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Suicides is a term used to describe a high-intensity conditioning drill used in basketball practices. It involves players sprinting to progressively further lines on the court and back, touching each line before turning and sprinting to the next. This improves speed, agility, endurance, and speed endurance, mimicking the quick bursts of energy needed during a game. It also improves coordination and defensive positioning. The number of suicides to be performed depends on the purpose of the drill and the age group of the players. While suicides are common in high school basketball, they are controversial at the youth level due to their intensity and negative connotations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Increase heart rate, get into game shape, improve conditioning, fitness, and cardio |
| Type of drill | High-intensity, short, conditioning, punishment |
| Length | 420 feet (high school court), 470 feet (college or NBA court), 370 feet (junior high court) |
| Number of suicides to make a mile | 12.57 (high school court), 11.23 (college or NBA court), 14.27 (junior high court) |
| Variations | Kobe Defensive Suicide Drill, defensive slides, shuttle runs |
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What You'll Learn
- Suicides are a conditioning drill used by basketball coaches to increase players' endurance, speed and agility
- The drill involves sprinting different lengths of the court, touching key lines, and returning to the starting position
- Suicides can be used as a form of punishment for players who are not focused or show up late to practice
- The number of suicides to make a mile depends on the type of basketball court being used
- Variations of the suicides drill include defensive slides and the Kobe Defensive Suicide Drill
Suicides are a conditioning drill used by basketball coaches to increase players' endurance, speed and agility
Suicides are a conditioning drill used by basketball coaches to increase players' endurance, speed, and agility. It is a high-intensity workout that involves sprinting to progressively further lines on a basketball court, pivoting, and then sprinting back to the starting position. This drill improves players' speed, endurance, and agility, helping them perform better during games. It also increases their heart rate and gets them into game shape.
The premise of the suicide drill is for players to start on a baseline, touch one of the lines, and then return to their original starting position. The challenging part is that the drill is continuous, and players must touch all but one of the lines twice. The lines used in this drill are the baselines, free-throw lines, and the half-court line. For example, players might start at one baseline, sprint to the free-throw line, return to the baseline, then sprint to the half-court line and back, and finally sprint to the opposite free-throw line and back. This continuous sprinting improves players' endurance and challenges them mentally, as they must push themselves even when tired.
The number of suicides to include in a drill depends on the length of the basketball court. A college or NBA basketball court is 94 feet long, so one suicide equals 470 feet. It takes approximately 11.23 suicides to make a mile on this court size. On the other hand, a high school basketball court is typically 84 feet long, resulting in one suicide equaling 420 feet, and requiring approximately 12.57 suicides to make a mile.
While suicides are an effective conditioning drill, some coaches also use them as a form of punishment for players who lose focus or are late to practice. However, it is important to prioritize player safety and consider the negative connotations of the drill's name. Additionally, suicides should be combined with strength training and other conditioning drills to provide a well-rounded training regimen.
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The drill involves sprinting different lengths of the court, touching key lines, and returning to the starting position
"Suicides" is a term used to describe a high-intensity conditioning drill used in basketball practices. The drill involves sprinting different lengths of the court, touching key lines, and returning to the starting position. This improves speed, agility, endurance, and speed endurance, or the ability to maintain maximum speed for longer. It also improves neuromuscular coordination and athletic performance.
To perform the suicide drill, players line up on the baseline underneath the basket. On the coach's whistle, players sprint to the near free-throw line, touch it, and then sprint back to the baseline. They then sprint from the baseline to the half-court line and back, and finally, from the baseline to the opposite free-throw line and back. This completes one suicide. The drill can be repeated multiple times, with players aiming to improve their speed and endurance.
The suicide drill can be adapted to different court sizes, such as junior high, high school, and college or NBA courts. The length of the court will determine the total distance covered in one suicide, with longer courts resulting in greater distances. For example, one suicide on a junior high court totals 370 feet, while on a high school court it is 420 feet, and on a college or NBA court, it is 470 feet.
While the suicide drill is effective for improving conditioning and simulating the stop-and-go nature of a basketball game, it is important to consider player safety and the negative connotations of the drill's name. Coaches should use suicides in conjunction with other drills and strength training exercises to provide a well-rounded conditioning program for their players. Additionally, suicides should not be overused as they are not enjoyed by players and can be a painful experience.
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Suicides can be used as a form of punishment for players who are not focused or show up late to practice
Suicides are a common drill among basketball players, particularly at the high school level. They are used by basketball coaches to increase the conditioning level of each player on the team. Suicides are a high-intensity drill that involves sprinting different lengths of the basketball court. The premise of the drill is to start on one baseline, touch one of the lines, and then return to the original starting position. The challenging part of the drill is its continuity—the drill is not complete until you touch all but one of the lines twice.
The number of suicides a player should do can vary depending on the coach's discretion and the specific needs of the team. Some coaches may have players do a set number of suicides, such as 5 or 10, while others may use suicides as a continuous drill until the players improve their focus or arrive on time. Additionally, the number of suicides can depend on the length of the basketball court, as the distance covered in each suicide will vary. For example, on a high school basketball court, one suicide is approximately 420 feet, while on an NBA or college court, one suicide is approximately 470 feet.
