Basketball Agility & Conditioning Drills

Basketball requires supreme conditioning, along with a great skill set, mental strength and toughness. Agility and conditioning drills are repeated every day by the best professional and collegiate teams in the country, and following these specific drills can be very beneficial to the youth or prep player trying to make it to the big time.

  1. Suicide Sprints

    • One of the most common basketball conditioning drills used on all levels is suicide sprints, or gassers. This drill mimics the back-and-forth running, cutting and sprinting that is common throughout all basketball games. Players start on the base line underneath one basket, then spring towards the near-side free throw line. Upon reaching the free throw line, they reach down and touch the line. They then sprint back to the baseline, turn and run to the half court line, opposite free throw line, and opposite base line in succession.

    10 in a minute

    • One common basketball conditioning drill, especially for youth basketball teams and beginners, is the "10 in a minute" spring drill. This consists of sprinting 10 lengths of the basketball court, or five overall sprints down and back, in under a minute. If any one member of the team is unable to complete the drill, the clock starts again and players must repeat the drill until every member finishes in under one minute.

    Bob And Weave

    • The "down and back weave" drill is great for agility and changing directions. Cones are placed in 20-foot increments down the length of the floor. Players start with the ball on the baseline and are required to dribble down the court at a fast pace. Upon reaching each cone, they must make a basketball move, and change direction and the hand they dribble with. At the cones, players can practice a crossover, spin or behind-the-back dribble.

    Two Man Game

    • Another great basketball agility drill involves two players, one on offense and one on defense. The drill is performed at 3/4 pace, although increasing to full pace challenges your players and increases the difficulty. The offensive player dribbles down the court in a series of V-cuts, dribbling to the outside and quickly changing direction to the inside. The defensive player pressures the ball and cuts the player off, forcing him to make constant cuts -- which improves ball handling and agility while at the same time working on conditioning and stamina.