U12 Basketball Curriculum

Forward & Reverse Pivot Series

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tagsdrill, footwork, by-yourself, no-court, backyard, half-court, beginner

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Forward & Reverse Pivot Series

🎒 Gear Needed: 1 x basketball ⏱ Suggested Time: 5 - 10 minutes 👥 Participants: 1 player (Solo / by-yourself) 📍 Space: No-court, backyard, half-court 📊 Difficulty: Beginner

📝 Instructions

  1. Stand on the court or in your backyard holding your basketball at your chest.
  2. Establish your left foot as your locked pivot foot, imagining it is nailed to the floor.
  3. Forward Pivot (Front Pivot): Step forward with your right foot, turning 90 degrees to your left while pivoting on the ball of your left foot. Sweep the basketball low past your knees to protect it from a reaching defender.
  4. Return to the starting position by stepping back with your right foot.
  5. Repeat the forward pivot for a full 180-degree rotation, opening your hips and squaring to the opposite baseline. Return to start.
  6. Reverse Pivot (Drop Pivot): Step backward with your right foot, turning your back to imaginary pressure and swinging 90 degrees around your left pivot foot. Chin the ball tightly with your elbows out.
  7. Return to square, then execute a 180-degree reverse drop pivot, spinning your back completely away from the defender. Return to start.
  8. Perform 10 forward pivots and 10 reverse pivots on the left pivot foot.
  9. Switch to your right foot as the pivot foot and repeat the full series of 10 forward and 10 reverse pivots stepping with the left foot.

💡 Coaching Cues

  • Stay on the Ball of the Pivot Foot: Keep your pivot heel slightly elevated so the ball of your runner rotates smoothly without friction or dragging.
  • Keep Knees Flexed and Base Wide: Do not stand upright when turning; maintain a wide, low center of gravity so you never lose balance during rotation.
  • Active Ball Protection: Move the ball in coordination with your feet: low sweep on front pivots, chin-level tuck on reverse pivots.

🔄 Variations & Progressions

  • Make It Easier: Complete the pivoting patterns with hands on hips and no basketball first, focusing entirely on turning smoothly on the ball of the pivot foot.
  • Make It Harder: Have a partner stand in front of you with active hands; react to their reach by executing the appropriate pivot (forward or reverse) to protect the ball for 30 continuous seconds.

📺 Video Demonstration