Purpose: To work on defensive double team pressure and the anticipation of a pass with the intent to steal. The focus is on defense but it will also benefit offensive players as they will be working on passing under pressure. Drill: This drill uses 3 offensive players and 3 defensive players. O1 dribbles the ball across halfcourt while two defenders (X1 and X2) attack O1 to double team. O1 will then try to pass to O2 or O3. X1 and X2 should be working on proper double team technique -- … [Read more...]
Rooster Game
Purpose: This drill is simple, fun and serves one purpose -- to develop quickness of hands and feet. Drill: Utilize the circles that are on the court and place 2 players in each circle (if your court doesn't have any more than just the center circle, you can also use squares or boxes formed by court lines painted down -- or even set up some cones). The players score points by touching the knees of the other player. Each player can use his hands and arms to block tries at his knees but cannot … [Read more...]
Cross-Court Block Outs
Purpose: To develop defensive rebounding blockout techniques. Also develops intensity and toughness. Drill: Form two lines with one at the free throw line extended at the sideline. The other line at the midcourt line. The sideline is the defensive blocker and the middle is the offensive rebounder. The basketball is placed on the floor in the free throw circle. On whistle or signal from coach, one player from each line goes for the ball. The defensive blocker must make contact and hold contact … [Read more...]
Clear-Out 2-Man Play
This is a good play when you have players that can run the pick and roll. With the clear-out -- and a good twosome who can run the pick-and-roll, you will find a lot of easy baskets with this play. The Clear-Out 2-Man Play starts in a low double stack formation. O1 initiates the play by dribbling to one side of the court. It doesn't matter which side is chosen because the play can be run on either side. The two low players in the stack simply need to know proper movement. In this diagram, as … [Read more...]
Faking Tips & Techniques
Faking, especially with the basketball, is an extremely important skill to master on both offense and defense. A well executed fake will misdirect an opponent, throw him off balance, and draw him out of position. An offensive player may utilize a fake with or without the basketball. Faking while in possession of the ball opens up passing lanes and frees you for a shot. Faking without the ball enables you to get open to receive a pass as well as to control a defender thereby keeping him out of … [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...]
Backscreen the Passer Play
This sideline out of bounds play is designed to get the basketball back to the inbounds passer via backscreen. A couple of other options make this a great sideline play to have in your arsenal. O3 takes the ball out of bounds. O1 and O2 take positions somewhat in line with O3 and approximately 12 feet apart. O4 starts below the free throw line extended and about 6-10 from the sideline. O5 is at the elbow area. When the official hands the basketball to O3, O2 screens for O1 who cuts hard to … [Read more...]
2-on-2 Practicing the Slide-Through Drill
Purpose: Some teams will only switch on defense. Some will only slide through screens. Some will teach both options. Possibly, the best defensive teams can do both if they communicate well. The purpose of this drill is to teach players how to cooperate while sliding through the screen to keep good defensive position. Drill: 2 offensive players and 2 defensive players at a basket. The 2 offensive players are basically working the pick and roll, but they may also work a handoff or any crossing … [Read more...]