Step-Back Jumper

Skill drill

Create separation for a jump shot with a controlled step-back.

8 min any Half court
ShootingBall-handlingU14U16

Technique guide

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

Get everyone ready

Attack to sell the driveDrive hard so the defender retreats. 1

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

A chair or cone inside the arc as the defender. The player attacks it, then creates space off it.

Look for: Sell the drive first — two hard dribbles right at the chair.

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

A chair or cone inside the arc as the defender. The player attacks it, then creates space off it.

  1. Attack the chair hard, as if driving a defender off the line.
  2. Plant and push off into a step-back, gathering the ball.
  3. Land balanced with your feet set behind you.
  4. Rise straight up and shoot with normal form.

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

  • Sell the drive first — two hard dribbles right at the chair.
  • Push off hard to create real space.
  • Land balanced — no fading, shoot straight up.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Step-back off one dribble from mid-range before extending the range.

Harder: Add a chaser who must touch the shooter's hip before the step-back is allowed.

Travel police: Call travel on any extra hop or dragged pivot and hand the ball straight to the next player.

What this drill teaches

Creating space without losing the shot. The chair sells the drive, the push-back creates separation — and the discipline is landing balanced with normal form, so the step-back is a real shot rather than a fading heave.

In games: Gives older players a legal, repeatable answer on game day when a good defender takes away the drive — space is created backwards instead of a forced shot going up.

What good looks like
  • Two hard dribbles that genuinely sell the drive first
  • Balanced landing, feet set, no drift or fade
  • Same follow-through as a normal jumper

U14: one-dribble step-backs from mid-range only — the three comes when the form holds. U16: full range, a chaser on the hip, and travels called honestly.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone

Setup

A chair or cone inside the arc as the defender. The player attacks it, then creates space off it.

Steps

  1. 1Attack the chair hard, as if driving a defender off the line.
  2. 2Plant and push off into a step-back, gathering the ball.
  3. 3Land balanced with your feet set behind you.
  4. 4Rise straight up and shoot with normal form.

Coaching points

  • Sell the drive first — two hard dribbles right at the chair.
  • Push off hard to create real space.
  • Land balanced — no fading, shoot straight up.

Why kids love it

A modern separation move older players want badly — taught with control so the form holds up.

Variations

Easier

Step-back off one dribble from mid-range before extending the range.

Harder

Add a chaser who must touch the shooter's hip before the step-back is allowed.

Travel police

Call travel on any extra hop or dragged pivot and hand the ball straight to the next player.

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