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Step-Back Shooting

Create space with a step back and shoot on balance.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Dribble at the elbow as if attacking.

Core: Free-throw line. Beat your own best of makes out of 10.

Ages
14 and up
Time
12 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Basketball, hoop
Level · skill
Advanced · Shooting

The steps

How it works

  1. Dribble at the elbow as if attacking.
  2. Plant your inside foot and push back.
  3. Land on balance and shoot.
  4. Take 10 from each elbow and each wing.

Coaching point

Push back, land square, then shoot.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Shooting gallery: two teams of two take turns at the hoop from marked spots, and each team adds up only its own makes.

Challenge

Pick a spot: Less (close), Core (free-throw line), More (a step back). Beat your own best of makes out of 10.

Story

You are an astronaut and the hoop is the docking port, so every make is a perfect landing.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best of makes out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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