Purpose: To work on the fundamentals of trapping the ballhandler in the frontcourt and trapping/containing the dribbler in the backcourt. This is a nice defensive breakdown drill for teaching trapping fundamentals and is especially effective if you utilize a defensive trap within your system ... whether you trap from a zone defense or a man-to-man defense. Drill (Frontcourt Variation): One offensive player starts near the midcourt / sideline as shown. Two defenders are about 3-5 feet away. A … [Read more...]
2-on-2 Help and Recover Drill
Purpose: To teach the basic help and recover responsibilities utilized within your man-to-man defensive system. Develops help-and-recover techniques and helps teammates learn to work together. Drill: This diagram demonstrates the help and recover from the guard position, as they are further away from the basket. The player not guarding the basketball should be in a position off his defender and toward the basketball. He is in this position to discourage penetration by the dribbler. In this … [Read more...]
2 Minute Transition Game
Purpose: To work on offensive and defensive transition in a 5-on-5 competitive, game-type situation. Drill: Players 1 through 5 are on offense. Players x1 through x5 are on defense. The teams will stay on offense or defense for entire 2 minutes. The drill begins with the offensive team taking the ball at the top. They will run the offense and attempt to score. On a made field goal, the offensive team will take the ball out of bounds and break the other way down the court. The defensive team … [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...]
1 on 4 Shell Drill
Purpose: To learn all aspects of defensive positioning in a simple, breakdown shell drill situation. The defender will develop on-ball defense, off-ball defense, and help defense. Drill: 4 offensive players in a shell around the perimeter. A corner player begins with the basketball. 1 defensive player guarding the player with the basketball. Player 1 begins with the basketball and can attempt to drive baseline one time. X1 must stop the drive. O1 will then pass to O2 on the wing. O1 must stay … [Read more...]
Three Stops 4-on-4
Purpose: To work on overall team defense and develop the teamwork and communication skills necessary to play great team defense. The competitive situation also helps to develop defensive toughness. Drill: The Three Stops 4-on-4 Team Defense Drill is competitive in that requires the defense to have three consecutive successful stops. Divide your squad into teams of 4. Extra players can be placed on teams and they will simply need to rotate in and out. As shown in the diagram, Team 1 is on … [Read more...]
Progressive Transition Drill
Purpose: To work on transition offense and defense in a progressive manner. The Progressive Transition Drill works on all the various situations a team will face in a game; 1-on-0, 2-on-1, 3-on-2, 4-on-3, and 5-on-4. Develops conditioning and decision-making in a competitive, game-like situation. Drill: In this diagram, 'W' = white jersey and 'D' = dark jersey. If your players wear reversible jerseys, then 4 players will be in darks and 5 players will be in whites. This full court drill sets … [Read more...]
Front the Post Drill
The Front the Post defense drill is used to work on fronting the post player and to react to passing around the perimeter. The post defender attempts to continuously front the post throughout the duration of the drill. The objective is to stop the post player from flashing open and receiving the pass. Purpose: The defensive purpose is to continually front the offensive post player and to teach the defensive post player to react quickly to where the basketball is passed on the perimeter. The … [Read more...]
Defender Towel Drill
Purpose: To improve defensive quickness and foot movement when playing on-the-ball defense by not allowing the defensive player to use his hands. Drill: 1 offensive player with a basketball and 1 defensive player with a towel begin at the baseline. The offensive player starts at the baseline facing the opposite basket. The defensive player gets in a defensive stance about 3-4 feet from the offensive player. The defender holds one end of the towel with the left hand and the other end with the … [Read more...]
No Hands Hell Drill
Purpose: To improve team defense techniques, fundamentals, and movements. Also improves communication, concentration, and toughness. Drill: The No Hands Hell Drill is a 5-on-5 team defense drill. The defense begins in the quarter-court (top of key) and they must play with their hands behind their backs. After :30 seconds, the defense can use their hands and must not allow the offense to score for the full duration of the possession. The duration should usually be :45 to :60 seconds. If your … [Read more...]