U12 Basketball Curriculum

Stride Stop Footwork

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tagsdrill, footwork, by-yourself, backyard, half-court, intermediate

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Stride Stop Footwork

🎒 Gear Needed: 1 x basketball, 1 ring ⏱ Suggested Time: 5 - 10 minutes 👥 Participants: 1 player (Solo / by-yourself) 📍 Space: Backyard, half-court 📊 Difficulty: Intermediate

📝 Instructions

  1. Stand at the centre circle or top of the key holding your basketball.
  2. Dribble aggressively forward toward the free-throw line at three-quarter speed.
  3. As you reach your stopping zone, execute a “Stride Stop” (1-2 stop): gather the dribble and plant your back foot first firmly into the court (Foot 1), instantly absorbing your forward momentum.
  4. Immediately plant your front foot roughly 30 centimetres ahead (Foot 2), pointing your toes toward the ring and dropping your hips into a deep athletic stop.
  5. Notice the crucial footwork rule: Foot 1 is your back plant foot and becomes your legal pivot foot; you may pivot on Foot 1 or rise up immediately for a balanced jump shot.
  6. Practice rising directly up from the stride stop into a smooth jump shot or floater toward the ring.
  7. Return to the starting point and repeat, practicing both foot sequences:
    • Driving right: gather on right foot (Foot 1) and plant left foot (Foot 2).
    • Driving left: gather on left foot (Foot 1) and plant right foot (Foot 2).
  8. Complete 10 repetitions driving to the right and 10 repetitions driving to the left.

💡 Coaching Cues

  • Staggered 1-2 Cadence: Listen for a distinct “one-two” foot plant cadence rather than a simultaneous jump stop landing.
  • Drop Hips on Plant 1: The moment Foot 1 hits the floor, drop your center of gravity down to absorb forward speed and prevent drifting or traveling.
  • Square on Plant 2: Use your second foot plant to turn your hips and square your chest directly to the ring for an on-balance release.

🔄 Variations & Progressions

  • Make It Easier: Jog through the 1-2 stride stop without a basketball, calling out “One… Two!” upon planting each foot in rhythm.
  • Make It Harder: Execute a stride stop off a full-speed transition dribble, then immediately pivot 180 degrees on Foot 1 to simulate finding a trailing teammate on the fast break.

📺 Video Demonstration