I left in some of the mistakes on purpose, because it’s important to see that messing up is part of the process, especially when we’re focusing on building new skills. This is exactly why I lean more toward skill enhancement training instead of just basic skills training.
If this drill was stripped down to only layups, these girls wouldn’t miss. But once I added distractions, suddenly the layups became harder. That’s the point.
In this drill, the tennis ball forces players to lock in on pace and timing. If your footwork and ball-handling don’t match the rhythm of the tennis ball, everything feels off. The second part of the drill takes it further: players have to float the ball on the under-drag, switch their feet to attack from a new angle, place the tennis ball inside the cone, then grab it again.
It looks simple, but if your timing or pacing is off, this drill will expose it. And that’s the value. It enhances multiple skills at once and builds real versatility.
Basketball is a game full of distractions. The players who can finish consistently through them are the ones who separate themselves.
That’s why skill enhancement training matters, when you push yourself like this, the actual game feels easier.