Purpose: To develop the ability to properly react on a pass to either closeout on the basketball or to move into help position. This drill also converts into a live, competitive 2-on-2 situation. A coach or manager starts with the basketball and stands near the basket. O1 and O2 start outside the three-point line. X1 and X2 start in the lane near the low block but in front of the coach so they can't see where he will pass the ball. The drill begins when the coach passes the basketball to … [Read more...]
Point Lob Play
Get a quick and easy basket with this lob play from the top. Your point guard can receive the lob or another player can easily be moved into the lob position. O2 cuts to the wing and receives the pass from O1. O5 flashes to the opposite low block, replacing O2. O4 steps up to set a screen for O1. O1 sets up his defender and cuts to the basket for a lob pass from O2. If O3's defender has over-helped on O1's cut, O2 can look to make a skip pass to O3. If O1 was not open for the lob pass, O4 … [Read more...]
Stack 3 Zone Defense
The Stack 3 Zone Defense is an effective defense that can be used against a team with an excellent guard. It will also work well against a team with no inside threat. The Stack 3 Zone Defense is so named because of how the defensive guards are in a "stacked" position near the free throw and three-point lines. The other three defenders align themselves in a baseline zone formation. The Stack 3 Zone Defense is most similar to a 1-3-1 zone defense because the slides and coverages are kept the … [Read more...]
Full Court Line Play
This last second full court play should be run against a man-to-man full court pressure defense. It won't be very effective against a full court zone defense or if the opposing team is simply playing half court defense. Three players form a line along the free throw lane. One player starts near the midcourt line and, of course, one player takes the ball out of bounds. O2 should be your best passer -- at least someone capable of throwing a baseball pass. O3 should be a quick player that is not … [Read more...]
Spin Off Around Inbounds Play
'Spin Off Around' is a simple baseline out of bounds play to learn and run and it can be utilized against both man-to-man and zone defenses. If the initial cuts don't create an open shot, the reversal option against a zone surely will! When the official hands the basketball to O1, O5 posts his defender and then spins into the lane looking for a pass from O1. At the same time, the weakside player in the line at the free throw area (in this diagram, O4) cuts over the top of the line and … [Read more...]
Team 70 Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To develop free throw shooting under pressure. Each player is under pressure to make his shot because the team needs to finish with a total percentage made of 70% or greater. Drill: You can utilize all available baskets but, personally, I like to keep the team all at one basket. If they are all at one basket, they can encourage each other. If you have a lot of players or if you want to speed up the time it takes to do this drill, use more than one basket. All players will take turns … [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...]
Score Against Two Drill
Purpose: To work on offensive ball handling and scoring ability. This drill helps to develop offensive ball skills and dribble moves that are required in order to score against two defenders. Drill: Three players per basket; one offensive player and two defensive players. A defender starts with the basketball. The drill begins with one of the defenders handing the basketball to O1. O1 attempts to score against the two defenders, X1 and X2. Perform for specified number of attempts, scores, or … [Read more...]
The Convertible Zone Offense
The following zone offense is designed to create many problems for most zones. It is convertible to meet odd front (1-2-2 and 1-3-1) zones or even front (2-3 and 2-1-2) zones. The Convertible Zone Offense is from Mike Harkins in a book titled "Successful Team Techniques in Basketball". Coach Harkins coached Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) from 1960-1976, sending 10 teams to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. He compiled a 290-158 record at EMC, winning 12 conference … [Read more...]
Lob Continuity Zone Offense
The Lob Continuity play is designed to create multiple scoring opportunities, with the easiest of all being a lob pass for a layup or dunk. It is an effective quick hitter that can also be run as a continuity as the ball swings and reverses from side to side. The Lob Continuity play starts with O1 passing the basketball to O3 on the wing. O3 then dribbles down toward the corner. O1 follows his pass and replaces O3. O2 cuts to the top and O4 flashes to the ballside elbow. O5 posts up on … [Read more...]