The jump stop is when you land on both feet at the same time. It’s more balanced than the step-step. From the jump stop, you can shoot, pass, or go up strong.
What you need: Basketball. 8-foot basket. Flat court or half-court.
Setup: Kid starts on the wing about 15 feet from the basket.
How to run it:
- Dribble hard toward the basket.
- At about 8 feet from the basket, pick up the dribble (stop bouncing).
- Jump and land on both feet at the same time. This is the jump stop. Both feet land together.
- From the jump stop, go up for a layup or floater.
- Do 5 reps from the right side, 5 from the left. Rest. Do 2 rounds.
What to watch: Do both feet land at the same time or does one arrive first? Both feet must land together for the jump stop to be correct.
If they’re struggling: Let them walk the approach instead of dribble. Move closer to 5 feet from the basket. Reduce to 3 reps per side.
If they’ve got it: Add a defender. The jump stop gets them balance to shoot over pressure.