Purpose: To teach the players to prepare to shoot the basketball and to shoot if off the pass or dribble. Drill: 6 players and 3 basketballs are needed. 3 players begin on the floor as shown; the remaining players from three lines under the basket, balls are at front of each line. O4, O5, and O6 will pass to O1, O2, and O3. Shooters should have target hands ready and call for the ball. Shooters will also take a 1-2 step into the pass. After receiving the pass, shoot and follow your shot. … [Read more...]
Defending the Pick & Roll
Purpose: To teach the defenders how to fight through and help on a pick and roll. It also gives the offensive players opportunity to work on setting the pick and roll. Drill: This drill has 3 offensive players and 3 defensive players set up as shown. O1 starts with the ball at the top. O2 begins the drill by setting a screen for O1. O1 attempts to run X1 into the screen. X2 must step up and 'show himself' to O1. This will force O1 to dribble wider, thereby creating a lane for X1 to step … [Read more...]
Defending the Give & Go and High Pick Backscreen
Purpose: This drill is specifically designed to work on defending the high pick or back screen. 'Defending the Give & Go with a High Pick' has several variations. It can be run from the wing, the baseline, or the top; as shown. By moving the drill to different areas the players will realize that the principles learned apply regardless of where they are on the floor. Drill: Place 6 players at a basket (or create lines if needed) The drill begins with O1 passing to O2, who … [Read more...]
Block Out Pivot Drill
Purpose: To develop the technique of blocking out and preventing the offense from attaining a rebound. Players will learn 4 types of block outs and the footwork involved in order to keep the offensive player away from the rebound. Drill: 5 offensive players will spread out around the three-point arc with 5 corresponding defenders. When first learning this drill, there will be no shooting. This is a technique drill. Shooting can be added later (see below). On the command of "shot", all … [Read more...]
Quick Reverse Play
This baseline inbounds play is most effective against a zone defense by getting the basketball in play and then quickly reversing it around to the inbounds passer for a shot opportunity. Open shots may also show during the reversal. When the official hands the ball to O1, O5 steps forward with hands up, O3 breaks to the right, and O4 breaks to the left across the lane. O1 passes to O3, steps on court, and then cuts under the basket and across the lane to the opposite baseline / short corner … [Read more...]
Partner Pass and Move Passing Drill
Purpose: To teach passing and catching skills while moving to get open, such as in a game situation. Drill: Players should get into pairs with a basketball and a court area of about 15-20 feet diameter (basically a 1/4 of a halfcourt area). To start the drill, the player without the ball will make a move to get open (v-cut, l-cut, etc). He will receive the pass, square up to the passer and get into a triple-threat position. The passer then becomes the receiver and makes a move to get open. … [Read more...]
Weak Hand Post Feed Passing Drill
Purpose: To develop weak-hand passing fundamentals and skill when passing to the low post. To develop proper catching techniques in the post. Drill: Passer feeds the post with the weak hand. Passer should always feed the post on the baseline side. The catcher (post player) should always receive the ball with feet parallel. Repeat for desired number of passes/catches and switch sides. Also switch passer/receiver positions. Variations: Have the players use the bounce pass, one-handed … [Read more...]
Half Court 8 Dribble Moves Drill
Purpose: To work on eight different dribble moves, as well as a few scoring/finishing moves at game speed. Drill: The players will begin in the corner facing the half-court line with the basketball in the outside hand. The series of moves should be performed at game speed and at the spots marked in the diagram. When beginning this drill, you may even choose to set up cones or markers at the spot so that the players know when and where to perform the move. The moves are as follows: … [Read more...]
Float and Shoot Off the Pass Drill
Purpose: To teach the players to 'float' away when a teammate is dribbling at them and to develop the ability to shoot off of that movement. Drill: Form two lines at midcourt, basketball in each line. The first player in each line takes a position on the wing. The next player in line, with the basketball, will dribble toward the wing player. As the dribbler is approaching the wing player, the wing will 'float' toward the baseline. As the pass is in the air, the wing player should be squaring … [Read more...]
Rapid-Fire Continuous 3-Point Shooting Drill
Purpose: To develop three-point shooting techniques and fundamentals while on the move and while becoming tired. Drill: 4 players at each basket (2 shooters, 2 rebounders). You can adjust the number of shooters to more or less as needed. The 2 shooters begin outside the three-point line and the 2 rebounders start under the basket. Each shooter will shoot continuous three-point shots for a total of five minutes, moving to different spots for each shot. The rebounders will pass to the partner … [Read more...]