Line Touches

Warm-up

Raise the heart rate and warm up starting and stopping.

4 min any Full court
FootworkU8U10U12U14U16

Step-by-step walkthrough

Any group size · none

Get everyone ready

Baseline startFour players illustrate separate running lanes. Keep enough space for everyone to stop and turn. 1234

● Player / attack

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Players on the baseline facing up the court.

Look for: Touch the line with your hand.

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

Players on the baseline facing up the court.

  1. Sprint to the near free-throw line, touch it, sprint back.
  2. Sprint to half court, touch, back.
  3. Sprint to the far free-throw line, back.
  4. Sprint the full length and back to finish.

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

  • Touch the line with your hand.
  • Explode out of each turn.
  • Stay under control on the stops.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Fewer lines, jog the returns.

Harder: Carry a ball and dribble every run, alternating hands each length.

Team Total: Add the whole squad's completed runs and chase a team number instead of racing each other.

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.

What good looks like
  • 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

  1. 1Sprint to the near free-throw line, touch it, sprint back.
  2. 2Sprint to half court, touch, back.
  3. 3Sprint to the far free-throw line, back.
  4. 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

Easier

Fewer lines, jog the returns.

Harder

Carry a ball and dribble every run, alternating hands each length.

Team Total

Add the whole squad's completed runs and chase a team number instead of racing each other.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill