Behind-the-back vs Between-the-legs in Sports - What is The Difference?

Last Updated Feb 2, 2025

Between-the-legs moves enhance agility and ball control in sports like soccer and basketball, allowing players to maneuver past defenders with precision. Mastering this technique can elevate Your gameplay by improving speed and deception on the field or court. Discover effective strategies and tips for perfecting between-the-legs skills in the rest of this article.

Table of Comparison

Move Between-the-Legs Behind-the-Back
Description Dribbling technique where the ball is passed between the player's legs to change direction. Dribbling move where the ball is moved behind the player's back to evade defenders.
Common Use Quick change of pace and direction, often to confuse defenders. Maintaining control while shielding the ball and changing direction discreetly.
Game Types Basketball, Soccer, Hockey Basketball, Soccer, Hockey
Advantages High element of surprise; effective in tight spaces. Better ball protection; less chance of ball theft.
Skill Level Intermediate to Advanced Advanced
Risk Higher risk of ball loss if timing is off. Requires strong control to avoid turnovers.

Introduction to Basketball Dribbling Techniques

Between-the-legs dribbling enhances ball control and protects the ball from defenders by allowing rapid direction changes while maintaining close contact. Behind-the-back dribbling offers deception and fluidity, enabling players to switch hands safely and navigate through tight defenses without exposing the ball. Mastering both techniques increases a player's versatility, agility, and effectiveness during game play.

Understanding Between-the-Legs Dribble

The between-the-legs dribble offers superior ball control and quick directional changes, making it essential for effective basketball handling under pressure. Unlike the behind-the-back dribble, it provides enhanced visibility of defenders and court space, allowing players to maintain better situational awareness. Mastering the between-the-legs technique improves hand coordination and agility, crucial for creating offensive opportunities.

Behind-the-Back Dribble Explained

Behind-the-back dribbling enhances ball control by allowing players to protect the ball from defenders while quickly changing direction. This technique involves swinging the ball from one hand to the other behind the player's back, creating space and deception on the court. Mastery of the behind-the-back dribble improves offensive versatility and helps maintain momentum during tight defensive pressure.

Key Differences Between the Two Moves

Between-the-legs dribbling involves bouncing the basketball through the player's legs to switch hands and protect the ball from defenders, enhancing ball control and agility. Behind-the-back moves entail dribbling the ball around the back to change direction while shielding the ball, offering more deceptive maneuvers in tight defensive situations. The key difference lies in the ball's path: between-the-legs passes the ball under the legs, while behind-the-back routes it around the back, each requiring distinct timing and body coordination.

When to Use Between-the-Legs in Gameplay

Use between-the-legs dribbling in gameplay when aiming to protect the ball from tight defenders by creating a physical barrier with your body. It is ideal for quick direction changes and maintaining close control in confined spaces, such as during pick-and-roll situations. This move also helps in setting up crossovers or driving lanes while reducing the risk of turnovers in crowded defenses.

Optimal Scenarios for Behind-the-Back Dribbling

Behind-the-back dribbling offers optimal control and deception during fast breaks and tight defender coverage, allowing players to shield the ball while changing directions quickly. It's especially effective in transition phases where maintaining dribble speed and protecting the ball from reaching defenders is crucial. This technique also enables smoother passing angles and prepares the ball handler for immediate shots or drives without telegraphing their next move.

Benefits of Mastering Both Moves

Mastering both between-the-legs and behind-the-back moves enhances ball control, agility, and deceptive playmaking in basketball or soccer, expanding offensive options. These skills improve hand-eye coordination, allowing players to maneuver past defenders with fluidity and confidence. Developing proficiency in both techniques leads to increased versatility, making athletes unpredictable and harder to defend against.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Between-the-legs and behind-the-back dribbling techniques often suffer from common mistakes such as poor ball control and lack of fluidity, leading to turnovers. To avoid these errors, players should maintain low body posture, keep their eyes up, and practice consistent wrist control for smooth ball handling. Repetitive drills emphasizing hand positioning and footwork can significantly enhance execution and reduce the likelihood of losing possession during these moves.

Training Drills for Dribble Improvement

Between-the-legs and behind-the-back dribble drills enhance ball control and hand coordination. Between-the-legs drills improve quick hand transitions and protect the ball under pressure, while behind-the-back drills develop spatial awareness and smooth directional changes. Combining both drills in training routines accelerates overall dribbling speed and versatility for basketball players.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Move for Your Game

Choosing between between-the-legs and behind-the-back moves depends on your playing style and court situation; between-the-legs offers quick changes in direction and ball protection, ideal for close defensive plays. Behind-the-back moves provide deceptive angles and surprise elements, making them effective for offensive maneuvers and creating space. Mastering both techniques enhances versatility, allowing players to adapt dynamically and maintain control under pressure.

Between-the-legs Infographic

Behind-the-back vs Between-the-legs in Sports - What is The Difference?


About the author. JK Torgesen is a seasoned author renowned for distilling complex and trending concepts into clear, accessible language for readers of all backgrounds. With years of experience as a writer and educator, Torgesen has developed a reputation for making challenging topics understandable and engaging.

Disclaimer.
The information provided in this document is for general informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be complete. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we cannot guarantee that the details mentioned are up-to-date or applicable to all scenarios. Topics about Between-the-legs are subject to change from time to time.

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