Usain bolt is the fastest man in the world because he has a unique combination of stride length and stride frequency. His length gives him an advantage as he blows by his opponents. When you think about defense the same two principles apply. How frequent you stride and how much ground you cover. The problem is many basketball players have hip tightness specifically in the adductors (groin), therefore they never optimize their stride length resulting in an inefficient lateral movement. For many of these athletes a hip mobility program is the solution for better lateral movement and ultimately better defense.
Below is an example of a hip mobility routine that should be implemented daily for your basketball athlete:
5-Way Hip Mobility
By Jon Sanderson MS, CSCS, MSCC, USAW, TPI, FMS, NASM-CES
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Michigan Basketball
