Answer to this Question
Answer provided 10/12/2004 4:37:00 PM
Q.
How do i get a quick first step
A.
You might want a quickness and agility program like the one in Complete Basketball Conditioning. COMPLETE BASKETBALL CONDITIONING offers programs to use all year long. Breaks down strength training into off season, pre season and in season. Programs for quickness and agility, plyometrics, medicine ball drills, and jump training are included, along with a section to build your own pre season conditioning program in order to get your players ready to compete when the season starts. Order your copy at
http://www.basketball4all.homestead.com/
Besides just getting quicker, having good footwork makes you appear quicker. Establishing a pivot foot when catching the ball out on the floor is essential to "squaring up"(facing the basket)and getting into triple threat position(the ability to pass, dribble or shoot effectively)
The pivot is a fundamental skill that can get a player relief from pressure defense, and can be a great skill to have to begin an offensive move.
HOW to square up is the question. There are a couple of schools of thought. The conventional method is to plant the inside foot(the foot closest to the middle of the floor when you are moving to the ball.
The method that many coaches and players are using today is to use a "PERMANENT PIVOT FOOT". In this method, the player plants the SAME foot all the time. The object is to "free your shooting foot". Now, you don`t shoot with your foot - it`s the foot on the same side as the hand that you shoot with(right handed-right foot). You plant the opposite foot, and now your shooting foot can move to either step into a shot, or use foot fakes(rocker moves) to attack the defense. If we watch the NBA, Some of the best perimeter players today(Jordan, Kobe, Mcgrady, etc) are using the PERMANENT PIVOT FOOT and always have their shooting foot free.
In a "catch and shoot" situation. We feel that a player must KNOW if he is open before the catch, when he/she is on the move. If he KNOWS he is open, he should plant the inside foot and rise into the shot. As he is heading towards the pass and he plants the inside foot, and it squares you to the basket a lot faster and is probably more comfortable. Quickness is the key to getting off a good shot.
If there is any question that he is not open for a shot, he should establish his PERMANENT pivot foot and "free his shooting foot". This enables him to go into a "rocker series" of moves to attack the front foot(the one that is closest) of the defensive player. A permanent pivot foot simplifies the learning process, especially with younger players, and cuts the number of moves to learn in half. All other things being equal, the players with the best feet are the best players.
When a pivot foot has been established, a player should turn and square up - or face the basket. This allows the offensive player the ability to appropriately take advantage of what the defense is presenting to him. It is very important that the offensive player does not give the defense an opportunity to take advantage of him by using incorrect footwork in "squaring up". The player can do this by using POSITIVE FOOTWORK.
Once you have recieved a pass and faced the basket, you have probably established a pivot foot. That foot may no longer move until the ball leaves your hand when you dribble. POSITIVE FOOTWORK is a term that describes your "free" foot. Regardless of the manner in which you square up, your free foot should remain slightly in front of your pivot foot. This allows the offensive player to remain in charge and gives the ability to attack the defender. A player should not allow the free foot to end up in a position BEHIND the pivot foot, as this will give the defender an opportunity to apply pressure and "belly up" to the ballhandler, putting the ballhandler on his back foot and retreating from the basket.
Once a foot is free, that is the only foot that the player can fake or step with. "The foot that moves is the foot that goes!"
Basketball Frequently Asked Questions
How do I grip the ball when shooting?
What drills can I do to better my shooting form?
How should I warm up shooting?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How do I get a "shooter´s touch"?
What kind of player do coaches like?
What is a drill I can do to get a better feel for ball handling?
What is a drill I can do to become more comfortable handling the ball?
how do I become a better ballhandler?
How can I improve my free throws?
How do I increase my vertical jump?
How do I practice my ballhandling?
What is good defensive position?
how do I become a better shooter?
How do I get in shape for basketball?
how can I improve my quickness?
What is a drill to work on my ballhandling?
how can I improve my quickness?
How can I learn to shoot better?
How can I increase agility with my ball handling?
What is a drill I can do to better my shooting form?
how do I become a better dribbler?
What does it take to be a good rebounder?
How can I improve my shooting?
What do I need to become a good rebounder?
how do I become a better shooter?
How can I follow through better on my shots?
How can I learn to advance the ball under pressure?
how do I become a better dribbler?
What is a good conditioner drill for big men?
How much should a parent be involved?
How can I get in better condition?
how can I improve my conditioning?
How do I defend a pass to my player on the weakside?
How can I improve my basketball skills?
How can I improve in the off season?
How do I develop fingertip control for dribbling?
how do I become a better dribbler?
how do I become a better player?
How do I improve my rebounding?
how can I improve my quickness?
How do I practice my ballhandling?
How do I become a good rebounder?
how can I improve my quickness?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How can I best play against a defender in the low post?
How can I organize my basketball program?
How competitive should practices be?
What is the best way to plan drill work in practice?
How should I structure practices?
How should I challenge a shooter?
How can I get myself known to college coaches?
how can I improve my quickness?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How do I become a better offensive rebounder?
