Lateral movement is a fundamental basketball skill, says Darby Rich, strength and conditioning coach for the Texas A&M basketball team: “If you can’t defend your opponent, you have no chance of playing.”
The Aggies believe that lockdown defense is built on efficient lateral movement. To improve lateral movement, end-to-end speed and explosive jumping, they perform live basketball moves and drills in the adiPure Trainer.
Unlike high-end basketball shoes, the adiPure Trainer enables athletes to activate the muscles in their feet, ankles and calves. Take, for example, the Aggies’ Resisted Lateral Slide Drill, in which the athletes slide laterally, execute a drop step to backpedal, and then close out to the shooter.
Says Rich: “There’s a lot of stress that gets put on the ankles, knees and toes as we go through this drill. As you build from the foot up, you will become stronger throughout your entire body. When locked down in a basketball shoe, your feet can’t perform the same as they would [in the adiPure Trainer].”
The end result of performing basketball drills and movements in the adiPure Trainer, Rich says, is that “it allows our guys to sit down in their defensive stance and use their feet. When they get in the basketball shoe, their ankles are stronger, and they’re more prepared to sit down and guard somebody.”
See the Resisted Lateral Slide Drill in action, as well as the Aggies’ Cable-Resisted Rip Through Drill, both of which are performed in the adiPure Trainer. Watch the video above to learn more about Rich’s training philosophy.