How to Use Pivot Foot for Basketball Defense

Video Transcript

"Okay, let's talk a little bit about footwork in relation to defense. And, specifically, pivoting. Pivoting, as in offense -- there's just a little bit of difference, because in offense, once you establish a pivot foot, a base for which you can move around, you've got to stick to that particular foot. Well, on defense, obviously, we don't have to do that. Pivoting -- if you get a shot of my feet here -- you can see all pivoting is, is establishing a base foot and then moving around, keeping that base foot in one spot and moving your body around in any direction off of that base. So that's your pivot. Left foot or right foot, whichever one you want to use. The way that we want to think about it when we're playing defense, and fronting up our man, and getting in good position to box them out to get a rebound -- footwork is key. You don't want to be shuffling your feet, one off of the other and trying to figure out your footwork. You want to have that stuff be automatic and not have to think about it. So the best thing that you can do is to either step into your man with one foot when you're finding him -- whether it's your right foot or your left foot, depending on which side they're on, more to your right or more to your left. You can step in and then pivot back and put your back side to them. If it's your left foot, left foot forward and then pivot around, so you're always keeping them on your backside. But establishing that pivot foot by stepping into your opponent, and giving a quick pivot so you put them on your backside. So, that's what we say by pivot foot. Always use a pivot foot, whether it's your right or your left. Practice both of them because you're going to use both of them."