Footwork & Pivots

Two legal ways to catch and stop:

Jump stop — land on both feet at the same time. Bonus: either foot can then become your pivot foot.

One-two stop (stride stop) — land one foot then the other. The first foot down is your pivot foot, no choice.

Most traveling violations are sloppy landings. Master these two stops and the traveling rule mostly takes care of itself.

With a pivot foot established, you can front pivot (turn toward your chest) or reverse pivot (turn toward your back) to face the basket, escape pressure, or create a passing angle.

The rule: your pivot foot can rotate on the spot but cannot slide or lift before the ball leaves your hands (on a pass or shot) or your dribble starts. Lifting it early to shoot or pass is fine — it just can't return to the floor with the ball still in your hands.

From triple threat, a jab step is a short, hard fake step at the defender with your non-pivot foot. Watch their reaction: if they retreat, rise into a shot; if they lunge, drive past the side they've vacated.

Jab low and short (6–8 inches) so you stay balanced. A jab step is a question you ask the defender — their answer tells you what to do next. This idea, reading reactions instead of predeciding, will follow you all the way up this course.