How do I get an offensive rebound?
What is a good drill for a big man?
how do I become a better dribbler?
What are the different types of passes?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How do I teach beginners a layup?
How can I increase my agility around the basket?
how can I improve my quickness?
how do I get the ball in the post?
What is the best way to move versus a defender in the post?
What is the key to rebounding?
How can I get a better jump shot?
how can I improve my quickness?
how do I become a better passer?
How do you advance the ball up the floor?
What is good defensive position?
What can I do to get myself an athletic scholarship?
How do I double team the low post?
How should I position my hands when rebounding?
Can I use the glass when shooting a jumpshot?
What is blocking and charging?
What is blocking/charging foul?
How do I double team the low post?
How long should practices last?
When guarding a player without the ball, what should I look at?
how do I become a better player?
What do I do when I receive a bad pass?
how can I improve my quickness?
how can I improve my quickness?
how do I start the fast break?
How do I defend the high post?
how can I improve my quickness?
Why should a team play a zone defensively?
how can I improve my quickness?
When should I come back from an injury?
How can I determine my shooting range?
What pass do I use to start the fast break?
How can I judge the effectiveness of my offense and defense?
how do I become a better player?
How to defend the give and go?
How do I make a good outlet pass?
How do I make a good outlet pass?
How can I get more power into my passes?
What is the key to rebounding?
Where should I be during a rebound?
how close should I guard my man?
what are the parts of the court?
How do I defend the weakside cut to the ball?
How many free throws are given on a foul?
How can I make my passes go where I want them to go?
What are the keys to good passing?
How do I choose the right college?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How do a get a pass by my defender?
How do I know where I can play in college?
How can I know which division to play in college?
how do I become a better player?
how do I become a better player?
How can I learn to dribble better?
How do I make a good bounce pass?
What is the proper technique for making a chest pass?
Is it a foul if a shooter jumps into my space?
What is the proper technique for throwing a chest pass?
how do I become a better dribbler?
how do I become a better player?
What kind of relationship should I have with recruiters?
How do I make an overhead pass?
Why do you stretch before you play?
When is a time out called for injury?
how do I become a better player?
how can I become a better rebounder?
How many fouls disqualify you from the game?
Should I ask questions during the recruiting process.
how can my team become more agg?ressive
What should I consider when selecting a team?
What is the difference between a Good shot and a Bad shot?
What happens if an opposing team member elbows me?
How can I draw a charging foul when guarding the post?
What should I look for when I´m scouting?
where can I find a personal trainer?
how do I become a better dribbler?
Is it always a foul by the player in the air?
What should I look at when shooting?
How do I prevent ankle injuries?
How do I become a better player under pressure?
how do I shoot over a taller player?
How can I learn more about coaching?
How do I get in good shape for basketball?
When is a player considered to be out of bounds?
How do I improve my dribbling?
how do I become a better passerr?
How do I know what camp to go to?
Should I fill out all college questionnaires?
Is there a way to get my lay-up right?
How can I become a better offensive player?
how do I get the ball in the post?
How do I keep from getting trapped?
What is the most common mistake?
How can I gain confidence in my coaching?
how do I become a better shooter?
How do I best use my time in coaching?
Why is it necessary to warm up?
how do I get the ball in the post?
How do I get open to receive a pass?
How do I see the entire floor?
what is the quickest way to get the ball up the floor?
how do I start the fast break?
How can I pass around good defense?
how can I get my players to play hard?
how do I get the ball in the post?
how do I get the ball in the post?
What can I do to stay mentally alert in the game?
how do I get the ball in the post?
how do I become a better dribbler?
How can I improve my skills in basketball?
How do I improve my basketball skills?
How can I improve my play against bigger players?
How do I make quick decisions as a point guard?
Why should I involve my teammates?
When should I talk to my teammates on the floor?
Recent Basketball Questions
Q.
How to shoot a basketball
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What advice do you have concerning high-exposure basketball camps such as Bluechip and Five Star,etc. How effective are they and which is the best one to attend?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What should be included when sending out basketball videotapes to colleges?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What can I do to increase my confidence?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How long should I practice my ball handling skills and how many shots should I take to be an excellent shooter?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How many times a week should i do plyometrics without hurting my self?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
what is the best method to attack today`s match up zones
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How do i get a quick first step
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How can i use my body after i penetrate within layup range to keep from getting blocked?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What is the best warm-up for basketball session?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
how do you watch your man and the man with the ball
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
how do you reduce the number of times you fall for fakes??
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
what is the best way to condition yourself for faster defence?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What is the best way to stay in shape during the off-season?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How many three pointers should I shoot per-day if I want to be a good shooting-guard in a game.
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How do I structure a 1 minute time out?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What is a triple threat?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
what is the best way to block somebodys shot?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
What is the drop-step and how the drop-step is mastered?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How do you move without the ball?
A.
Click for the Answer
Q.
How can I coach passing ?
A.
Click for the Answer
| Guru Spotlight |
| Ray Lokar |
