Sideline Sprint Shooting Drill - Improve Your Shooting, Footwork, and Conditioning

Am I the only coach that feels footwork is super important in almost every phase of hoops ? Shooting, defense, post play ?

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Pete -

I hope not! The game STARTS with good footwork.

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I'm constantly reminding my players that if they would master the basics in basketball that they can play with anyone...getting them to understand that all that "flashy" streetball stuff will only carry you so far...perfecting the basics, the fundamentals gives you credibility on the floor...good drill...thanks.

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Thanks for sharing. My concern with a drill like this, and most shooting from the chair drills, is the difficulty of taking the ball off the chair with the feet in the air. To avoid the 3 step travel a common teaching point for catch and shoot on the move is to catch the ball in the air. In this video the player travels on several of the attempts.

I prefer to spin the ball out to myself, or teach players I coach to do this, when working out individually with no coach/helper. At first it can be difficult, but after a little practice they get the hang of it.

Thoughts?

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Ron,
Wow you nailed it didn't you? I'm tired of girls telling me how they practiced the air dribble and Steve Nash, yet they travel off of every screen. I wonder what these individual instructors, AAU coaches and some HS coaches are teaching?

Perfect the basics please.

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James,

From my experience, there are pros and cons to every situation.

Spinning the ball to yourself - great for straight cuts. However, it's hard for game-like cuts like an L-Cut, V-Cut, Curl, Flare, etc.

Chair - great for game-cuts. Also good for reference points to use when making cuts. "Step straight to basket."

Chair with partner - can get more shots up than if one person is passing and shooter is rebounding. You can get two balls involved.

Passing with partner - it best simulates the game, but you can't get as many reps.

I'm sure there are other pros and cons I'm not thinking of right now...

That's why I mix it up between the different options.

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Ron / Jeff,

Kids definitely need to understand the basics and the importance of them.

This has also challenged me to be more creative in the way I teach and the way I explain things. If we're not getting through, we have to change what we do get across the important message.

I heard an interesting perspective on the flashy drills from Don Kelbick when on a video shoot.

We were doing a few two ball dribbling drills and a player asked him, "Are these the drills that the pros you work with do?"

Don said, "No. We do this stuff for you. The pros do things that make them better."

I think what he meant by that is that he'll do a flashy drill or an extremely challenging drill to get your attention, then the rest of the workout he provides substance.

95% substance. 5% flash to keep their attention.

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Hi guys,
All good discussion and advice. Even going back to BEEF seems to be a struggle for the kids. I coach high school kids 16 to 18 years old (in Rotorua, New Zealand) and they all want to Le Bron, Durrant, Carmello or Westbrook. Man even these guys had to start somewhere, right? I just hope they still practice and drill the basic fundamentals of skill work. I use all three methods in groups of 3. This way get move quicker to more repetition. Thank you for evoking the discussion.
Marty

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Coach -

I think its all about how much you believe in what you are teaching... they have to know how important it is to YOU and learning the game.

Face it kids, even all those guys started by learning the FUNDAMENTALS. :-)

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I agree foot work is VERY important. I am having a difficult time getting my 8 year old to get good fotwork and remain in control of himself. Are there any drills, activities, or workouts you could suggest that will help stregthen this part of his game?

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Coach J,

This is very common for that age. I like this drill that Bob Bgielow uses.

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/bigelow-footwork-body-control.html

Also, do tons of general athletic development stuff that they would normally do in PE. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, kids aren't getting exposed to all of the physical education that we were exposed to at a younger age.

1-Leg Balance progressions, squats, lunges, crawling variations, skip variations, planks, push ups, pull ups.

Tag is a great game.

Red Light - Green Light.

I have found that it's best to do this in a playful setting. Maybe let your kid create an obstacle course that uses these exercises.

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