When you think about breaking down a defender off the dribble, most point guards in basketball or ball handlers tend to think that faster is better. In a sense, that is true, but it is really about how quickly you can change up your speeds. If a player can lull their defender into thinking they aren’t going to attack, they can then take advantage of them not being ready.
On the flip side, if the offensive player is always playing at the same speed, a good defender will be able to predict their moves better. Rather than having to think about what the offensive player is doing, the defender will be able to use their defensive instinct.
This ball handling basketball drill will work on the crossover behind the back combo move, but more than that, it will work on changing up speeds and being deceptive before making an attacking move. The more a player can figure out this change of pace (regardless of the move), the harder they will be to guard.
Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: Moving Slow to Fast Crossover Behind the Back Basketball Dribbling Drill
Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Slow to Fast Between the Legs Behind the Back Dribbling Drill
- Slow to Fast Behind the Back Crossover Drill
- Slow to Fast Between the Legs Crossover Dribbling Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Work on overall ball-handling skills.
- Being able to change up your speeds with the basketball.
- Work on the crossover behind the back combo move.
Coaching Points
- Stay in a low athletic stance the whole time while you are handling the basketball.
- Really lock in on the details of the move and changing up your speeds.
- Use your eyes and your shoulders to help sell the move each time.
- Do your best to visualize a defender in front of you to help better sell and execute the move.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- The player is going to start on the baseline with a basketball.
- They will begin dribbling the basketball with their right hand while remaining stationary.
- Moving forward, the player will make a crossover move to their left hand at about 1/3 speed setting up their imaginary defender.
- As soon as the ball touches their left hand, though, they will snap it back to their right hand as quickly as they can, going behind the back.
- The player will take another stationary dribble and then repeat the same move.
- Continue this pattern for the desired amount of repetitions or time and then have the player reset and execute the move starting with their left hand.
Recommended Time, Steps, Scoring, Repetitions
- This one ball basketball dribbling drill can be done for a set distance by having the player go to half court and then switching hands.
- Another way to do the drill is for a set number of completed repetitions. The player could continue moving forward until they completed ten repetitions or whatever was determined.
- Lastly, this basketball drill can be done for a set amount of time. Have the player move forward, working on the same hand for 30 seconds, and then switch hands for the second 30 seconds.
Moving Slow to Fast Crossover Behind the Back Basketball Dribbling Drill Conclusion
There are different parts of ball handling that all come together to make an elite-level point guard or ball-handler. A good ball-handler needs to be able to control and protect the ball, execute different moves, and in this case, change up their speeds. If a player lacks in one of these areas, they will struggle to get an angle by their defender.
So whether it is this dribble combination or another, players must be working on changing up their speeds. It may take some getting used to, but being able to control your pace as a ball-handler will pay off big down the road.
