Purpose: To teach offensive transition principles, poise, and teamwork in a fun and fast-paced drill. Drill: Team O1 starts at midcourt with the basketball and goes 4 on 2 versus Team X1 Two players from Team X1 begin at midcourt outside the sideline. When O1 begins across midcourt, the two extra defenders sprint to the midcourt circle and then become 2 more defenders to make it 4 on 4. Team X1 rebounds a miss (or takes it out of bounds after a made shot) and goes 4 on 2 against Team O2, … [Read more...]
3-Man Straight Break Drill
Purpose: To teach the players how to properly fill the lanes on a fast break. Drill: This is a simple drill that can be used to work on fast break techniques. The wing players stay wide and make a sharp cut to the basket while the middle player executes a jump stop at the foul line and makes a good pass to a cutting wing. The wing players should plant their outside foot and make a sharp cut to the basket. The players can go down in groups of three or they can go down and back in their … [Read more...]
High Pick with Screen Option
This 'High Pick' box set play is a difficult quick hitter to defend. It utilizes a pick and roll and a couple of cuts/screens to create kick-out options on the middle drive. There is also a built in option for a player to either cut or set a doublescreen. The play begins with O4 setting a screen for O1. O3 clears diagonally to the opposite corner while O1 penetrates to the middle. O2 uses a baseline screen from O5 to clear to the other side. O4 will step out or roll to the basket, depending … [Read more...]
Cycles
Purpose: To teach and develop transition offense in a game-like situation. The focus and emphasis for this drill is on the offense but it will also work on transition defense and is a fabulous drill to build game-type conditioning. Drill: This drill requires 10 players (5 on offense, 5 on defense). Two defenders (X4, X5) wait out of bounds on the opposite baseline, while three defenders (X1, X2, X3) wait out of bounds on the starting side of the court. The five offensive players begin on this … [Read more...]
1-4 Short, Long, or Lob Options Play
This quick hitter from the 1-4 set has three great scoring options. There are two possible layups and one three-point shot option. In the first option, O1 dribbles off a high screen set by O5 while O2 dives to the low block. As soon as O1 reaches the wing area, O2 goes up and sets a diagonal back screen for O4. O1 could make the pass to O4 for a layup. This is the first option. As O2 sets the back screen, O5 slides down and screens for O2. O1 can pass to O2 for a three-point shot. This is … [Read more...]
Lion Fast Break Drill
Purpose: To teach players the fundamentals of a 3-man fast break. This full court drill also incorporates passing, rebounding, outlet passing, throwing a baseball pass, and conditioning. Drill: Form three lines along a baseline with the basketball in the hands of a wing player. As the three players proceed upcourt, the wing passes to the middle player who passes to the opposite wing. The middle player receives a return pass, dribbles to the foul line and performs a jump stop. Middle player can … [Read more...]
Pick and Roll, Pick and Roll
No, I am not stuttering by naming this the 'Pick and Roll, Pick and Roll'! This quick hitter from the 1-4 set incorporates a staggered pick and roll for multiple scoring opportunities. This is an effective man-to-man basketball set play that utilizes a staggered double screen to isolate a player for dribble penetration and a layup/jump shot or to create a scoring opportunity for the screener. The play begins with O1 passing the basketball to O2 on the right wing. After passing, O1 cuts … [Read more...]
Man-to-Man Press Break Clearout
Against full-court pressure defenses, passing is generally the best weapon. However, against full-court man-to-man pressure, a strong ball handler may be the most effective weapon. Once the basketball has been inbounded and it's in the point guard's hands, his teammates may clear out of the backcourt so that the dribbler can bring the ball up the court against his defender in a one-on-one situation. The dribbler should try to stay in the middle of the court and dribble with his head up, … [Read more...]
Fast Break after Stolen Pass Drill
Purpose: To teach the concept of quickly transitioning from defense to offense and converting a stolen pass into a cheap basket at the other end. A stolen perimeter pass is a great opportunity for a quick basket and should be capitalized upon whenever possible. Drill: Place 3 lines on one end of the floor, as shown. The first player in each line will start at about the free throw line / free throw line extended. The coach will throw the ball to any one of the 3 players, who either passes to … [Read more...]
Downscreen to Doublescreen
This is a simple box set play to install and can create a couple of good scoring opportunities. As the name of the play indicates, it also incorporates a downscreen and a doublescreen. O3 initiates this box set quick hitter by setting a downscreen for O5. O5 pops out to the wing as the first option. If open, O1 should look to pass to O5. After setting the downscreen, O3 swings to the opposite wing, using a doublescreen from O4 and O2. O3 is the second option. … [Read more...]