Agility Ladder Scissors

Warm-up

Build quick, coordinated footwork.

6 min 4–12 Half court
FootworkU10U12U14U16

Technique guide

4–12 · agility ladder or cones

Get everyone ready

Feet at the ladderFirst player steps to the near rung in an athletic stance; the next waits in line behind them. 12

● Player / attack

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Lay a ladder flat. Form one or two lines.

Look for: Stay light on the balls of your feet.

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

Lay a ladder flat. Form one or two lines.

  1. Scissors: one foot in, one foot out, down the ladder.
  2. Two feet in every rung, as fast as you can.
  3. Lateral in-in-out-out down the ladder.
  4. Finish with an explosive sprint off the end.

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

  • Stay light on the balls of your feet.
  • Pump the arms.
  • Quality first, then add speed.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Walk the pattern first to learn it.

Harder: Finish every pattern with a two-step sprint and a jump stop on the coach's call.

Ball in Hands: Hold a ball in two hands through the whole ladder so the feet work without the arms helping.

What this drill teaches

Quick, precise feet. The ladder's rungs punish sloppy steps immediately, so players learn to place their feet fast AND accurately — the combination games actually demand.

In games: Quick feet show up everywhere on game day — closeouts that arrive on balance, cuts that lose a defender, slides that stay in front of the dribbler.

What good looks like
  • Light, quiet steps on the balls of the feet
  • Clean patterns before speed gets added
  • Arms pumping instead of hanging

U10: walk each pattern first — tangled feet are normal. U14–U16: expect full-speed patterns, explosive sprint finishes and the ball-in-hands version.

Equipment

agility ladder or cones

Setup

Lay a ladder flat. Form one or two lines.

Steps

  1. 1Scissors: one foot in, one foot out, down the ladder.
  2. 2Two feet in every rung, as fast as you can.
  3. 3Lateral in-in-out-out down the ladder.
  4. 4Finish with an explosive sprint off the end.

Coaching points

  • Stay light on the balls of your feet.
  • Pump the arms.
  • Quality first, then add speed.

Why kids love it

Fast-feet patterns feel like a challenge and improve real court quickness.

Variations

Easier

Walk the pattern first to learn it.

Harder

Finish every pattern with a two-step sprint and a jump stop on the coach's call.

Ball in Hands

Hold a ball in two hands through the whole ladder so the feet work without the arms helping.

Related drills