Basketball Coordination, Strength, Balance, and Footwork drills

Basketball Coordination, Strength, Balance, and Footwork drills

Just like in all sports the most successful players on the basketball floor are usually the ones who are the most coordinated.  To some athletes, coordination, strength, balance, and footwork come naturally.  We’ve all seen kids who, regardless of the sport, always seem to excel.  The reason for their excellence is that they are more advanced than their peers in terms of coordination, strength, balance, and footwork.  Everything seems easy for them because it is easier for them.  The fact that they have naturally been able to master what in essence is body control has helped make the game easier for them. At this point one might ask what about the rest of us who may not have as much god given ability?  Are we doomed to be an also ran in the sporting world in general and specifically in basketball?  The answer to that question is no.  Coordination, strength, balance, and footwork are all qualities that can be improved with practice and repetition.  In this article we will be introducing drills that will help you improve your coordination, strength, balance, and footwork.

First let’s start with some definitions:

1. Coordination – this applies to the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently. 
2. Strength – this applies to the ability of a player to not be impeded in his efforts to attain a goal.  Strength can be physical and it could be mental.  Usually an increase in physical strength will also improve one’s mental strength. 
3. Balance – this applies to the ability of a player to be able to maintain equilibrium physically.  In basketball this is super important as a huge part of the game is trying to fake the opposition which in essence is bringing them out of their balance. 
4.  Footwork – there are a lot of foot skills that are required for all basketball players to learn.  Whether it be defensive slides, close outs, pivots, jump stops, one legged jumps, two legged jumps, running backwards, or forward being comfortable moving on the floor requires practice.

So let’s start talking specifics about how we can get better.  The drills discussed in the next four articles apply more to younger players between the ages of 5-14 years old.  None of the drills described require weights as I believe that using weight training at a young age is not necessary.  It should be noted that even though this workout is geared for youngsters, older kids can use the exercises described to great benefit also.