Purpose: This combination drill works on a variety of basketball skills and fundamentals. The offensive players work on dribbling, passing, jump stops, and layups or jump shots. The defender works on stopping the dribbler and then recovering to help defend the wing shot or drive. Drill: Two offensive players near midcourt, one in the middle with basketball and one near the sideline. One defender begins at the free throw line. O1 begins by dribbling toward the lane, forcing X1 to defend … [Read more...]
10 Defensive Tactics When Guarding the Basketball
Individual defensive techniques are very important in your overall defensive scheme. These ideas and tactics should be emphasized with your players as you teach one-on-one skills within your overall team defense. We know the importance of helpside defense and how a good team defense can utterly disrupt an opponent, however, each individual defender must also understand his responsibility for controlling his own man. The following tactics should be emphasized, taught, and discussed with your … [Read more...]
End of Game Situations Practice Drill
Purpose: To practice offensive and defensive execution in a variety of competitive end-of-game situations. Prepare your players in practice so they will be ready and composed during last second situations in games. Drill: This is a 5-on-5 drill; one team on offense, one on defense. Start the drill with a 60-second timeout. If and when your players are capable, let them conduct the timeout on their own. For younger players or less experienced players, a coach should be conducting the timeout to … [Read more...]
5-on-5 Change Drill
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...]
Lipscomb 35 Shot Drill
Purpose: To work on and improve shooting with the variety of shots and moves in this shooting drill that can be performed alone or with a partner. Drill: You need a partner, a basketball, and a basket. The drill is performed as follows: First 5: Layups off of one or two feet guarded by teammate. Try to make the lay-up clean. Take a couple of dribbles in from an angle and shoot it off the glass. Second 5: Call for basketball from partner and shoot mid-range jump shots. Move to new spot … [Read more...]
Team Free Throw Contest
Purpose: To develop and improve both individual and team free throw shooting with this competitive free throw shooting game. Drill: Divide the team into 2 groups. Each team will line up around the free throw line of their own basket. Split as you see fit; varsity vs. junior varsity, upper classmen vs. underclassmen, or just randomly. The coach will say 'begin' and the first player will shoot 2 free throws and then rotate. Each player will continue shooting 2 free throws and then rotating to … [Read more...]
10 Steps to Basketball Stardom
From her book, "Basketball for Women", Nancy Lieberman shares her 10 steps to stardom. As she says, these steps "can help you achieve and handle the success that will come with your hard work and dedication". Ten Steps to Basketball Stardom Competitive Greatness: Includes patience, your mental attitude, faith, determination, and fight. Coachability: Be hardworking, loyal, enthusiastic. Listen well. Have the ability to adapt to different systems. Be a leader. Skill Development: Have a will to … [Read more...]
Second Effort Tip Drill
Purpose: To help develop the ability to jump quickly multiple times in a row. Many times in rebounding situations, the ball gets tipped about but most players will only give one jump which can result in loss of possession. This drill works on the second effort as well as tipping it in to the basket. Drill: Players split into pairs. Use as many baskets as you have available, otherwise simply rotate as needed. O1 starts with the basketball. O2 will jump as high as possible and as he is coming … [Read more...]
Deny the Inbounds Toughness Drill
Purpose: To work on the ability to fully deny an inbounds pass. The main purpose with this drill, however, is as a toughness drill. Drill: The players set up as shown, with an inbounds passer, a offensive player, and a defender. The defender, X2, faces O2 and attempts to deny the pass attempt being made by O1. If O2 receives the pass, he will then try to score the basketball. X2 will attempt to stop him from scoring. Normal inbounding rules apply -- O1 only has 5 seconds to pass … [Read more...]
Box Reversal Return Play
Use this baseline inbounds play against a zone to get a 3-point shot or if the defense over-commits, an entry pass inside for a short jumper or layup. When the official hands the basketball to O2, O5 cuts out to the corner and O1 steps to the wing (maybe even sealing off the outside defender). O2 can make the pass to either player. If O5 receives the inbounds pass, he passes to O1 who reverses to O3. If O1 receives the inbounds pass, he immediately reverses to O3. O3 should pass … [Read more...]