Line Touches
Raise the heart rate and warm up starting and stopping.
What this drill teaches
Basketball-specific fitness: sprinting, stopping and re-starting rather than one long run. Because the game is played in bursts, conditioning built from bursts transfers — and finishing lines together builds team toughness.
In games: The team that still sprints back on defence in the last quarter wins close games — this is where that fourth-quarter engine gets built.
- Hand touching every line, no shortcuts
- Explosive push out of each turn, not a drifting loop
- Effort holding up on the last length, not just the first
U8–U10: keep it short and playful — a team-total game beats a race. U14–U16: expect full lengths, honest touches and controlled, sharp turns while tired.
Setup
Players on the baseline facing up the court.
Steps
- 1Sprint to the near free-throw line, touch it, sprint back.
- 2Sprint to half court, touch, back.
- 3Sprint to the far free-throw line, back.
- 4Sprint the full length and back to finish.
Coaching points
- Touch the line with your hand.
- Explode out of each turn.
- Stay under control on the stops.
Why kids love it
A classic line run — quick, competitive, and everyone finishes together.
Variations
Fewer lines, jog the returns.
Carry a ball and dribble every run, alternating hands each length.
Add the whole squad's completed runs and chase a team number instead of racing each other.