Basketball Conditioning Drills:
Horses

Of all the basketball conditioning drills we'll come across during our coaching experience, Horses are second only to Suicides for popularity and effectiveness.

Horses carry Suicides one step further, repeating the suicide in reverse so that the player essentially runs two suicides back to back. It is all start and stop, quick bursts of speed before changing direction, just like in the game. Part anaerobic since it is sprinting, part aerobic because it lasts so long, it's a great basketball conditioning drill that will exhaust players while building their sport-specific conditioning.

Instructions to Players

Here's what players need to focus on:

• Players must touch the lines with their hands, not feet - i.e., they need to bend down and come to a complete stop at each line
  
  
• Be sure they are spaced out - you don't want them running into each other.
  
  
• This is a speed drill - they need to sprint, not jog, especially in the last section or two when they become really exhausted.
  

How this Basketball Conditioning Drill Works

Players line up on the baseline. On the coach's whistle, players start sprinting When the players reach the foul line (extended), they stop, touch the line, then sprint back to the baseline, stop and touch the baseline. Immediately they sprint to the half, stopping and touching the half line, and then sprint back to the baseline, stopping and touching the baseline. Immediately they sprint to the far foul line, stopping and touching the foul line, and then sprint back to the baseline, stopping and touching the baseline. Immediately they sprint to the far baseline, stopping and touching the baseline, and then sprint back to the original baseline. Now they work their way back to the beginning, touching lines in reverse order to what they have already done... ...sprint to three-quarter court (far foul line), touch the line and sprint back to baseline ...sprint to half, touch the line and sprint back to baseline ...sprint to foul line, touch the line and sprint back to baseline That is one horse.

This is great conditioning for basketball, as it simulates the speed and stop-start action that the game requires. Use this any time you feel your team's conditioning is lacking, especially in the early pre-season when conditioning is a priority. Horses are also a part of an exceptional basketball conditioning workout called the 8-8-18 - an excellent workout when you want some serious conditioning.