Drop Step Traveling Call

[Nate1224hoops]

Originally posted by ATXCoach
I coach a girl's summer team and subscribe to the power post approach. I teach my posts to drop step without dribbling. Many of their high school coaches differ and tell them they are travelling, eventhough the very same officials that call the summer games referee the high school games.

With regards to the my* drop step, it's rarely called a travel, but I can't find any rules that say why it's legal. I teach the drop step as follows: After catching the ball with both feet on the ground, 1) immediately chin or forehead the ball with elbows out; 2) drop with the baseline foot to the basket; 3) bring the other foot around and put it on the floor; and 4) jump off both feet and shoot.

When I am asked why the move isn't a travel by my players, I don't know what to say. Thanks for any help.

* I've seen lots of literature and video that show jumping off the dropping foot, without putting the other foot on the floor first.

I am also a coach and you are teaching your kids to travel. What you need to do is to teach your kids to take that initial drop step as the ball is coming. When the pass is received then the drop step has already occurred and it now becomes the pivot foot. So that the other foot can move up beside drop stepped foot. This is the way I teach it.