Basketball Fundamentals 101
Fundamental Basketball Skill #2 - Jump Stops
Effective jump stops include strength, control and balance. For hundreds more drills and exercises to help improve and develop these athletic skills, check out the Hoops U. Book "The Complete Strength and Speed Program" available in comb-bound paperback or downloadable eBook!!
Jump stops are one of the most underemphasized fundamental skills in basketball today. You may be thinking, "Well, it is a good skill but is it all that important in order to be a good player?". YES, it is a necessary skill. It is a good habit for guards, as well as for bigs. Below, you will learn why I think the Jump Stop is an integral part of a player's offensive arsenal and one of my 'Nine Fundamentals' of basketball. But first:
What is the 'Jump Stop'?
The jump stop is a method used to come to a completestop. Both feet must land simultaneously - either parallelor staggered - in order for it to be a jump stop. Somereasons the jump stop is so valuable are:Why use 'Jump Stops'?
1) Jump stops give you control and strength.
When a basketball player performs a jump stop (a fundamentally and technicallysound jump stop), the player will automatically complete the movement and bein a strong, controlled, triple threat position. The jump stop allows you toeffectively stop quickly with the ball. Done properly, you will stop withbalance, as well as with control and strength. There is less of a chance you willstumble and travel as might happen when not executing a jump stop. You willalso be able to stop amongst traffic and still be under control and strong withthe ball. This will allow to perform in a way that is most difficult to defend. The jump stop is key anywhere on the court, but it is especially useful in thelane and around the basket, as discussed in #2.2) Jump stops allow you to utilize a variety of offensive moves.
To best explain this aspect as to the importance of jump stops, follow thisexample: if a player penetrates into the lane and utilizes a jump stop, he/shewill have an abundance of potential options to choose from. This player cannow go up strong with a shot, pass to a teammate closer to the basket, kick theball out for a possible 3-point shot, and make an up & under or step throughmove. The player can also execute shot fakes and pass fakes in order to createa scoring opportunity.Controlled, strong, powerful jump stops are also virtually impossible to defend.The next time you play or work with your team, attempt some jump stops andsee what I mean. If you jump stop in the lane and are strong with the ball, yourdefender and any possible help defenders will not know what you are going todo. You will have various passing options and shooting options -- throw in someball fakes -- and the defense cannot easily defend you.3) Jump stops eliminate unnecessary, stupid mistakes.
One of my biggest pet peeves as a coach is watching a player make a nicepenetration move to the basket and then jumping off of one leg, getting in theair, and making a needless mistake such as throwing the ball away or taking ahorrible looking shot. I know you've done it and/or seen it plenty of times foryourself.When you jump off one leg with defensive traffic all around you are not alwaysunder control and you will not always be able to make a play that helps yourteam. Bad things can happen in this situation such as a defender stepping inthe way of a pass or shot attempt, you may take an off-balance shot, you maymake a player-control foul, etc... All of these could have been eliminated byusing the jump stop!In performing a jump stop, the emphasis and teaching points are:
- In order to be a jump stop, you must land simultaneously on both feet
- Stop with balance and control
- Land with knees bent and in a triple threat position
- Be strong and utilize ball fakes, pass fakes and shot fakes
- More tips and pointers will be found in the drills below
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