It is important to note that while suicides can be an effective tool for improving conditioning and discipline, coaches and parents should prioritize player safety and consider the negative connotations of the drill's name. There are also alternative conditioning drills that coaches can incorporate into their practices, such as defensive slides, which can provide variety and different challenges for the players.
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The number of suicides to make a mile depends on the type of basketball court being used
"Suicides" is a term used for a high-intensity conditioning drill used by basketball coaches. It involves players sprinting different lengths of the basketball court. The exact distance covered in a suicide drill depends on the type of basketball court being used and how many laps or sprints are completed.
A college or NBA basketball court is 94 feet long, while a high school basketball court is 84 feet long, and a junior high basketball court is 74 feet long. The length of a basketball court in the UK is 91.8 feet (28 meters), and the international standard is 92 feet (28 meters).
To determine how many suicides make a mile, we need to calculate the total distance covered in a suicide drill for each type of court. For example, on a college or NBA court, a suicide drill might include sprinting to the free-throw line and back (38 feet), to the half-court line and back (94 feet), and to the opposite free-throw line and back (130 feet). This would result in a total distance of 470 feet for one suicide. Dividing the total distance of a mile (5,280 feet) by 470 feet, we find that it takes approximately 11.23 suicides to make a mile on a college or NBA court.
On a high school court, the distances covered in a suicide drill might be slightly different due to the shorter court length. For instance, a suicide drill could include sprinting to the free-throw line and back (38 feet), to the half-court line and back (84 feet), and to the opposite baseline and back (168 feet). This would result in a total distance of 420 feet for one suicide. Dividing 5,280 feet (the distance of a mile) by 420 feet, we find that it takes approximately 12.57 suicides to make a mile on a high school court.
Similarly, on a junior high court, the distances covered in a suicide drill will be shorter due to the court's length of 74 feet. Assuming a similar pattern of sprints as the other courts, one suicide might include sprinting to the free-throw line and back (38 feet), to the half-court line and back (74 feet), and to the opposite baseline and back (148 feet). This results in a total distance of 370 feet for one suicide. Dividing 5,280 feet (a mile) by 370 feet, we find that it takes approximately 14.27 suicides to make a mile on a junior high court.
Therefore, the number of suicides to make a mile depends on the type of basketball court being used, ranging from approximately 11 to 14 suicides for a college, NBA, high school, or junior high court. These calculations assume a certain pattern of sprints within the suicide drill, and the actual distance covered may vary depending on the specific drill and the coach's instructions.
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Variations of the suicides drill include defensive slides and the Kobe Defensive Suicide Drill
"Suicides" is a term used to refer to a high-intensity conditioning drill used in basketball practices worldwide. It involves players sprinting different lengths of the basketball court. The players line up on the baseline and, on the coach's signal, sprint to various lines on the court, touching each line before sprinting back to the baseline. This process is repeated for each line, with players running to the free-throw line, half-court line, opposite free-throw line, and finally the opposite baseline. This drill improves cardiovascular fitness, speed, agility, and endurance, mimicking the quick bursts of energy needed during a game.
While suicides are effective for conditioning, some coaches also use them as a consequence for losing a drill or losing focus during practice. This adds an extra layer of motivation for players to stay engaged and competitive during drills. However, the term ""suicide" has been criticised for its negative connotation, and there are concerns about the risk of injury, especially with repetitive sprinting without proper warm-up routines.
Variations of the suicides drill include defensive slides and modifications to make it more accessible for younger players. Defensive slides are incorporated at each checkpoint before players sprint back to the starting line. This further enhances the drill's ability to improve players' coordination and defensive skills. To make the drill less intense for younger players, modifications can include shorter sprints, fewer repetitions, and longer rest periods.
Additionally, some coaches incorporate full-court basketball drills that combine conditioning with ball handling, offensive and defensive drills, and other skill-specific exercises. These variations allow players to work on their basketball skills and fitness simultaneously, making the most of practice time.
The number of suicides to include in a drill depends on the desired intensity and the specific goals of the coach. Some sources suggest that even a single suicide can be an effective consequence for losing a drill, while others propose more extensive routines. For example, a routine consisting of 5 lengths of the court in 30 seconds or 10 lengths in 60 seconds can be challenging. The number of suicides can also vary depending on the size of the basketball court, with longer courts requiring more suicides to cover the same distance.
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Frequently asked questions
Suicides are a high-intensity conditioning drill used in basketball practice. It involves sprinting to progressively further lines on the court and back.
There is no right or wrong time for doing suicides. It can be used as a form of punishment for a team or player if they are not focused during practice, show up late, or negatively impact the team. It can also be used at the end of practice to work on conditioning.
The distance run in a suicide depends on the type of basketball court. On a junior high court, one suicide equals 370 feet, while on a high school court, it equals 420 feet, and on an NBA or college court, it equals 470 feet.
To do a suicide, start on one baseline, touch one of the lines, and then return to the original starting position. Repeat this process for all the lines on the court. The challenging part of the drill is its continuity—the drill is not complete until you touch all but one of the lines twice without stopping.
