Purpose: To improve defensive transition and the ability to match up quickly, stop the ball, and communicate effectively and efficiently. Drill will also work on offensive transition and improve conditioning. Drill: 5-on-5 on one end of the basketball court. The five offensive players are running the offense as normal while being defended by the five defenders. On coach's whistle or by calling 'change', the offensive player with the basketball will simply drop it or set it on the ground. The … [Read more...]
Continuous 10-Second Basketball Game
Purpose: To practice and develop decision-making abilities in a full speed game situation. Offensive players will also work on scoring when a basket is needed. Defensive players will work on stopping the offense from scoring when that is needed. Also a great drill to improve conditioning. Drill: Divide your squad into 2 teams, with 5 players from each team on the court (5 offense vs. 5 defense). The teams will play a normal full court game of 5 on 5 with one exception ... each time they gain … [Read more...]
Sprint Recovery Drill
Purpose: To help players understand the importance of never playing defense from behind the ball, especially when in a full court pressure situation. Players must work at not only stopping the dribble but staying with their assignment the entire play. Drill: Two players start in the corner; O1 has a basketball, X1 is on defense. A third player, O2, starts near the midcourt line. O1 starts the drill by dribbling up the sideline. X1 must get ahead and cut him off. When O1 is cut off, he … [Read more...]
2-on-2 Catch Up Drill
Purpose: To work on scoring and defending in a transition situation. The offensive players will attempt to score while the defensive players will need to sprint and then defend the offense from scoring. Drill: 4 players line up along a baseline as shown by players 1-4 in the diagram. A player on one end begins with a basketball (O1 in our diagram). The drill starts with O1 passing to O2, who passes to O3, who passes to O4. Players O1 and O3 will become defenders once they pass the ball so … [Read more...]
2 Minute Transition Game
Purpose: To work on offensive and defensive transition in a 5-on-5 competitive, game-type situation. Drill: Players 1 through 5 are on offense. Players x1 through x5 are on defense. The teams will stay on offense or defense for entire 2 minutes. The drill begins with the offensive team taking the ball at the top. They will run the offense and attempt to score. On a made field goal, the offensive team will take the ball out of bounds and break the other way down the court. The defensive team … [Read more...]
Progressive Transition Drill
Purpose: To work on transition offense and defense in a progressive manner. The Progressive Transition Drill works on all the various situations a team will face in a game; 1-on-0, 2-on-1, 3-on-2, 4-on-3, and 5-on-4. Develops conditioning and decision-making in a competitive, game-like situation. Drill: In this diagram, 'W' = white jersey and 'D' = dark jersey. If your players wear reversible jerseys, then 4 players will be in darks and 5 players will be in whites. This full court drill sets … [Read more...]
Eagle Transition Drill
Purpose: To work on the transition from offense to defense and defense to offense. The offensive players work on getting back quickly to stop or slow down the offense. The defensive work on the transition to offense by pushing the ball and attacking the defense. This drill requires players to hustle and anticipate. Drill: 3 players on offense and 3 players on defense. Additional players are in the 'outlet' position out of bounds. An offensive player begins the drill by shooting the … [Read more...]
3-on-2 with Trailer Drill
Purpose: To prepare the defenders when transitioning back on defense in a disadvantage situation. The emphasis of this drill is for defense, but offensive players will get to work on the transition offense part of the game as well. Drill: Six players are needed for this drill, along with a coach or manager at the baseline. 3 defensive players are positioned along the free throw line extended with their backs to the coach at the baseline. 3 offensive players are positioned in front of the … [Read more...]
Defending the Dribbler with Momentum
Purpose: To work on defending the dribbler who has already begun dribbling upcourt, much like in a pressing defense situation. Drill: X1 begins with the basketball at the free throw line extended. O1 begins on the baseline. The drill starts with X1 rolling the ball to O1 and then sprinting and touching the halfcourt line with a hand. X1 then comes back in a defensive position and attempts to stop O1 from advancing the ball up the floor via the dribble. O1 will begin dribbling once he receives … [Read more...]
5-on-5 Catch Up
Purpose: To work on transition defense by getting back quickly, stopping the basketball, and communicating effectively in a disadvantage situation. Drill: Five offensive players line up on the baseline. Five defensive players line along the free throw line extended across from the offensive players. A coach starts behind the defenders with a basketball. The drill starts with the coach passing to any one of the five offensive players. Once the offense receives the ball, they will transition … [Read more...]