Lee Taft
@leetaft
movement specialist, mentor, & coach. Revolutionizing athletic speed for 35+ years.
I have used my "cone stack" drill as an asessment tool for years. It helps the coaches to identify so many components to movement. Simple drill but shows a lot of "good" stuff. Plus, the athletes love this drill so they usually go all out.
Grade-2 ankle sprain athlete has gone from limping into the Speed Cave 2-wks ago and working on ROM and balance training to now performing this rapid bounce footwork. 6-feet btw cones and up and back 5-trips. Roughly 65-seconds. She’s a fighter 💪
You’d be shocked what a simple box jump test reveals… Twisted landings. Asymmetry. Hidden ankle, knee, hip or spine issues. In Speed Insiders, I break down how to see movement like a pro…and coach it with purpose. → SpeedInsiders.com
Of course there are players/families who survive it! They say it was the best thing they did It doesn’t make it right! AAU youth BBALL is badly broken- it’s taken away the foundation of youth development And Replaced it with an angry, aggressive, adult-driven business model.
Ever see an athlete tilt toward you when they push? It’s a small lean—but it shows instability. Speed isn’t just about going fast…it’s about control. 👉 Inside Speed Insiders, I break down these subtle signs that matter. SpeedInsiders.com
Parents!! Lifting weights matters more than you know. Your kids need to be involved in a well structured strength training program!
Another effect Hip Turn strategy to Escape and Attack Space. Other Hip Turn strategies can be found here: SpeedInsiders.com Basketballspeed.com
A textbook Hip Turn to escape with width and depth. Want to coach this with confidence? 🏀 BasketballSpeed.com has the full system—real drills, smart fixes, and faster, safer players.
The Hip Turn isn’t just a move…it’s a strategy. ✅ Disassociate upper/lower body ✅ Escape & attack space ✅ Punch the ground with precision I teach the full system, how to coach, cue, and progress it inside Speednsiders.com
With the backpedal, the key is staying in front of your vertical plane, not falling behind it. That’s why I teach push & reach, not push & step. It’s a small shift with a big impact on control, balance, and athleticism. Want the full breakdown? 👉SpeedInsiders.com
Band Resisted Backpedal places emphasis on the front side to encourage the push. Give it a try with your athletes. Backpedaling isn’t just moving backward, it’s a skill. Want the full breakdown of the backpedal, plus the other 6 movement patterns? SpeedInsiders.com
Great example of a Wedge-Lateral Run. Get hip to hip and step through not allowing the screen to pick off defender or ball handler to gain leverage. BasketballSpeedSpecialist.com
Most coaches say “backpedal.” Informed coaches know how to teach it, & when to use the compact vs extended version. ✅ Compact = quick changes ✅ Extended = more ground Both matter. Know when & how to coach each. SpeedInsiders.com
It’s that time of year! “make 10-full court layups in a minute or less”. The style we play requires a level of conditioning which allows speed all game. We primarily train for high levels of speed/quickness- but the full court layups show up at least 1-2 times per week.
Most coaches teach the backpedal… But are you coaching it correctly? Compact Backpedal: hips hinge back, knees drive forward, & the quads power a sharp, controlled push. Short, quick steps = speed & balance. Big, high steps = loss of control. SpeedInsiders.com
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Backpedal Breakout… Most see a backpedal. Great coaches see the setup for the breakout. This breakdown shows how posture leads to a clean plant and explosive acceleration. Want the coaching eye to spot it all? → It’s inside Speed Insiders. SpeedInsiders.com
Officiating needs to be completely blown up and retaught! It’s disgraceful. Missing a tough questionable call is one thing. Missing an obvious flagrant act needs to be investigated and major fines, suspension, and termination needs to start occurring.
Athletic Movement Reads are built on experience of having seen it before and reacting using the speed needed to accomplish a task. The chosen pattern is a conduit btw what I see and what I do to compete. Athlete owns the read. Coach supports the read w/ enhancement of pattern
This slant board drill teaches them to snap down, stay stiff, and bounce back up. It’s not about absorbing—it’s about reacting. Want to coach elasticity with simple tools? 👉 All inside the 24-module Speed Insiders Course: SpeedInsiders.com