Unlock Your Best Game: Essential Footy Tips and Drills for Every Position

Let’s be honest, we’ve all seen it happen. A team looks sharp in practice, the pieces seem to fit, and then… they stumble in a game that, on paper, they should have controlled. It’s a reminder that unlocking your best game isn’t just about raw talent; it’s about position-specific mastery and a mindset that translates practice into performance. I was reminded of this recently when I saw that San Miguel, a powerhouse team, lost a tune-up game to Meralco, 95-91. Now, a preseason loss isn't catastrophic, but that close scoreline—a mere 4-point difference—speaks volumes. It tells me that even the most skilled rosters can be undone by small, positional lapses, a lack of cohesive execution in crunch time, or simply by an opponent who was better drilled for that specific contest. That’s what we’re here to tackle. Whether you're a point guard orchestrating the offense or a center anchoring the defense, your role has unique demands. And generic advice only gets you so far. Over the years, both playing and coaching, I’ve come to believe that targeted, position-specific work is the fastest route to genuine improvement. So, let’s break it down.

For the guards, especially the point guard, your game is played in your mind as much as with your hands. Everyone will tell you to work on your handle and your vision, and they’re right. But I want you to think smaller. Drill with a purpose that mimics exhaustion. Try this: after a full-court sprint, immediately set up at the top of the key and run a pick-and-roll while a coach shouts defensive coverages at you. Can you make the right read when you’re gasping for air? That’s the difference. I’ve always preferred a pass-first mentality, but today’s game demands you be a triple-threat. Your shooting drill shouldn’t be 50 spot-up shots. Make it 10 off the dribble going left, 10 coming off a pindown screen, and 5 step-backs with a defender in your space—simulate the contest. As for shooting guards and wings, your off-ball movement is your lifeblood. I’m a stickler for the “v-cut.” It’s simple, it’s old-school, and it works 90% of the time to create separation. A drill I love is the “three-spot flare” series. Start in the corner, sprint to the wing, receive a pass, and shoot. Then, immediately cut baseline to the opposite corner, flare out to the wing, catch and shoot. Do this for five minutes straight. It builds game-condition stamina and shooting footwork simultaneously. And defensively, for all perimeter players, stop sliding side-to-side in a perfect stance during drills. It’s not real. Work on the “closeout and contain” drill. Start under the basket, sprint to close out on a wing player, get into a defensive stance for two seconds, then react to their drive, funneling them toward the help side. That’s a real possession.

Now, let’s talk about the bigs. Forwards and centers, your world is about physicality and precision, often in that order. A power forward’s modern game, in my view, is the toughest to master. You need a reliable 15-foot jumper, the footwork to score in the post, and the agility to switch onto guards. A non-negotiable drill is the “face-up and attack” from the elbow. Catch, jab step, read the defender’s weight, and then either drive, shoot, or pass. Do this hundreds of times. For rebounding, it’s not just about jumping high. It’s about positioning. Use the “box-out and pursue” drill: have a coach shoot intentionally missed shots while you first make solid contact with a pad-holding defender, then release to chase the ball. Ten reps of this will gas you, but it builds real habit. For centers, rim protection is your currency. But a blocked shot is just one outcome. I value altering shots and forcing misses more highly. A great drill is the “help and recover” sequence. Start in help position in the lane, react to a pass to a corner, close out to contest (without fouling!), then immediately recover to box out your original man. This teaches the constant, grueling movement required inside. And please, work on your free throws. If you’re shooting below 65%, you’re leaving easy points on the table and becoming a liability in close games. I don’t care how many hook shots you make; a center who can’t hit free throws is easier to defend in the fourth quarter.

Bringing it all together is where teams like San Miguel, or your own squad, separate themselves from the pack. That 95-91 loss I mentioned earlier? It often comes down to a few failed executions—a guard not reading a switch correctly, a big missing a rotation, a wing not relocating after a pass. Team drills must have consequences. Scrimmage with a twist: every turnover results in a sprint for the offending unit. Every defensive breakdown means the entire team does five push-ups on the spot. It creates accountability. I’m a huge proponent of “advantage-disadvantage” drills, like 5-on-4 fast breaks to sharpen decision-making under pressure. The goal is to make practice harder than the game, so that when you’re in a tight one, like a 95-91 nail-biter, your positional instincts and conditioned responses take over. You don’t think; you execute what you’ve drilled a thousand times. Ultimately, unlocking your best game is a daily commitment to refining the specific skills your position demands, then integrating them seamlessly with your teammates. It’s the work you do when no one’s keeping score that determines what happens when everyone is. Start with these focused tips and drills, and watch your game—and your team’s—rise to the next level.