Purpose: To increase free throw shooting percentage by rewarding the winners. Drill: Players will divide into pairs. Use as many baskets as possible and a basketball for each pair. One partner shoots free throws against the other. Each player in each group will shoot 10 free throws (if you desire, change number shot to your preference). Ties are broken by shooting one free throw at a time. For the winners, practice is over and they can go home. The losers must stay and pair up again. The drill … [Read more...]
Jump Shot Relay
Purpose: To teach players to shoot with a focus and coolness in a competitive situation. Beyond shooting, this drill also incorporates passing and dribbling. Drill: Place 2 lines at the elbow on one end of the floor. The first player in each line has a basketball. On a signal from the coach, each player dribbles to the elbow on the other end of the floor (any spot can be used as the designated shooting spot, however). Upon reaching the shooting spot, the player should attempt to score with a … [Read more...]
1-on-1 Defend Away from the Ball Drill
Purpose: To teach the importance of defending your opponent when he does not have the basketball. Some players defend the ball very well but relax when their opponent does not have the ball. This drill helps work on defending all the time. Drill: 2 lines. One in the corner as defensive players and one on the wing as offensive players. First player in each line steps out to compete. A coach stands on the opposite wing with a basketball. O1 and X1 step out to perform the drill. The objective … [Read more...]
Make 10 In a Row Shooting Drill
Work on shooting form, technique, and muscle memory with this simple shooting drill. Focus on 'making' the shot and develop good habits. Shoot at one spot until you make 10 in a row. Have a partner rebound and pass the basketball. The amount of total shots and spots can be adjusted as needed. Work on being active, stepping into the pass/shot, and utilizing great footwork. Develop good shooting habits with repetition. Choose to switch shooters and/or penalize yourself if you cannot make 10 in … [Read more...]
Spinner Play
The Spinner out-of-bounds play is basically an isolation play with three different 2-man game options. Option 1: When the official hands the ball to O2, O3 takes a hard couple of steps to the ball. If X3 attempts to prevent the pass, O3 spins away and cuts to the basket for a pass from O2. O1, O4, and O5 keep their defensive men busy with fakes, feints, and even screening for each other. Option 2: O3 gets the pass from O2. O2 cuts outside O3 for a return pass. O3 uses his body to screen … [Read more...]
Deny the Post Flash Drill
Purpose: To emphasize defending the post pass when the post player flashes across the lane to the low block. Drill: Set up as shown in the diagram with one offensive player starting in the lane and a defender guarding him. Two wing passers, each with a basketball. Remaining players form 2 lines on the baseline. The post player flashes to the low block as the defender attempts to deny the pass. After the pass, the offensive player cuts to the other side and the defender tries to deflect … [Read more...]
Anticipation Rebounding Drill
Purpose: This rebounding drill simulates specific defensive movement and footwork. It teaches players to anticipate when and where the basketball is going to come off the rim following a shot. It also stresses the importance of closing out on the shooter. Drill: O1 and O2 start near the baseline, as shown. O3 starts a few feet off the lane, about 10 feet from the basket. O3 makes a v-cut and receives pass from O1. O3 catches and shoots as O2 advances toward O3 to contest the shot, block … [Read more...]
Pick and Roll, Pick and Roll
No, I am not stuttering by naming this the 'Pick and Roll, Pick and Roll'! This quick hitter from the 1-4 set incorporates a staggered pick and roll for multiple scoring opportunities. This is an effective man-to-man basketball set play that utilizes a staggered double screen to isolate a player for dribble penetration and a layup/jump shot or to create a scoring opportunity for the screener. The play begins with O1 passing the basketball to O2 on the right wing. After passing, O1 cuts … [Read more...]
60-Second Shooting Drill
Purpose: Develop speed shooting under pressure to make the shots in time from various perimeter spots. Drill: Start in corner with :60 seconds on the clock. Make three shots from each spot before moving to the next. The objective is to get from corner to corner in :60 seconds. Variations: A rebounder can be used but isn't necessary. Also, change time to :90 seconds and move the spots outside the 3-point line. For younger players, keep them in range and either drop the makes to 2 from each … [Read more...]
High Stack Baseline Inbounds Play
This baseline out-of-bounds play versus a zone defense is set at the free throw line area in order to spread the defense out. When the official hands the ball to O3, O2 cuts hard to the corner. O5 screens a zone defender for O4, who cuts off the screen and toward the inbounder. O5 should look to seal the defender and then dive down to the weakside low block area. O1 releases as the safety valve in case no one else is open. … [Read more...]