Purpose: To develop footwork, agility, balance, speed and overall conditioning. Drill: Players will form two lines under the basket and perform the following movements, spelling out any letter chosen (in this diagram, I have used the letter 'M'): Defensive slide to the corner. Sprint to half court. Slide to the 3-point line. Sprint to half court. Backpedal to the baseline. Rotate lines after completing each circuit. Continue for desired number of repetitions. Note: You can utilize any … [Read more...]
Bad Pass Drill
Purpose: To build confidence, reaction, hand-eye coordination, and improve bad hands. Passes into the lane rarely go uncontested and the 'Bad Pass Drill' helps the players learn to catch a bad pass and turn it into a basket or free throw opportunity. Drill: O2 starts on the low block. O1 (or a coach or manager) stands at the top of the key with a basketball. O2 flashes into the lane to begin the drill. O1 throws a bad pass (but catchable) to O2. O2 catches the ball and passes it back to … [Read more...]
Triangle Screen the Screener Play
This is a baseline out of bounds play that can be run against either man or zone defenses. Three players line up in a triangle formation -- O4 and O5 on the low blocks and O3 at the free throw line. The fourth player, O2, starts about two steps from the top of the key. The fifth man, O1, is inbounding the basketball. When the official hands the ball to O1, O5 screens for O3. O3 should set his defender up by taking a hard step away and then using the screen and cutting hard to the ballside … [Read more...]
Diagonal Downscreen Drill
Purpose: To teach proper offensive downscreen techniques. Can also be drilled for defensive teaching purposes as it is useful in helping your players learn to defend and fight through the downscreen. Drill: Two offensive players, two defensive players, and one coach or passer needed for this drill. O1 starts near the top of the key with a basketball while the O2 starts on the opposite low block. A defender guards each offensive player. The coach is on the wing. Offensive Concepts: O1 … [Read more...]
3-Man Figure Eight Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To work on quickness in rebounding. This drill focuses on foot and hand quickness, having a soft touch, and overall conditioning. Drill: Three players position themselves across the lane. O1 is in the lane just to the right of the basket with the basketball. O2 and O3 are on each side of the lane at the blocks. The drill begins with O1 tossing the ball off the backboard and over the basket twoard O3's side. O1 moves quickly to replace O3. O3 reacts to rebound and tip the ball off … [Read more...]
3-on-2 with Trailer Drill
Purpose: To prepare the defenders when transitioning back on defense in a disadvantage situation. The emphasis of this drill is for defense, but offensive players will get to work on the transition offense part of the game as well. Drill: Six players are needed for this drill, along with a coach or manager at the baseline. 3 defensive players are positioned along the free throw line extended with their backs to the coach at the baseline. 3 offensive players are positioned in front of the … [Read more...]
Spread Inbounds Play
The Spread Inbounds Play spread the zone with the initial attempt at sealing in the low post. Additional options to seal defenders and cut open create a good scoring chance to use against a zone defense. When the official hands the ball to O4, O5 seals one of the low zone defenders and O2 cuts either high or low behind the zone. O4 is looking for O5 posting up or O2 behind the zone. If O4 cannot get the ball in, O3 will screen the outside zone defender and O5 will pop out to the corner. O3 … [Read more...]
Touchdown Pass Drill
Purpose: To practice throwing and catching the long baseball pass. This is a pass that can be used against pressure defense and may be necessary in a late-game situation. This drill also teaches the 'flyer' or receiver to bounce out and shoot a 3-pointer or long jump shot. Drill: Split the team so there is a line of players under each basket. Only one basketball is used and it is given to the first player in one of the lines. The drill initially begins with O1 tossing the ball off the … [Read more...]
20 Player Fundamentals to Break Pressure Defense
Regardless of how you decide to break and attack full court pressure, the players must learn various fundamentals that are helpful in beating pressure. Teach your players these skills and devote practice time so they will understand them and develop confidence against pressure. Here are the 20 fundamentals to be stressed: Do not waste your dribble. Dribble with a purpose Stay under control when dribbling. Out of control dribbling often leads to a turnover. Throw diagonal passes. Know where … [Read more...]
Weakside Help and Recover Drill
Purpose: To stop ball penetration by teaching defenders to become proficient at helping and recovering. Drill: This drill has four offensive players and two defenders. The initial alignment is shown here in diagram 1. A coach has the basketball on the wing, three offensive players are on the perimeter, and the fourth offensive player (O3) is standing out of bounds. The defenders, X1 and X2, are in help position and see both their offensive player and the ball. The drill begins with O2 … [Read more...]