel big and heavy. Expect pound dribbles and simple crossovers, lots of Next rep grades and short attention spans. That is normal. A youth-size ball helps. Keep sessions very short and fun, and celebrate effort over scores. Our ball-handling drills for kids has simple games for this age.

Kids roughly 9 to 12

This is a great age for dribbling. Most kids can learn crossovers, between the legs and weak-hand work, and they enjoy streaks, XP and seeing a score climb. The kids ball-handling workout pairs well with the app.

Middle school and up

Players can use the full plan: reaction drills, game moves and combos, and taking the Skill Assessment to track their Ball Handler Score. See ball-handling drills for middle school.

At any age, steady progress over weeks is the goal. A child who dribbles a few minutes most days will usually improve more than one who does a long session once in a while.

How Handles AI helps kids practice

Beginners start with pound dribbles and simple crossovers. Coach Ace calls moves out loud and grades every rep as Clean, Nice work, or Next rep, so your child knows right away whether a rep counted. A dribble only counts when the ball actually hits the floor and comes back, which teaches real control. Streaks, daily challenges and achievements give kids a reason to come back tomorrow.

Cost, and how to manage or cancel the subscription

The first session is a free 20-second tryout. After that, Pro is $0.99 for the first week, then $6.99 a week, or $39.99 a year. Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled.

To cancel on the iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap Subscriptions.
4. Tap Handles AI.
5. Tap Cancel.

Do this at least 24 hours before the renewal date to avoid being charged for the next period. If your child uses a phone in your Family Sharing group, Ask to Buy in Apple’s Screen Time settings lets you approve purchases before they go through. Questions? Visit our support page.

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