Basketball Foot Speed Drills

Basketball players have a number of skill sets that make them valuable to their team. Some players are effective shooters, and others play stifling defense. No matter the case, these athletes have spent numerous hours honing their abilities through practice. Foot speed is one of the abilities that can be practiced with training drills. Movement is important when playing both offense and defense. Developing your foot speed on the court will improve your overall game.

  1. Jump Stop Drill

    • This drill is used by coaches to help players improve their movement on the court. Players can experience improved balance and reduce their number of traveling violations when in possession on the ball.

      Line the participating players up on the baseline at either end of the court. Make sure they are spread out with room between each player. When the whistle blows, the players start running down court at 3/4 speed.

      At the next whistle, players must jump and stop, with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Then they must jump and turn in the direction the coach commands. For example, turning left would mean the players turn to their left a compete 180 degrees. Once they jump and turn, they must do another jump turn in the opposite direction to land back in the starting position.

      Players then start running until the next whistle and set of directions.

    Wing Combo Drill

    • Footwork and speed also are important when setting up for a shot. Stopping after a full-out sprint to take an effective jump shot can help you score quickly.

      For this drill, place one chair on the corner, near the free-throw line. The second chair is placed just beyond the three-point line, further away from the basket. Place a chair on both seats.

      The player starts under the basket, straight in front of the first chair. When the whistle blows, the player sprints to the first chair, grabs the ball, dribbles around to the other side and takes a shot. The player cuts to the second chair, picks up the ball and uses a pivot to change directions. He then dribbles toward the basket for a layup.

      If a rebounder is available, he can replace the balls on the chair so the shooter can continually practice.

    Dribble and Slide

    • The dribble-and-slide drill is a basketball training tool that helps develop foot speed and movement for both offensive and defensive players. This can be used with groups of players or individual training.

      To begin, have the player dribble from one baseline to the other across the court. Once there, he puts down the ball and gets into a defensive stance, moving back to the starting baseline. Continue this drill up and down the court, baseline to baseline.

      When involving multiple players, have the defensive player shadow the offensive player, trying to stay in front of him. As players move in their defensive stance, have them switch lead legs to become acclimated to moving in multiple directions.