Defensive Slides - CatapultSliding for succes. Beating an offensive player to the spot means pushing your body past its comfort zone. Here’s how. The outlet pass flushes left. As the action pushes down court, you quickly head back to play defense. As the ball makes itself around the key, you follow each pass with intense concentration. And then, boom – the guard crosses over and pulls up for the shot. Where are you? Enter the Defensive Slides – Catapult. The drill is designed to improve defensive footwork by forcing your body – your lower body in particular – to push past its comfort zone. As a defender, it will teach you to beat the offensive player to a spot, should you get beat off the dribble. Begin in the corner at an angle toward the top of the key. Point your body toward the baseline. The cones should be set up diagonally at the top of the floor. Begin your defensive step slides toward the first cone. Once you reach the cone, drop-step, turn, and then take one giant “catapult” step toward the next cone (as if the offensive player has beaten you off the dribble). Next, pivot and turn back into your defensive stance and continue the step slides toward the next cone. Perform this drill all the way up the floor. Remember to perform one giant step after the drop-step, and then perform the drill with two giant steps. Things to remember Stay low the entire time during the defensive slides. The only time you are allowed out of the defensive stance is to take your “catapult” steps. Take as big of a “catapult” step as you can in order to reach the next cone in as few steps as possible. The player must take as big of a “catapult” step as he can in order to reach the next cone in as few steps as possible. Things to watch Too many players come up out of their defensive stances or take too many “catapult” steps to regain balance. The point of the drill is to push yourself to get out of your comfort zone on the court, to stretch your body farther than you think it can go. OC Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
