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Inside-Out Leverage Shuffle

Stay on the inside hip of a runner so they can only go toward the sideline; no contact.

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

Set up

Set a lane with a sideline cone line.

Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of balanced stances.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Cones, partner
Level · skill
Developing · Defending

The steps

How it works

  1. Set a lane with a sideline cone line.
  2. Your partner jogs and tries to cut back inside.
  3. Shuffle to stay on their inside hip, a yard away.
  4. Do 8 reps each side, then swap.

Coaching point

Inside hip, force them out.

Safety: No contact in this drill; any contact work is only with a coach. Head up and to the side, eyes on the target. Never lead with your head.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Shadow-form game: practice the stance and footwork on a partner’s walking line with no contact at all. Swap, and share one thing you liked.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of balanced stances.

Story

You are a shadow that stays right in front of its owner.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own run of balanced stances. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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