Basketball Drills to Improve Conditioning

Basketball is a fast-paced game that requires players to run up and down the court and to keep moving most of the time on offense and defense. Basketball is such a physically demanding game that the players have to be in top physical condition. Otherwise the players will get tired and become ineffective during the game. To be in top physical condition, players should run basketball drills that help with their conditioning.

One thing many coaches like to do during practice to help their players get fit and stay fit is to keep a fast-paced practice going. This means that the players are required to keep moving throughout practice. They will be given a few strategic breaks throughout practice but the rest of the time they will be either moving during a basketball drill or moving to the next drill.

For example, most coaches will start a practice with stretching. This is very important so that no players pull any muscles during practice. Next, some coaches will have their players run some conditioning basketball drills. So, after the stretching is finished, the players will be required to run right to the baseline to begin conditioning drills. After conditioning the players will be required to jog to somewhere else on the floor and perform another drill. Then when they complete the next basketball drill they'll keep moving and go to the next of the basketball drills.

Some of the basketball drills should be more physically challenging than other drills. This will allow the players to catch their breath while they are still moving.

For example, the players could start out with conditioning drills. They could run sprints and complete footwork drills. For a possible footwork drill the players could sprint to a line, quickly cross their feet over the line 10 times and then sprint to the next line. Then the players could run some more sprints. After all these conditioning basketball drills the players will be winded.

Since practice just started, the players shouldn't have a break yet. So, they should get into pairs and one player in each pair should jog and get a basketball. Then one player should practice dribbling down the court at half speed. First the player should dribble to the right (with the right hand) and then to the left (with the left hand). As the player with the ball changes hands, he/she should practice a crossover dribble. The defensive player should work on his/her defensive posture, footwork, and positioning while covering the offensive player. Once a player dribbles down the court and back, the other player should go on offense and dribble up and down the court.

By dribbling at half speed and playing defense at half speed, the players will still be moving but they'll be able to catch their breath. They'll also be able to concentrate on the basics of what they're doing - dribbling and playing defense.

Basketball is so much about being in top physical shape that it's important for a coach to run a fast paced practice with a lot of conditioning basketball drills. This will help every player on the team to be fit and play an entire game without becoming overly exhausted.