2 Ball Slides

On Court Player Development

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How to build your defensive speed and quickness with the 2-Ball Slide Drill

The cornerstone to any young player’s game is the ability to play solid and consistent defense. And to build this part of your game, you must have speed and quickness in your feet.

Enter the 2-Ball Slide Drill, a quickness drill that works on defensive step-slides and helps add speed and quickness to your feet.

Here’s how it works:

• Stand under the basket on the baseline

• Have your coach or another player start in the middle of the paint with two basketballs.

• Have the coach and/or player roll the ball to either side of you.

• You must slide to the ball and make a chest pass back to the coach and/or player.

• As soon as you make the chest pass back, have the coach and/or player roll the ball to the other side of you, which will force you to slide quickly so that the ball doesn’t get past you.

Remember to stay low on your slides and lead with your front foot first. Some players have a tendency to cross their feet while sliding after the ball.

>Drill Name:

2-Ball Slide Drill

>Major Skill Area:

Defensive Footwork

>Equipment Needed:

Basketballs

>Drill Details/Instructions:

1. The defender starts under the basket on the baseline

2. The coach, or another player, starts in the middle of the paint with 2 balls

3. The coach/player will roll the ball to either side of the defender

4. The defender must slide to the ball, and make a chest pass back to the coach/player

5. As soon as the defender makes the chest pass back, the coach/player rolls the ball to the other side of the defender, forcing the defender slide quickly so the ball does not go past him

>Drill Philosophy (Why):

• The 2-Ball Slide Drill is a quickness drill that works on defensive step-slides. This will help build speed and quickness in the defender's feet.

>Point(s) of Emphasis:

• Players must stay low on their slides and lead with the front foot first

>Common Corrections:

• Players have a tendency to cross their feet while sliding after the ball