Pivoting

Pivoting is an art of maneuvering or turning from one place or direction to a different position or direction, using one foot as your pivot. This is a skill where most of the postmen/center eludes their opponent inside the shaded area. Pivoting is a critical skill for every aspect of the game. It may appear easy but in pressure situations you will have to be able to pivot with the basketball in your hands while pivoting the ball from the defense. Simultaneously, you must also decide whether to shoot, pass, or dribble.

In addition, pivoting is just one part of more complex skills, such as changing direction on the dribble, shooting and passing off the dribble, one-on-one moves facing the basket and posting, and rebounding.

Steps to Observe in Developing your Pivot

1. Be sure that after you land on your pivot you are in good basic stance with your feet spread at least a shoulder width apart and parallel, knees bent and head up.

2. Forward or front or front pivot clockwise on the ball of your right foot 90 degrees or one-quarter turn to your right. In other words, after yo have landed on your feet, pick up your left foot and swing it around in front, so you are facing to the right.

3. Never allow your heels to land flat on the floor.

4. Throw your weight to the desired direction using one of your feet in place.

5. See to it that you maintain your defensive stance, as execute the pivot.

Point of Emphasis:

1. You should be in low, balanced, body position with your feet spread at least a shoulder width apart and parallel, knees flexed and head up.

2.Pivots of half turn will require an even lower center of gravity than pivots of a quarter turn.

The Reverse Pivot

The reverse pivot is especially important when playing man-to-man defense, boxing out and turning rebounding and executing posting moves. The reverse pivot is a little more difficult than the forward pivot because it requires better balance and greater body control.

* Be sure that after you land, you are in good basic stance, with your feet spread at least a shoulder width apart and parallel knees bent and head up.

* Reverse pivot counterclockwise on the ball of your right foot 90 degrees or one quarter turn to your left. In other words, after you have landed on your feet, pick up your left foot and swing it around behind you so you are facing left.

Points of Emphasis:

1. Reverse pivots require little more balance and body control than forward pivots, so be sure that before you pivot, you are in a low, balanced body position with your feet spread at least a shoulder width apart and parallel. Your knees and waist should be bent with your head up.

2.Reverse pivots of a half turn will require an even lower center of gravity than reverse pivots of a quarter turn.