backward movementoverheadsafety
Move Safely for a High Ball Without Backpedaling
Running straight backward is both slower and more likely to cause a fall.
Start with this check
Backpedaling while the body faces the net can tangle the feet, and looking continuously overhead for the landing point makes balance easier to lose.
Try these steps in order
- As soon as the ball goes up, turn sideways and look into the space where you will move.
- Use crossover steps to get well behind the ball first, then adjust with smaller steps.
- Check your distance from the fence and stray balls, and abandon the shot if the situation is unsafe.
Bottom line
The quickest way back is not to backpedal, but to turn and move sideways.
Reviewed sources
Technical evidence is shown separately from community topic signals.
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