One of the rule changes by the NCAA for the upcoming 2025-2026 season now allows for continuous motion of one step or pivot to complete a player’s shooting motion. Seeing that if I understand the new rule; consequently, when an offensive player is fouled while landing on two feet, any pivot or step through to finish the field goal attempt will be waived off.
Therefore, should there be any shift in coaching philosophies to encourage more 1-foot finishes around the rim instead of playing off 2-feet?
The question everyone should be asking is, W. W. J(W). D. ?
What would Jay Wright do? The coach who put Villanova fundamentals on the national stage for re-vitalizing the concept of playing off two feet would be tasked to choose between emphasizing principles over potential And-One’s!
Coaching The Differences Between 2-Feet & 1-Foot Finishes
It seemed the trending philosophy over the past couple decades had been get to 2-feet for power, balance, and options. Rather than 1-foot finishes, which is likely the less efficient scoring option particularly when heavily contested. The why behind the instruction for getting to 2-feet is convincing players of the higher probability for scoring and lower probability for turnovers. It’s also worth considering any age and strength imbalance; a freshman driving the lane in a college game plays at a different weight class than the 5th year senior contesting any shot. Playing off two-feet can throw off the timing of opposing defenders, or if deciding against the shot altogether coming to a jump stop allows for drive and kick options.
But with the recent rule change, our staff is having second thoughts if fundamentally playing off 2-feet takes possible points off the board. That same freshman now has increased odds at getting to the free throw line if intending to take off on one-foot instead of two based on an official’s interpretation of continual motion. Given the fact that this generation of athletes taps into more personal training for skill-development there’s an increased variance (usage) for 1-foot finishing packages.
- Same Leg. Same Hand
- Eurostep
- Slow-step or Deceleration
- Veer Finish
It will be interesting to see over the course of an entire season how many times coming two-feet penalized a possible and-one opportunity versus the single-leg drive. Rather than slowing players down to ensure balance, college coaches will have to consider, even embrace teaching controlled acceleration: longer strides, one-foot takeoffs, and mid-air reads through traffic.
What we can all be certain of is the amount of players yelling “And-One” despite missing the shot after the foul is called will be at an all-time high at the college level.
Coach's Climb 