The zigzag drill teaches lateral movement without crossing feet. The cones mark the change of direction points. This is foundational footwork for one-on-one defense.
What you need: 5 cones placed in a line 6 feet apart. Flat court.
Setup: Place cones from baseline to halfcourt (or mark with tape). Kid starts at the first cone in a defensive stance.
How to run it:
- Cue: Stance, Slide, Mirror, Hands. Get in stance. Feet shoulder-width apart. Knees bent.
- Slide laterally to the right until you reach the next cone.
- At the cone, plant and slide left to the next cone.
- Continue zigzagging through all 5 cones.
- Walk the speed (no sprinting). Focus on footwork, not speed.
- Do 2 full reps. Rest. Do another set of 2.
What to watch: Are they crossing their feet or keeping them apart? Feet must stay shoulder-width apart. No crossing. That’s a fundamental error.
If they’re struggling: Space cones 8 feet apart instead of 6. Slow the footwork. Do just 3 cones.
If they’ve got it: Time them. See if they can improve their time without crossing feet.