Drills to Get Quicker for Basketball

Sliding Drills

• Players start underneath the basket, facing away from the court, and do not change direction. First, they backpedal to one top corner of the key, then sprint down the key to the baseline again. Then the players shuffle along the baseline until they are beneath the hoop, repeating on the other side of the key. Each repetition ends with a jump-up in which they touch the rim, backboard or net, depending on their height.

The Weave

• Set up cones about three yards apart in a zig-zag pattern. Players sprint to one cone, shuffle to the next cone, sprint to the third cone, then shuffle to the fourth cone. Players alternate their lead shuffle leg and return to the end of the line after completing the drill.

Wind Sprints

• Wind sprints are a series of increasingly longer sprints designed to increase endurance. Starting at one baseline, players sprint to the foul line, touch it, and sprint back to the baseline. Distances are extended to the midcourt line and then the opposite foul line.

The Box

• Four players stand around six yards apart in a square around another player. The player in the center must tag the hand of the player whose name you call as fast as possible, then slide back into the center of the box.

Shuttle Runs

• One player stands above the top of the key while the others line up beneath the basket where one side of the key touches the baseline. The first player sprints to the end of the key, receives a chest pass from the player above the key, and returns it. Then he sprints back to the baseline, closer to the opposite side of the key, and touches the line. The player then returns and repeats the passing and sprinting two more times until he reaches the opposite end of the key.