You want to use the backdoor cut when the defense is overplaying you, denying you the ball.  You want to take the defense to the 3-point line, calling for the ball, lunge as if you are going to receive the pass, plant your outside foot (change direction), push off and explode (change speed) to the hoop looking for the pass.

Agilities
There are a number of different drills used to increase agility, quickness and footwork.  You can utilize the drills in any order you wish in any combination you want.  To ensure improvement in your overall quickness and agility you should do these at least three times per week.  If done on a consistent basis these drills will improve overall quickness and agility.  The Jump Rope drills that follow are great for footwork and upper body strength.  These are some of my favorites from college conditioning coaches.

The dot drill will be difficult at first, you may appear clumsy.  However, if you do it on a regular basis, improvement will come rapidly.  You can have quicker feet in a short time.

(Dot setup:  The top two dots are approximately 20-24 inches apart.  The back dots are about 20-24 inches  from the front dots, with the middle dot being placed directly in the center, see diagram.)

There are five (5) separate drills and each is repeated a total of five times.  Do each separate drill continuously, right after the other.

1. Up and Back - Repeat five times.
   Start with feet on A & B, jump quickly to C with both feet, then quickly to D & E.
   Come back the same way.

2. Right Foot - Repeat five times.
   Your feet from up and back should be on A & B.  Now go to dot C with your right foot.  Now go in order:  Dot D, E, C, A, B.

3. Left Foot - Repeat five times.
   You will end the right food drill on dot B.  Now go to C with the left foot.  Now go in order:  Dot D, E, C, A, B

4. Both Feet - Repeat five times.
   You will end the left foot drill on Dot B.  Now go to C with both feet.  Now go in order with both feet:  Dot D, E, C, A, B

5. Turn Around - Repeat five times.
   You will end the Both Feet drill on Dot B.  Now go to C with both feet.  Now go to D & E with both feet as in Up and Back.  Now jump and turn 180 degrees and face the other way.  You should still be on D & E.  Hit C with both feet, and then A & B with both feet like Up and Back.  Now turn quickly 180 degrees with feet still on A & B.

1. Front to Back - Repeat 6 times or do in 15 or 30 second intervals.
   Right foot starts on Dot E and left foot on Dot A.  Proceed like a running motion, pumping arms.  Right foot goes to Dot B and left foot to Dot D.

2. Around the Horn - Repeat 6 times or do in 15 or 30 second intervals.
   Both feet start on Dot B.  Jump to Dot E, then D, to A and back to B.

3. Figure 8 / One Leg - Repeat 6 times or do in 15 or 30 second intervals.
   Right leg first, start on Dot A and go in a figure 8 pattern (A, C, E, D, C, B)  Do the same with the left leg.

Drills can be done for short 15 to 30 second intervals at high intensity going for maximum speed.  Repetitions (quickness) or longer continuous sets switching between the different types of jumps (conditioning).

1. Two legs

2. Alternate

3. Two Right, Two Left

4. Front Scissors - One foot in front of the other, then switch.

5. Lateral Scissors - Two feet together, then spread.  In-Out.

6. Ski Jump - Two feet side to side, like downhill slalom.

7. Front/Back Jump - Front and back over a line.

8. Crossover - Like carioke.  In front and then behind.

9. Square Jump - Two feet in a square.

10. "X" Feet - Feet apart on A, B, together on C, apart on D, E.

11. Heel Toe - Right heel out, right toe back, left heel out, left toe back and repeat.

12. Backwards

13. Running One Leg Crossover - Running motion with rope.  Step over line with opposite foot with each jump.

14. Kick Outs - Legs in straight, knees in locked position, kicking feet out in front.

15. High Knees - Running in place, drive knees up to waist.

Ball-Handling Drills

1. Use your fingertips and the pads of your fingers (NOT your palm).

2. Keep your head up at all times.

3. Keep your dribble low (at least below your waist).

4. Protect the ball with the arm you are not using to dribble.

5. Pound the ball!  A hard dribble makes you Ball Quick!

1. Control Dribble - Used when you are being closely guarded.  Keep the ball below your waist and keep your body between the ball and the defender.

2. Speed Dribble - Used in the open court when you want to get the ball up the court quickly.  Push the ball out in front of you while maintaining control.

3. Crossover Dribble - Used when you want to change directions.  Cross the ball over from one hand to the other, low (below your knees) and in front.

4. Inside-Out Dribble - Used to make the defense think you are going to change directions.  Dribble hard at the defender, bring the ball inside and look in that direction (as if to crossover) and quickly pull it back, keeping the ball in the same hand.  Push off the opposite foot and explode past the defender to the basket.

