Online Basketball Drills

Basketball Drills, Plays and Coaching Tips

Reverse Pivot, Faceup & Shoot

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Purpose

This is a great post move that focuses on pivoting with purpose and using (or not using) the glass.

How it Works

Reverse Pivot Faceup and Shoot Basketball Footwork Drill

  1. Start from the left block, in a low, athletic stance.
  2. Keeping your right foot planted, reverse pivot with your left, pivoting across the defenders face.
  3. Take the jump shot.
  4. Grab the rebound and repeat.
  5. Make 5 from each side.

Coaching Tips

  • Adjust the angle, starting lower and higher on the block so that you get a chance to both use and not use the glass.
  • Pivot with purpose!  A hard reverse pivot will force the defender to back off and respect the drive, freeing you up for the jumpshot.

One Hand Speed/Power Dribble Drill

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Purpose

Basketball is a game of length.  This drill works on lengthening the dribble.

Drill Setup

  • Drill starts on one sideline, goes to the other sideline and back.  There are three rounds to the drill.

How it Works

  1. Round 1: one hand speed dribble.  Push the ball out in front of you and go from sideline to sideline as fast as possible.
  2. Round 2: one hand power dribble.  Keep the ball closer to your body, really pounding the ball into the ground, keep arm bar up to protect the ball.
  3. Round 3: one hand speed and power dribble.  Start out with speed dribble, switch to power dribble at midcourt, then back to speed dribble then back to power dribble at sideline.  Do the same, speed dribble, then power dribble, then speed dribble, then power dribble coming back.
  4. Switch hands and repeat.

Coaching Tips

  • Work to get your opportunities with 1 dribble.
  • You don’t beat defenses with your dribble.  You beat people with your feet; you SEPARATE from your defense with the dribble.
  • Adjust the difficulty by using your strong hand to get used to the drill, then practice with your weak hand.
  • Challenge yourself to perform the drill at optimum speed without sacrificing fundamentals.

Jab and Go

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Purpose

This is a great intermediate triple threat drill that focuses on selling the jab step.

Drill Setup

  • Start on the right wing in a triple threat position.

How it Works

  1. Jab step with your left foot.
  2. Take a cross over step with your left foot and push the ball out with your right hand with a hard dribble.
  3. Finish strong with a right-handed layup.
  4. Grab the rebound and repeat.

Coaching Tips

  • Try to visualize a defender and sell the jab step to him.
  • Explode with the first step, staying low and compact.

Rear Turn Drill

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Purpose

Players learn the footwork to perform a rear turn (reverse pivot)

Drill Setup

  • Players form two lines – one on each side of the lane.

How it Works

  1. Coach says, “Ready.”
  2. Players get into Triple Threat Position.
  3. Coach says, “Go.”
  4. Players execute a crossover drive and run to the free throw line.
  5. At free throw line, the player executes two rear turns in succession.
  6. Player then runs to halfcourt.
  7. When all players reach halfcourt, players turn and run the drill back to the baseline.

Coaching Tips

  • A front turn leads with the toes, while a rear turn leads with the heel
  • Player should stay low and level on the turn. He shouldn’t raise up.
  • Player should lift heel on pivot foot and rotate on the balls of his feet.
  • Throw a quick, tight elbow back with opposite hand to generate momentum for the turn.

Step and Slide Drill

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Purpose

Players learn defensive footwork fundamentals.

Drill Setup

  • Set up two lines on the baseline.
  • The first player in each line stands on the block in a defensive stance, facing the baseline
Start in a defensive stance facing the baseline

 

How it Works

Step and Slide to the sideline for 3-4 steps
  1. Coach says, “Go.”
  2. Players step and slide, zigzagging from the baseline to halfcourt. Step with front foot and slide the back foot.
  3. When first group reaches the free throw line, the next group goes.
  4. When all players reach halfcourt, players turn and step and slide back to the baseline.
  5. Next, run the drill with partners. One will be on offense. He will start in Triple Threat Position and then dribble an imaginary ball. The other will be on defense and will guard the offensive player using the step and slide technique.
  6. The players will zigzag to halfcourt. Once all players reach halfcourt, they will switch positions and zigzag back to the baseline.
  7. In the third version of this drill, the offensive player is given a basketball and he dribbles while being guarded to halfcourt.
Change direction and slide back to the middle. Repeat in a Zig-Zag pattern

Coaching Tips

  • Stress “step and slide, low and wide.” Players should be pointing the outside step foot toward the direction they are going.
  • Make sure players don’t cross their feet or “bunny hop.”
  • Players heads should be level.
  • When doing the partner version of the drill stress to the defender “ball, you, basket.” Defender must always stay between the ball and the basket.