Skills - Rip Threw

Very useful move for the guards and the big men as it is part of beating your defender. A good rip through can give you a hudge advantage on getting to the basket or creating space. You can either rip through; high, middle or low depending on how the defender is playing you. We mentioned doing this earlier but now We will demonstrate each one before you beat the defender and get by. Solid footwork is involved in any rip through to be successful so understand which foot is your pivot. Protect the ball with your elbows as you bring the ball through to stop anyone from knocking the ball loose. When the defender is playing you with his hand in your stomach you can go over his arm or under depending on what is most comfortable and what space you have. When the defender is really pushing up on you and pressuring you the best option is either rip it across your chest or down by your ankles to help get you low and on your way to beating the defender. Keep your legs slightly bent to stay ready to move, and quickly. Once you have ripped the ball through with your first dribble really extend your dribble to create more space so you can lay the ball up or finish at the rim depending on what the rest of the defence give you.

Skills - In and Out

This is very similar to the hesitation drill as the chairs again will be at the wings and the top of the key. Again coming from the half court, keep your head up and viewing the court. This move is very quick and sharp. Its best used when you have the defender on their heals or stood still not ready to react. With a quick body shimmy to the side you are not going to go you will sell the direction. With the ball you are going to make it look like you are crossing it over to the other hand but at the last minute you twist your hand over and bring the ball back to the original side. This one handed move and for some refs if you do it slightly slow or over show the moves as some refs may call a carry so make sure to keep your hand on top of the ball to help illuminate this chance. Keep fingers spread to maintain as much control as possible, and to cover more leather. Use a hard extended dribble to push past the defender at the last minute releasing you to the basket for the finish.

Skills - Hesitation Dribble

Place a chair on the wing or at the top of the key, but you will do the drill at all three spots so you get comfortable and understand the angles of the court. Dribbling from half court towards the chair stutter step giving the defender the thought you are either going to shoot it or crossover then continue on the side the ball is. You need to be able to do this drill with both hands so if you are dribbling left handed go left, right hand go right. Get to the rim and finish tough and spring back to half court. Complete 10 left and 10 right, using what you learned and worked on during the dribbling drills. Head up and get low for speed and agility. Later we will do a drill very similar to this drill which is just as effective and very useful.

Conditioning - Double Tap to 15ft

This exercise will help with legs conditioning and routine in your jumper even when you are tiered. Your jump shot needs to be the same when you are tiered and when you are just warming up. This exhausts your legs and then makes you use them straight after in the shot and you cannot rely on your arms to bail you out. The more tired you become the less you can rely on your arms due to fatigue. Using a basketball do a two footed jump and tap the backboard twice, then turn around and flick the ball out towards the wing about 15ft out. Turn and take a jump shot, you can use a chair to represent a defender if this is easier for you.  Follow rebound and put in any misses. Repeat this 15 times and then repeat on the opposite side. Focus on the legs in the jump shot.

Skills - Three Chair Moves

Place a chair on one of the wings and another on the same side at the elbow, then a third on the block. You are going to flick the ball out at the first chair and drive inside to the chair at the elbow. When you reach the second chair make a move taking you down to the block and the third chair where you will pull up for a short bank shot. Make sure you are smooth and under control through out the exercise and keep your head up so you can see your surroundings. Spin moves and crossovers are great moves for this situation but as I previously stated stay under control so you can be most effective. You never know when in a game you may have a wide open pass or someone trying to draw a charge so stay aware. Perform 10-15 on each wing and if you are weaker on a certain side, make sure you spend more time strengthening.

Skills - Back Pivot Elbow

Place a chair on both elbows to represent a defender. Flick the ball out and perform a back pivot and drive the ball low and pull the ball through at either chest height or ankle high depending on what you feel most comfortable with or need to improve. I like to bring the ball through low to help get me down to the defenders hips making it hard for the defender to recover or stop you. Be efficient with the dribble and try to use one but remember in a game situation that help defense may be coming so you need to stay under control to avoid a charge or running into trouble. Finish above the rim aggressive to give yourself the best chance to finish and beat any potential help coming.

Skills - Seven Point Shooting Drill

This is a three point shooting drill mixing in conditioning to help focus and condition the legs. It will take you and a friend for this drill as you need a passer/rebounder. There are seven spots for you to shoot from and you will work your way around the key and back to the start completing 14 shots in total; Corner, Wing, Elbows and the top. You will shoot a three from the corner and run to the halfway line and run the next spot (wing) then run back to the halfway and on to the next spot (elbow). Now after this position you will back peddle to the half court line and run back to the top of the key for another shot. Back peddle again before making your way to the next elbow. Then continue running back and forth from shot to halfway. The top 3 spots you will ALWAYS back peddle to the halfway to help push yourself physically. Once you have made it to the opposite corner you run the drill straight back around the other way to finish the circuit. Make sure the passer is not making you wait to receive the ball, but it is there ready for you to run on to and into your shot. Focus and follow through.