'Blue' is designed to give a possible quick scoring chance but if defended will continue into a set play once the basketball is inbounded. More than trying to score on the inbounds pass or simply getting the ball in play and resetting your offense, 'Blue' works at continuing the attack once the ball is inbounded. The players line up as shown above. O4 is the inbounds passer; O5 is on the weakside elbow; O1, O2, O3 form a line on the ballside. When the official hands the basketball to O4, O5 … [Read more...]
Diagonal Roll
The Diagonal Roll out of bounds play from the box set is a simple play designed to get an easy and open layup. When the official hands the ball to O1, O5 sets a diagonal screen for O3. O3 fakes as though he is cutting to the wing and then uses the screen to cut hard to the weakside low block area. O5, after setting the screen, will roll down the lane toward the basket on the ballside. While O5 is setting the screen for O3, O4 should break hard to the ballside corner to create an opening for … [Read more...]
Michigan State 3-Point Shooting Drill
Purpose: To work on and further develop 3-point shooting skills in a competitive situation. Drill: Divide your players into 4 teams, with 2 basketballs per team. Set the clock to :30 When clock starts, the first player from each team shoots a 3-point shot. Next player can shoot right away. Retrieve rebound and get it to next player in your line. Continue shooting these rapid-fire 3's for :30. When horn sounds, all 4 teams will rotate clockwise. Continue in same manner until each team has … [Read more...]
Free Throw Fast Break Drill
Purpose: To work on free throw shooting as well as offensive and defensive performance in a 3-on-2 fast break situation. Drill: A 3-player team lines up to shoot a free throw (one player is the shooter, the other two line up along the lane). A 3-player defensive team also lines up along the lane. The 3 defensive players on the lane will fast break off either a miss or a make by the free throw shooter. The 2 offensive players on the lane will get on defense. The shooter does not go back on … [Read more...]
Tip-Out Rebounding Drill
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]