Kbands 3 Cone Breakaway Drill | Lateral Speed Drill

Basketball players rely on quick feet and powerful agility for direction changes on the court, and basketball lateral speed drill like these can support a quick getaway after a steal. These exercises work well as basketball defensive drills, but they can help players develop offensive skills as well, since they build sharp reflexes, passing strength, and quickness.

Basketball players and coaches can follow along with the attached video as Trevor Theismann takes viewers through a series of simple but effective basketball lateral speed drills with the support of the Kbands resistance training equipment. With Kbands placed around the upper legs and the resistance bands attached to the straps, athletes will feel an additional tension on the core, upper legs and glutes as they move across the court. This added tension will help athletes develop the knee drive and speed they need to cover ground quickly and execute sharp moves and direction changes. 

Basketball Lateral Speed Drills: Setting Up the Drill

At the starting signal, the coach will deliver a chest pass to the athlete, who will then send the pass back and move laterally to the left corner. The coach will deliver another pass, the player will return the ball, and then the drill will move down to the cone at the other end of the line. As the player moves back and forth to each of the corners with lateral quickness, the coach will deliver and receive passes in a fast, controlled rhythm.

Throughout the entire series from the left cone to the right and back, the player will stay in a low, defensive stance facing the coach. Beginning players will complete the move back and forth down the line for three to five reps, focusing primarily on lateral agility and passing speed. As players become more advanced, they can use this as a conditioning drill and start emphasizing strength in the core and hip flexors. At this point, players and coaches can expand to about six to eight reps.

During the more advanced version of the drill, after the player moves up and down the line completing the established set of reps, she’ll grab the final pass and break away, dribbling the ball in a straightaway down the court.

Basketball Lateral Speed Drill: Maintain Proper Technique

As players work their way from one end of the line of cones to the other, they should be feeling and working against the resistance of the bands. At all times, the player should work to maintain a low, stable stance and wide feet. If the feet interfere, or click, during the lateral stride, this means the body isn’t low enough and the feet aren’t wide enough to react quickly when an offensive player makes a counter move. Coaches can keep an eye on the player’s stance as she completes the drill and offer pointers on foot position. Coaches can also encourage players to keep working against the resistance of the bands and not allow the bands to control the player’s lateral stride.

Basketball Lateral Speed Drill: Advancing to the Next Level

When players are ready to take the drill to the next level, they’ll add a breakaway component to the last step. The athlete will move up and down the line for six to eight reps, and at the final rep, she’ll take the pass, reverse the pattern, and dribble the ball up the court in a sprint. During this final steal and breakaway, players need to focus on knee drive, speed, and ball control. Athletes should keep the stride width wide and work against the tension of the bands.