KYBHp

Footwork and MovementAREASOFEMPHASISGUIDELINES FOR COACHESWhen considering national team juniorplayers’ performances at Europeanchampionships, turnovers are an issue forteam and individual performance. Whilethey come in various categories they arenot solely about “poor decision making”.Turnovers are also about their playingfundamentals and skills.“Travelling” is simply poor footwork.“Bad passing” is a lot to do with footwork,stance and technique as well as readingthe play (vision). If one is looking forevidence of poor footwork we simply haveto look at our national squads to see theinadequacies, but also the solutionsthrough coaching footwork and movement.The need to move more efficiently ishighlighted in current British players. Notonly in the locally developed player’sdefensive stance, but post stance, runningand stopping, and holding to set a screenare all weaknesses in our junior game.Effective cutting, through stepping, sealingand slashing arms to get a better body onbody position, are also weaknesses ofcurrent British developed players at youthand senior levels.What Are The MajorTechnical Points InMovement Footwork?Generally speaking the ability to move isenhanced or restricted by ones physicalmakeup. Flexibility and strength, amongother aspects, affect running ability. Theability to move, run and stop correctly isspecific to a basketball game experience.Footwork and movement is improvedthrough repetition and must be coached.Running in basketball involvesdeceleration, agility in changing directionas well as stopping quickly before movingagain. Undoubtedly training will improvemovement. While running is oftenperceived as a leg stride action, the use ofthe arms and upper body play a role inhow efficiently somebody runs. There ismuch to appreciate, learn and understandabout movements that will enhancebasketball performance.• Running technique: Sometimes weassume that all players can run andoften don’t teach our youngadolescents how to run. We do nothave a provision or consideration forthem to learn running efficiency.Running and more specifically sprintingmust be assessed and developed in allour players. While running is important,equally coaching the players “how tostop quickly” through a “jump stop” ora “stride or running stop” is alsoequally important. These stops becomepart of the running continuum. Theybecome the next most importantfootwork fundamental.35