Side-Step Shooting

Skill drill

Create a sideways shot off the dribble to dodge a closeout.

8 min any Half court
ShootingFootworkU14U16

Technique guide

Any group size · 1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone

Get everyone ready

Dribble along the arcOne hard dribble along the three-point line. 1

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

A chair or cone on the arc as the closing defender. The player dribbles along the line and side-steps away from it.

Look for: A quick, wide side-step creates the space.

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

A chair or cone on the arc as the closing defender. The player dribbles along the line and side-steps away from it.

  1. Take one hard dribble along the three-point line.
  2. Side-step laterally away from the chair, as if dodging a closeout.
  3. Gather and set your feet quickly.
  4. Rise and shoot with balance.

Suggested reset

At a two-player basket station, the shooter retrieves their attempt and returns the same ball to the next shooter, then waits clear of the finishing lane. For a prescribed shooting set, finish the set before swapping. With more players, split across baskets or rotate short sets; keep spare balls off the active shooting line.

Coaching cues

  • A quick, wide side-step creates the space.
  • Set your feet fast — square to the rim.
  • Same follow-through as a catch-and-shoot.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Side-step from a stationary start, no dribble.

Harder: Put a live defender on the closeout so the side-step direction is a read, not a script.

Both ways: Alternate side-stepping toward the sideline and toward the middle on every rep.

What this drill teaches

Relocating off the dribble. One lateral step away from a closing defender turns a contested shot into an open one — but only if the feet reset square and fast, so the drill grooves quick footwork into an unchanged shooting motion.

In games: Beats the game-day defender who closes out hard and straight — instead of forcing a contested shot or a wild drive, the shooter slides one step and shoots in space.

What good looks like
  • One wide, quick side-step — not a drift of little shuffles
  • Feet reset square to the rim before the rise
  • Follow-through identical to a catch-and-shoot

U14: side-step from a standstill first — feet tangle off the dribble. U16: live closeouts, with the step direction read off the defender, both ways.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone

Setup

A chair or cone on the arc as the closing defender. The player dribbles along the line and side-steps away from it.

Steps

  1. 1Take one hard dribble along the three-point line.
  2. 2Side-step laterally away from the chair, as if dodging a closeout.
  3. 3Gather and set your feet quickly.
  4. 4Rise and shoot with balance.

Coaching points

  • A quick, wide side-step creates the space.
  • Set your feet fast — square to the rim.
  • Same follow-through as a catch-and-shoot.

Why kids love it

Teaches shooters to relocate off the dribble and beat hard closeouts.

Variations

Easier

Side-step from a stationary start, no dribble.

Harder

Put a live defender on the closeout so the side-step direction is a read, not a script.

Both ways

Alternate side-stepping toward the sideline and toward the middle on every rep.

Related drills