Coaches must take time to teach correct footwork, as this underpins everything that a player does (on either offence or defence). Coaches should not assume that players have efficient footwork – some will have, but many will need improvement in how they run or change direction.

Changing step length is another very important aspect of footwork, and is particularly important when attempting to beat an opponent – small steps can be used to slow down, and long steps to accelerate quickly.

One of the best ways to improve footwork is to play games that require players to avoid other players (such as “tag”).