The better your footwork is as a shooter, the easier it will be to shoot the basketball with confidence. If you can get yourself squared up and balanced on every shot, your chances of making the shot are going to go way up. This basketball shooting drill will work on footwork and then coming into your shot, shot fake, or rip through. It will teach players how to have light, quick feet, and then also how to attack a closeout.
The better a player can do this, the more value they will add to their team. You don’t want to be the player that has to catch and hold the ball every time. Instead, as the ball is moving, be ready to shoot over a late closeout or attack a closeout that is too tight. This will allow you to score within the offense or create for a teammate.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: 1-2 Footwork Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill
Equipment Needed: 1 basketball, a passer, a basket, and five hurdles or cones.
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Quick Feet Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill
- 2 Foot Hops Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill
- 1 Foot Hops Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Develop light, quick footwork.
- Work on being down ready and either shooting over a late closeout or attacking a poor closeout.
- Work on different types of game-specific basketball shots and types of finishes at the basket.
Coaching Points
- Try to keep your feet moving as quickly and as light as you can.
- Come into your shot after the last hurdle with your hands showing and be down ready to shoot the basketball.
- Keep your eyes up on your shot fake and go somewhere with your dribble.
- On the rip through move, make sure you are ripping through in a straight line to the basket.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- Set up five hurdles evenly spaced out at the top key (12-18 inches apart).
- The player will start on one side of the hurdles facing the baseline, and the passer will be in the paint with the ball.
- When the drill starts, the player is going to laterally 1-2 step over each hurdle.
- As they come over the last hurdle, they will be down ready to receive the pass.
- You can either work on a catch and shoot shot, a shot fake, one-dribble pull-up (or drive to the basket), or a rip through to the basket.
- If there is only one player, they will reset on the opposite side and then repeat the same action, but this time, going back through the hurdles the other way.
- If there are multiple players, the next player will go, and the first player will get back in line.
Recommended Time, Steps, Scoring, Repetitions
- This is a great drill to track with repetitions. If you do, though, make sure that you track per type of move. With several different types of shots and scoring options, you will need to specify how many repetitions per type.
- This is also an excellent drill for only counting makes as repetitions, especially with multiple players. If you have multiple players, have them either combine their makes to reach a set number or have them compete against each other and play to a set number of makes. Either of these options will work well as they will keep the drill fun and entertaining for the players.
- If you decide on using a set time, make sure that you manage how much time is spent on each type of shot or finish that you want to work on. This will make sure that you can work on all of the different shots and moves you have planned.
- There are also several other footwork hurdle drills that you can work on as well. So try mixing up the footwork and the moves as you go through the different hurdle drills. See the “similar drills” lists above for these other combination basketball shooting drills.
1-2 Footwork Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill Conclusion
The game of basketball is ever-changing, but one thing that is always going to be valued is footwork. Regardless of position, having great footwork is going to be a must. Whether it is a post player playing in the post or a guard coming into their shot, having good footwork is a must when playing basketball.
This means that you must be willing to spend the needed time developing footwork. With this basketball drill, you will be able to do precisely that. You will also be able to maximize your time by also being able to work on game-specific moves as well. Players will be able to develop the light, quick feet that they need while also being able to master different moves, shots, and finishes at the basket.
