Equipment Needed
- Open space (no ball needed)
Build out your practice kit
This drill needs nothing but two players and open space, but a basic coaching-aid kit keeps the rest of practice moving.
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- Pair up players facing each other about 3 feet apart in a defensive stance (knees bent, arms out).
- Designate one player as the leader and one as the mirror.
Instructions
- The leader moves side to side, forward, and backward in small, controlled steps.
- The mirror player copies every movement, staying in their stance and matching the leader's speed and direction.
- Switch roles every 30-45 seconds so both partners get equal reps.
- Add a freeze call where both players must instantly stop in a balanced defensive stance.
Coaching Points
- Stay low with knees bent - a high stance gets beaten easily.
- Slide the feet, don't cross them, when moving side to side.
- Keep eyes up and hands active, not down watching the leader's feet.
Variation
Add a ball in the leader's hands (without dribbling) to simulate guarding a player who just picked up their dribble.