Purpose: The 'Tip-Out' Rebounding Drill helps players work on the ability to tip the basketball to a teammate when grabbing the rebound is not possible. Drill: Two teams line up on one side of the free throw lane, shown in the diagram by Team 1 on one side and Team 2 on the other side. The coach or manager stands in the middle of the circle and will either toss the ball up in the air or bounce it hard off the floor so it goes high into the air. When the ball is tossed, the first … [Read more...]
Backcourt Sideline Advantage Play
The Sideline Advantage Play is an out of bounds play that can be used when inbounding the basketball from the defensive sideline when there are mere seconds left in the game. It is most effective when the defense is playing man-to-man defense with some pressure. Assuming the opposing team is ahead (or even tied) with about 4-10 seconds left, they will probably apply light pressure so the ball cannot be advanced quickly. This play hopes to use the pressure so we can a numbers advantage on the … [Read more...]
When to Apply Pressure Defense
If your basketball game strategy doesn't involve pressing the entire game, when should you press? Should you press at all? How long or how often should you apply pressure? Should you press in the halfcourt or in the fullcourt? Should you run a zone press or man-to-man press? We'll try to answer these questions and more in this article. In discussing 'When to Press', we're going under the assumption that you don't normally press during a basketball game. If you are a pressing team and like to … [Read more...]
Basic Zipper Set Play
The Zipper Set utilizes a zipper cut and is generally run out of the box set formation. The 'zipper cut' is a cut used off of a downscreen from the elbow to low block. It is a straight cut from block to perimeter. In the play below, O2 and O3 are both performing zipper cuts. In this Basic Zipper Set Play, O1 dribbles to the wing while O5 sets a downscreen for O3. O3 cuts directly up the lane to the top. Depending upon how O3 is being guarded, he can cut off of either side of O4. O1 … [Read more...]
Evade the Defender Dribbling Drill
Purpose: To work on making a dribble move past a 'live' defender. This is a necessary game skill, yet we most often practice this either individually or utilizing a chair or cone as a defender. Why not practice how we play in a game? Drill: 2 lines. 1 offensive line at the top and 1 defensive line under the basket. The first defender begins in the lane while the first offensive player begins with a basketball outside the three-point line. The shaded area is being used to show an area you can … [Read more...]
1-3-1 Control Game Offense
The 1-3-1 Control Game Offense is a continuity offense with a baseline roamer. This offense works equally well against man-to-man or zone defenses. A control game is much like a delay game in that you are attempting to control the tempo of the game. You can certainly achieve this tempo in a motion- or passing-style offense but, depending upon your team and personnel, you may prefer to do this via a continuity offense. To begin the 1-3-1 Control Game Offense, the players align themselves as … [Read more...]
Detecting and Defending Individual Weaknesses
Every basketball player has a weakness. Yes, even the great players have a weakness ... or at least something they are not as good at in comparison to what are their obvious strengths. To find these individual weaknesses, it does take careful observation. A smart coach and intelligent player will detect these weaknesses and adapt his or her defense to take advantage of them. You may detect these weaknesses through prior scouting or you may need to detect them early in the game. For help in … [Read more...]
Reversal Read Play
The Reversal Read sideline inbounds play can be used most effectively when taking the ball out of bounds near the free throw line extended. The objective is to make the defense move by reversing the basketball. In this diagram, O3 is the inbounds passer and the other four offensive players set up in a box formation on the lane. O3 takes the ball out of bounds. When the official hands him the basketball, O2 screens for O1 and O4 screens for O5. O3 passes to O1. O1 now has the ball and … [Read more...]
Choosing Your Basketball Offense
Many basketball coaches will say that you should select your offense and stick with it from season to season. Is that correct? Are there nuances and strategies to consider? How do you choose which offense to run? When do you choose which offense to run? We'll attempt to answer those questions and more in this article. The majority of basketball coaches do not have the luxury of "selecting" their players. What I mean is that most of us are not big-time college and professional coaches who can … [Read more...]
The Combination Switch Defense
The Combination Switch Defense can be quite advantageous against disciplined and deliberate offensive teams. These are the teams that run a patterned offense such as the flex, shuffle, etc. It also works against teams that run a motion or passing game and like to take time off the clock. Basically, in The Combination Switch Defense, the defenders will play man-to-man defense for the first 3 or 4 passes. (The number of passes needs to be understood so all players switch at the same time). Once … [Read more...]