Open-Quarter Ball Control

Introduction to Open-Quarters Ball Control

If Close-Quarters movements are focused on small spaces and dodging attacks, Open Quarter movements are focused on moving at speed with abrupt and significant changes in direction to throw the defense out of alignment and denying an opponent even the option to attack.

Open-Quarter Skill Inventory

Fast-Break Dribbling

Top and outside of the foot, foot slightly tucked in so that it allows you to kick and plant with each dribble touch, either one step (fast, but controlled) or two steps (complete unleashed) between each dribble-touch. This technique allows for a more natural (and as a consequence faster, and more repeatible) set of motions.

In this motion we are trying to strike a balance between speed, and control. If we kick the ball too far out (say three steps per dribble) then we provide the defender a larger opportunity to step in and intercept our dribble. To small and we don't move fast enough, leaving us vulnerable to being stood up and tackled, double-teamed, or shoulder-tackled off the ball.

Gate-Stops

The goal is to be able to Fast-Break dribble then stop on a dime using the outside of the foot, as if it stopped at a gate. Use of the outside of the foot (as opposed to the top of the foot) enables us to solidly stop the ball and in one motion turn in the direction that provides the most opportunity. [Drill: set up a gate, and a cone at distance. Launch from the gate, turn at the cone, dribble back to the code and stop it with the side of the foot. Work on the inside- and outside-of-the-foot varieties of this drill]