Floater / Runner
Score over a taller defender with a soft one-foot floater.
What this drill teaches
A soft, high shot released early — before reaching the help defender — so it goes up where long arms can't get it. The chair in the lane trains the key habit: go up early, not into the body.
In games: Gives smaller guards an answer in the paint — instead of charging into the big help defender or getting blocked, they score over the top.
- Going up a step before the chair, not on top of it
- High, soft arc that drops in rather than being driven at the rim
- Balanced one-foot take-off and a controlled landing
U12: shoot close to the rim with no defender — flat, hard floaters are normal at first. U14–U16: expect it over a raised pool noodle and off both one- and two-foot gathers.
Equipment
1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone
Setup
A chair or cone in the lane as the help defender. Player starts near the elbow with a ball.
Steps
- 1Take one or two dribbles at the chair in the lane.
- 2Gather and go up off one foot, early — before you reach it.
- 3Flick a soft, high floater up over the chair and in.
- 4Land balanced and rebound.
Coaching points
- Shoot it early — go up before you get to the chair, not after.
- High and soft — let it drop in.
- Off one foot, on the run.
Why kids love it
Small guards love a shot that beats bigger defenders in the paint.
Variations
Closer to the rim, no defender.
Put a tall player or coach with a raised pool noodle in the lane to float it over.
Take the same shot off a two-foot hop so players feel which gather suits them.