Featured Tip: Quick First Step
You may have heard the comment before, "He/she has a quick first step." What does it mean? Why is it so important? A great example of a person with a quick first step is Allen Iverson of the 76ers. His first step after he makes a move is extremely quick. Because of this, he is able to blow by most of his defenders. A quick first step is defined as the first step you take after you make a dribble move trying to get away from the defense. There are two important factors to remember when making that first step:
- Cover some distance. Don't just take a regular step; take a BIG step toward the basket. The bigger the step, the harder it is to recover and defend.
- As soon as you make your first dribble and continue, keep your head up, looking at the basket. So many times, young athletes put their head down, looking at the basketball. Keep your eyes on the basket. If you have your eyes up, you can see what movement you created from the defense. If you've gotten by your defender, there is a good chance another defender will come help and leave their person open. You can't see that if you are looking at the basketball. Keep your head up as soon as you put the ball down.
I suggest you work on the Jab and Go move, 10 times to the right and then Jab and Crossover, 10 times to the left, emphasizing that first step. The more you concentrate on working on your first step, the quicker it will become.
