Good drill but I still question the wisdom of letting the player travel every time he touches the ball. This is the same guy who was traveling everytime in another shooting drill. I doubt you can even get away with this stuff in the NBA let alone high school or college.

Hi John,

I think you are focusing on the wrong things. In these drills, I believe Don is trying to get him to focus on covering more distance with his footwork to separate from the defender rather than taking baby steps which would NOT create any separation for an open shot.

If you broke down the film of every single move in a game, I bet there would be technically 50 to 60 travels NOT called for a violation, if not more. It's all up to the interpretation of the referee.

I'd have to ask Don, but I also believe this player plays PRO ball, so I think he's doing alright. Don has also coached college ball for over 25 years and works with professional players, so I trust his judgment.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that Don is the coach working with the players in the videos.

This player was 1st team all ACC, an NBA draft pick who spent parts of 2 seasons in the NBA and is now one of the leading scorers in the top league in Europe. I believe that when it is all said and done, he will spend significant time in the NBA, if he chooses that over larger paydays in Europe.

I agree with Joe, the video is added to help you as a coach. Evaluate the drill and not the player. This is actual workout video, not production or instructional video. If you are not in the gym with us, you don't know what we are working on, what the objectives are, what the teaching is or what the discussion is while the camera is off. Nor are you familiar with what corrections are made when we do it again.

If you don't like the drill, don't use it. I understand that what works for me doesn't work for everyone. Perhaps you have some drills that I might like to use. But to divert you attention from the value of the drill because you don't like the way the player is doing it is counterproductive.

By the way, the footwork is legal in the NBA.

I suppose you also do this drill in other spots, and then you progress to passing the ball instead of picking it up from the chair, then later put a live defender to make it game like. How about just putting the ball on the floor, would it be too low to pick up? I understand some players might bend on the waist instead of using his legs, but if he will do it correctly, doesnt that add explosiveness to the jump?

Hi Adriano Go,

Personally, I wouldn't set the ball on the ground for this drill, because that would not be MY purpose for using the drill. I'm not saying you couldn't do it, though.

However, I do agree with your statement that some players may bend at the waist rather than sitting their hips back and bending their knees. However, that could be flexibility and strength issues that you may need to address in a different manner.

Adriano

We do go to other spots. However to answer your other questions, I need to give you some background.

I use chairs for many reasons, they simulate defenders, the serve as reference points, they function as passers in addition to other things. There are also certain things that I believe in in regards to improving players. One of those things is I never rebound the ball and pass out to a shooter from under the basket. I believe in the shooter receiving the pass from angles he will receive ball in competition. He must then turn and square for a shot.

When I work players, I am usually one on one. I had to come up with a system where I can rebound and still have the shooter receive the ball at a game angle. The use of chairs allows me to use multiple balls for an efficient workout with high repetitions and also allows me to rebound ball 1 and place it on a chair while the player shoots the second ball, etc. He still can make his cut, work on his footwork and receive the ball at a game angle. This make for a seamless drill. In addition, using the chairs allows the player to work on the same skills when he is in a gym alone. He can make a move, receive the ball shoot, rebound, put the ball back on the chair, reset his move and go back at it. I do not put the ball on the floor for the major reason that it might roll away. I also don't think that doing so would be productive for improvement. That doesn't mean that you can't do it if you feel it would be productive for you.

As to your other questions, I never put a defender on a shooter in a workout. Workouts are about technique and repetition. In another theater, I might but in the role that I have with these players I do not. There is also a risk of injury in competition which is unacceptable in my role.

Sometime I will pass the ball but usually not. during the course of a day, I might throw 2000 - 3000 passes, depending on how many players I work with in a day. You have never been tired until you throw 3000 passes in a day and then have to come back the next day.

Please don't feel bound by drilling the way I do. What I do works for me and I believe it is very effective but they all have their roots in techniques I stole from someone else and them modified to serve my purpose. some

Don,

I just want to say thank you for all these drills. This is my first year coaching 4th - 6th graders. My main reason for volunteering for this position was that I saw a lot of basics missing in our high school basketball team. I wanted to start the kids off the right way. I have viewed many websites but yours I use daily. Granted these kids are small but I am able to tailor your drills to teach them the basics! Thank you and keep up the good work!

I coach 3rd-8th boys and girls. These drills are good and will work. Players really never lose themselves in a drill. I find that you set a goal and not try to fix everything in a session or even over several sessions. Players don''t get closer to a groove of shooting, but get into a groove of a constant feedback loop. Fix one aspect this week another the next. They gain confidence faster at least knowing they faced-up perfectly if nothing else as an example. If players could be trained faster in one session to do everything right, everybody would be playing the game at the highest level.

These drills are great!!!

Hello. Firstly I apologize for my English, I am a foreigner:)

Anyway I have a question about dribbling, 1-2 stop and made jump shot. Lets say he is coming on the left side, dribbles with his right hand. Then the first leg touches the ground during the 1-2 stop is left, then right leg and shoots the ball- that´s correct I quess. When he comes on the right side dribbling with his leftie, then it´s other way around? 1-2 stop will be made right-left-shoot? Just trying to get smarter.

T, I would say that is the most common way to shoot. I also like to teach that way for consistency.

Some players practice and can shoot with right-left and left-right footwork from both sides.