Use the Chaser Drill to Increase Agility and Improve Ball Handling
This is a fun drill that is excellent for ballhandling, agility, and defensive footwork! It also reduces ankle sprains by improving strength and mobility.
I have used this chaser drill with my players to increase quickness, to practice slide to sprint technique, and for conditioning. We have used this drill with players ranging from 3rd-12th grade.
This drill does a really good job of teaching players to stay low, fake, and to work on the hip turn that takes place when going from a slide to a sprint. We all know this hip turn is critical to overall defensive technique and the ability to go from a slide to a sprint.
Instructions for Phase 1
We will first do the chaser drill with no basketballs. Players will partner up and each player will get on one side of the circle. One player will be the tagger and the other player will be fleeing.
Similar to any tag game, the object of the tagger is to try and tag the other player while staying outside the circle of cones. Players can change direction, fake, or go into a dead sprint and try and catch the other. The drill is over when either the tagger tags the other person or a certain amount of time has passed (example: 20 seconds).
If the person fleeing gets to the designated time without being tagged then they win.
Instructions for Phase 2
After having players do two sets with no basketballs, we would then give each player a basketball. Now players would have to do the same tag and flee game while having to dribble a basketball. Players will have to dribble with their head up and stay low while turning corners.
Variations
- The player fleeing has a ball while the chaser has no ball (requires quicker change of direction and better ballhandling skills).
- Require players to dribble with weak hand only.
- Require players cross over dribble on each change of direction.
- Use behind the back dribble on each change of direction.
In this video, you can see youth boys running two variations of the drill in a tight circle.
In the following video, you can see 4th grade girls running the drill with one ball and a wide circle. Our emphasis was to dribble and run at a high speed (get more comfortable dribbling with either hand at a high speed). The wider circle allows players to run at a faster speed.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
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