Jog & Cut

Warm-up

Warm up sharp changes of direction used in games.

5 min any Full court
FootworkU8U10U12U14U16

Technique guide

Any group size · none

Get everyone ready

Three lanes · no ballThree players spread across the baseline. Coach calls the changes from the sideline. Start at half speed and leave room around each runner. 123

● Player / attack

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Players spread across the baseline.

Look for: Plant the outside foot to change direction.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Players spread across the baseline.

  1. Jog toward the far end at half speed.
  2. On each whistle, plant a foot and cut 45 degrees.
  3. Keep your body low through each cut.
  4. Finish with a full-speed cut to the rim.

Suggested reset

Finish the movement before leaving the working lane. Walk back outside that lane and join the back of your line. The next player starts with enough separation to finish safely. Coach watches the front of each line; use parallel lanes for a larger group.

Coaching cues

  • Plant the outside foot to change direction.
  • Stay low, don't stand up on the cut.
  • Short, quick steps.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Add a ball and cut while dribbling.

Easier: Mark the cut points with cones so nobody has to react to a whistle.

V-Cut Lines: Make every cut a V — three steps in, plant, explode back out.

What this drill teaches

Planting off the outside foot and cutting hard — the movement pattern under nearly everything in basketball. Doing it on a whistle, without a ball, lets players groove the low, sharp plant before a game asks for it at speed.

In games: Sharp cuts are how kids get open on game day — this replaces the rounded, jogging 'banana cut' every defender comfortably follows with a plant-and-go that creates real separation.

What good looks like
  • A firm outside-foot plant, not a rounded curve
  • Body staying low through the cut instead of popping upright
  • Quick reaction to the whistle, not a slow fade into the turn

U8–U10: cuts will be rounded and upright — cone markers help. U14–U16: expect violent, low changes of direction and a genuine sprint out of each cut.

Setup

Players spread across the baseline.

Steps

  1. 1Jog toward the far end at half speed.
  2. 2On each whistle, plant a foot and cut 45 degrees.
  3. 3Keep your body low through each cut.
  4. 4Finish with a full-speed cut to the rim.

Coaching points

  • Plant the outside foot to change direction.
  • Stay low, don't stand up on the cut.
  • Short, quick steps.

Why kids love it

It mimics how kids actually move in a game, and the whistle keeps them alert.

Variations

Harder

Add a ball and cut while dribbling.

Easier

Mark the cut points with cones so nobody has to react to a whistle.

V-Cut Lines

Make every cut a V — three steps in, plant, explode back out.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill