The Great Footwork Debate

http://www.basketball.org.nz/index.cgi? ... 1020&det=1 (http://www.basketball.org.nz/index.cgi?sID=8&intArticleID=1020&det=1)

[Trappist Monk]

I wouldn't teach a "power foot". Baldwin uses the argument that we teach a jump shot from only the one hand but the latter is always going to be taken from a narrow cylinder unless it's a circus shot.
Being able to effectively pivot and square up on either foot gives virtually double the range of offensive options. Why wouldn't you want your players to have that?

Also, I see too many players get foot-tied when their natural/dominant pivot is taken away by defensive pressure or crowding. And it is predictable when a player goes only one way, eg, in my early playing days I used to always pivot left at the high post.
One game, I barely got a shot off or was able to drive to the basket because the opposing centre always had me covered. It was actually the opposing coach who came over afterwards and said he had his man overplay me because I always went the same way. Needless to say, I broke the habit, and I endlessly emphasise going both ways to the juniors I coach today.

[Steph]

When you say "power foot" do you mean like a strong pivot foot? I think i know what you mean as in a dominant pivot foot. I can use both feet with comfort because different coaches have taught me different feet to pivot with.

Some coaches however don't like it that I can use both feet to pivot with and say that it's better that I have a stronger one. I don't really get that or agree with it but i don't argue and usually if they only want one foot then i'll do the left one (im right handed). I would teach players about the "power foot" but i would teach them to do it on both feet. So they switch feet and making sure they get the right technique early, then i agree with you that having 2 powerfeet would be so much more useful...Or you can do the one liner that most juniors love to hear..
"which foot?"
"whichever one is more comfortable. Try and swtich it up if you are comfortable with that"

I teach, to pivot on your inside foot when you square up!!

*alos players tend to penetrate to the elbow/middle when they pivot on their inside foot, which saves getting stuck in the corners, or crowded by help defence under the hoop or in the short corner, instead they can see the floor and they know where al the defence is! For me it is alot more productive!!!

Also if as a team you get into the middle alot from penetration, when you do go baseline, it makes it alot easier.. teams who are always going baseline are easy to defend!!

[Steph]

yeah!! that's what i mean, teach players to use both feet where neccesary.
I rambled on for ages there trying to figure out how to say it and you did it in like 2 sentences!!

Off the move though is the one where some coaches don't like it that i don't have a stronger pivot foot..e.g trying to go to the left and do an onside move, some coaches say that it's better to do a crossover with your right foot because the left foor is the "stronger" pivot foot. I liek you point with the middle penetration thing....

catch and shoot doen't really bother me but i see heaps of players do that little stutter with their feet right before they catch it o they get the right footwork, this is where i think you shoud be comfortable on both feet so you don't have to hesitat and you can be ready for the pass no matter what leg...

I liek you coaching styly Expertise.

[Wallitron]

Also if as a team you get into the middle alot from penetration, when you do go baseline, it makes it alot easier.. teams who are always going baseline are easy to defend!!

Heh, although I agree, you've started another arguement. Many a coach would tell you to never give up the baseline.

As far as pivot foot goes, I say use either, mostly because it's more agressive, always pivoting forward. Using the same pivot foot would mean a reverse pivot half of the time. The only time I'd recommend a reverse pivot is if the defender overplays, and you reverse pivot spin on the inside foot.

[Coachpete]

For many years I taught inside pivot foot. Last six months I've started teaching both. Makes players more versatile and better balanced

[aussieBaller]

both feet helps with co-ordination with younger kids

[SLICE23]

Without a doubt i agree with aussieballer best to establish both feet then you dont have a problem.


"remember easier said than done"

[Franklin]

Heh, although I agree, you've started another arguement. Many a coach would tell you to never give up the baseline.



Yes, when I started playing (as a forward) my centre was always at me to protect the baseline. If I forced my player to the middle, there was help. If he went baseline, it meant the cnetre had to turn his back on the whole court to help out.

your centre doesnt have to turn his back and nor should he (unless trapping in the short corner)

[Btdg]

Footwork - whatever the player feels comfortable with. I have always pivoted on my left because I am right handed and it lets me get balanced for the shot quicker (I could probably shoot more quickly pivoting on both feet, but with less balance). I teach players the same, because it means that whenever they dribble, they are lifting the same foot first, eliminating travels.

Baseline - always force to the baseline rather than the middle. Trapping on the baseline you have the baseline itself and the backboard. If you let a good player go middle, and they can pass, they will destroy you. No matter how good your center is, they have too many passing options imo. If they can't pass it doesn't matter though

Why give up the baseline at all?

any decent perimater player will take one dribble and hit a jumpshot if you give up baseline.....

[Btdg]

If your stance is straight on to the defender, he can go either way. To be proactive, you force him to the baseline, rather than the middle. Thats all the issue is. You aren't exactly 'giving' it to them, but if its a choice of two evils, I'd rather a player shooting from the baseline than the middle, and I'd rather them driving to the baseline rather than the middle.

Yeah, that is a widely used technique,
I teach
play your defender straight ( you may say he can go either way, i say he cant go anywhere!)

Keep you belly button and you nose inline with your opponents, move sideways, try not to move backwards!

Not as easy, but very effective!

If your opponent trys to force their way thru, you are inline with them = charge!

[Btdg]

I'm too fat for that to work... At least if I force them 1 way, I know where they are going next - I'm playing the game on my terms. I know exactly where they are going, exactly where the help defence is, and can react accordingly. If I let them go either way, then they are generally quicker than me, and have the game on their terms = I get torched.

With some players, they are quick enough to react and adjust without having to play their opponents that way. I'd simply rather dictate the game than let my opponents choose what they are going to do.

[Steph]

he OR SHE! :wink:

When you are playing them in the backcourt we have always been taught, turn them as many times as you can then once they pass halfcourt line send them to the sideline/baseline. In the key though, i'm the same, i face them straight but with the angle so they prefer to go baseline. In a way it's better for them to go baseline if you have good team rotation but if the rotation is good then if they go middle then you should get good 'help and recover'.

one on one defence though, i would say straight on and if it doesn't work for you then develop your footwork and speed!! :twisted: a great excuse for coaches to torture players with agility and as much as you hate them while doing it, you have to admit it does actually help

yeah, i am all for playing straight up, on some players play on their left or right hip if they are one handed!!

[Cee_em_bee]

Why give up the baseline at all?

any decent perimater player will take one dribble and hit a jumpshot if you give up baseline.....

Well a jumpshot is much better then a layup or a trip to the freethrow line, no matter how good of a jumpshooter someone is when they penetrate from the baseline and they're still moving it's much harder to get the shot to go soft enough to go in.