Players may slide both feet in most basketball situations, such as dribbling the ball, defending a player that has the ball, moving offensively without the ball and playing defense away from the ball. But in other circumstances, players cannot slide both feet. Players must learn the basketball rules regarding traveling, setting illegal screens or picks on offense and committing blocking fouls on defense.
Step 1
Learn to dribble the basketball well while moving. Practice this skill anywhere where you can bounce a basketball. Improve your control of the ball. You can keep moving your feet as long as you maintain your dribble. You can walk, jog and run up the court while dribbling. You can move side to side while dribbling. However, you also must learn to "establish your pivot foot." By planting one foot, you are allowed to pivot on that foot and slide their other foot while gaining an angle to pass, shoot or start your dribble.
Step 2
Move your feet on offense when you don't have the basketball. Players must move constantly in structured team offenses. When playing "pick-up" games with two or more players per side, remember to keep sliding and cutting to get open to receive passes and to create space for your teammates. Former college basketball player Brian Schofield suggests young players should emulate NBA star Rip Hamilton away from the ball. "He's everywhere and the guy guarding him just gets ran all over the floor the entire game," Schofield wrote on the Hoops Skills website. "He goes from side to side, and when he passes, he cuts or comes off another pick."
Step 3
Slide your feet to get into the proper position to set legal picks and screens while playing with the basketball. Anticipate the play and move early so you have time to get set. You may impede defensive players to assist your teammates if you do it correctly. You must establish position between the teammate and the opponent defending your teammate. Then you must set your feet and don't slide them. A stationary screen can create space for a teammate to shoot. A stationary pick may allow a teammate to break free of a defender while dribbling or cutting without the basketball.
Step 4
Slide your feet while playing legal defense. The better you can slide right and left, the better you will become defending on the basketball and away from it. Anticipate the play, gain proper defensive position and maintain that position.
Tips and Warnings
- You can pivot back and forth on your pivot foot, since you don't move it. To avoid traveling calls, start your dribble before sliding or picking up your pivot foot. Learn to dribble well with both hands. Learn to use either foot as a pivot foot. Give the defender proper room to react to the screen or pick or avoid blocking fouls. You may set yourself in the path of an offensive player if you give the player sufficient time to avoid you.
- Don't slide your pivot foot or switch pivot feet while controlling the ball in the post. If slide your feet at the last moment defensively to cut off a player, you may be called for a blocking foul.
