The 'Cut off the Flash' sideline inbounds play is a good play you can use to get an easy layup. Having a player cut off the player that is flashing toward the inbounder creates an opening because the flash defender is defending the pass and not prepared to help on the cut. The cutter's defender will get hung up on the screen. When the official hands the ball to O1, O4 flashes as though he is going to receive the pass from O1. As O4 is flashing to the ball, O2 sets up his defender by taking … [Read more...]
Layup Deflection Drill
Purpose: To work on recovering and defending a layup attempt when beaten off the dribble and there is no help. This drill will help defenders learn to deflect or disrupt the layup attempt. When the dribbler gains a half-step advantage on the defender, the defender should not make matters worse by fouling, especially as a player is shooting a layup (think 3-point play!). The defender should attempt to stay with the dribbler and deflect the shot as the layup is attempted. Drill: Two players … [Read more...]
Step In Triple Screen Option
In this out of bounds play from a box formation, the player passing the ball inbounds should be your best scorer. When the official hands the basketball to O2, players 1, 3, and 5 pop out to get open. 2 passes to 5, who then passes to 3, who passes to 1. After passing, O2 should start walking his defender into the lane. As O2 steps into the lane, 3, 4, and 5 move in to set a pick on 2's defender. 2 can use any of the three screens and cut anywhere, looking for a pass from 1. All three … [Read more...]
1 on 4 Shell Drill
Purpose: To learn all aspects of defensive positioning in a simple, breakdown shell drill situation. The defender will develop on-ball defense, off-ball defense, and help defense. Drill: 4 offensive players in a shell around the perimeter. A corner player begins with the basketball. 1 defensive player guarding the player with the basketball. Player 1 begins with the basketball and can attempt to drive baseline one time. X1 must stop the drive. O1 will then pass to O2 on the wing. O1 must stay … [Read more...]
Toughness Rebounding Drill
Purpose: Toughness. Flat-out toughness in rebounding is necessary in order to be successful in this drill. Drill: 2 defensive players start inside the lane. 5 offensive players start outside the lane. The top boundary is either the jump circle (if you even have that marking on your court), or the top line on the free throw lane. A coach or manager will shoot the basketball from any spot on the court. In this diagram, the coach is shooting from the free throw line. X1 and X2 fight for the … [Read more...]
Trap and Get Back Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To work on getting back defensively after setting a trap. Specifically, getting back to block out and rebound the basketball when the pass from a trap leads to a quick perimeter shot. Drill: 4 players needed; 2 offensive players and 2 defensive players. The 2 offensive players bring the basketball down the court in a parallel alignment. Once the 2 offensive players cross the midcourt line, the 2 defenders immediately trap the player with the basketball. The player with the basketball … [Read more...]
Double Stack Triple Screen to Isolation Play
This set play is designed to get the basketball to a specific player for a scoring opportunity or isolation. It is a great play for getting the ball to the hot hand or to a player with an obvious mismatch. The point guard, 1, has the basketball at the top and the remaining four offensive players set up a double stack at each low block. 1 will call out a player's name and everyone will screen for that player. In this diagram, the player using the screens is player 3. You may also want to give … [Read more...]
Read the Screen Drill
Purpose: To practice the footwork and movements required when making various cuts off of a screen. To learn how to read screens so you can make the proper cut based on the defender's actions. Drill: 3 lines of players, 1 line at each wing and 1 line at the top of the key. The players at the top have a basketball. The first player in the top line will make a pass to either the right wing or left wing and then screen away for the opposite wing. Have the cutters perform different cuts such as … [Read more...]
Build Your Foundation on the Fundamentals
Would you build your house on a shaky or weak foundation? Exactly. You won't build until you have properly laid the foundation. And if you want it to last, you build on as strong a foundation as you can. The same holds true for your basketball program. If your basketball program is the house, what is it built upon? What is the foundation? You cannot build a successful program unless you build it on solid offensive and defensive fundamentals. It is often said in basketball that fundamentals … [Read more...]
4 Principles for Attacking Junk Defenses
Junk defenses such as the Box-and-One, Triangle-and-Two, Diamond-and-One, or any other combination a coach may come up with are essentially combination defenses because they combine both man-to-man and zone principles. These types of defenses are generally not what a team utilizes so you can't really prepare for them in a 'normal' manner. Because there are many variations and because they are used so sporadically, it would be nearly impossible and downright foolish to practice a special offense … [Read more...]