5. Hesitation Dribble - Used to keep the defender off guard.  Act like you are pulling up to shoot, tilt your head and shoulders back, then explode by the defender.

6. Through the Legs Dribble - Used to change direction.  Must bring the ball low to go through your legs.

7. Behind the Back Dribble - Used to change direction.  You must get low and bring the ball close to your body.  Wrap the ball around your back and push it out in front, bringing the ball to the opposite hand.  Hit your butt with your hand as you wrap the ball around to insure the ball stays close to your body.

1. Ball Slaps - Slap the ball hard from one hand to the other 25 times.  This improves the strength in your hands and fingers, which is vital in catching the ball in traffic.

2. Pinch - Hold the ball with your fingertips with elbows extended.  Pinch or squeeze the ball back and forth from hand to hand.  Do not bat the ball; squeeze it.  The ball should never touch the palm of your hands.  Keeping the elbows extended, move the ball down to the floor and up over your head as high as you can reach.

3. Around the World - Move the ball around head, waist, knees and back up.

4. Figure 8 - Start the ball in your right hand and pass it between your legs to your left hand.  Bring the ball to the front of your left leg and pass it between your legs to your right hand, bring it around your right leg and continue this movement in a figure 8 motion.

5. Dribble ball around right leg with right hand, then left leg with left hand.

6. Dribble Figure 8 - Same motion as #4, but dribble the ball.

7. Crossover - Cross the ball back and forth in front of your body with one hand, then 2 hands.  Keep the dribble low.

8. X-Out Drill - This is a dribbling and lay-up drill designed to improve your timing, eye-hand coordination, balance, and quickness.  Begin with the ball in your right hand on the right elbow.  Use one dribble to go to the basket and shoot a lay-up, grab the rebound out of the net and take 2 dribbles to the opposite elbow with your outside (right) hand.  Plant your left foot on the elbow, pivot toward the sideline, switch the ball into your left hand and go hard to the basket for a left handed lay-up.  Continue to do this for 30 seconds.  The goal is to make 8 lay-ups in seconds.

9. Dribble Series - Start at half court on either side and go to the basket using each of the different dribbles one at a time.  You can go all the way to the hoop and shoot the lay-up and you can also pull-up for the little jumper.  After shooting, dribble up the opposite side working on that same dribble.  Then go back hard to the hoop.  Go through each dribble two times on both sides.

Tips on Shooting Technique
Details make the difference - learn the details.  Good form is correctable.  Every shot should be mechanically the same.  You are the most important coach - because you're always there.  Footwork!! Come in low, using the 1-2 step.  Learn body awareness.  Use your check system after every shot.

• Feet - balance - good base

• Follow through - let your shooting hand stop itself

• No negative motion

1. Head remains still, leaning slightly forward and in front of your shoulders
2. Keep your eyes on the target.

1. Show the palm of your hand as a target.
2. Spread your fingers wide to allow a comfortable grip on the ball. 
3. The palm does not touch the ball.
4. Form the letter "T" with your thumbs.
5. The shooting arm should form the letter "L" above the lead foot.
6. Cock the wrist until skin wrinkles.
7. On your follow-through, your elbow is above your eyes.

1. Positioned on side of ball to hold the ball in place on your shooting hand.
2. Guide hand does not shoot the ball.  The fingers should point straight up after the shot.
3. Do not twist, turn or drop your guide hand.

1. Feet are shoulder width apart.
2. Lead foot (right foot for right-handed shooters) is slightly forward and pointing towards the basket.
3. Knees bent and balanced, leaning slightly forward on the balls of your feet.
4. Come in low and use your legs to increase the range of your shot.
5. Remember... LOW TO HIGH on your shot!!

1. The ball should strike the top corner of the glass box on the downward flight of the ball.

2. Make your follow-through point on a line above the glass box so that the high follow-through produces a high arching shot off backboard.

3. Put a slight amount of backspin on your shot off the glass to soften your shot.

4. Square your body to the block, not to the rim.

5. Think HIGH and SOFT.

1. Using the glass allows you to get the ball over the extended arms of shot blockers.  You must naturally shoot the ball a little bit higher off the glass than you normally do in your regular jump shot, to kiss he ball off the glass on the downward flight of the shot.  This extra few inches is often enough to get the ball over the hands of a shot blocker.

2. Use the backboard in the low post when you know you will be receiving a hard foul.  This increases your chance of making a shot while being fouled.

3. Shooting off the glass allows you to penetrate harder to the basket and still make a high percentage shot.

4. Make any 45 degree angle shot within 10 feet of the basket an automatic bank shot to reduce indecision between using the glass and shooting straight at the basket.