Article by: Pat Anderson http://www.Online-Basketball-Drills.com The key to effective basketball plays for beginners is keeping it simple. The following plays use a box formation, a good beginning formation that provides opportunities for outside shots and post shot plays and allows some flexibility for various scenarios. Backdoor Play This quick hitting play works well when facing intense man-to-man defense. To start this box formation play, #1 is at mid-court with the ball, and … [Read more...]
Closeout Keepaway Drill
Purpose: To learn and develop how to properly closeout on a player ho has picked up the dribble. Drill: Divide players into groups of 3. Groups should find their own space on the court. Passer and receiver should stand approximately 10-15 apart. The drill starts with the basketball in O1's hands, O2 defending O1, and O3 ready to receive the pass. O1 passes to O3, follows the pass and closes out properly on him. O3, upon receiving the pass from O1, takes a couple of stationary … [Read more...]
Jab Step to Shot Fake Drill
Purpose: To work on and develop the jab step and penetration into a jump stop, shot fake, and jump shot. This drill can be effective in team practice and is also a great drill for individual workouts. Drill: Set up 3 cones along the three-point line and 3 cones about 8-10 feet from the basket. The cones represent defenders. Divide the team into 3 lines behind each cone. At least 2 basketballs in each line. The first player in line makes a strong jab step in one direction and dribbles to … [Read more...]
Toss and Move Under the Ball Rebounding Drills
The two rebounding drills below are simple, effective drills to help teach youth basketball players how to move to the basketball and to get in the habit of jumping and extending to secure the rebound. Of course, if your higher level players aren't rebounding, they might also benefit from getting back to the real basics of rebounding! Purpose: To develop rebounding skills by learning to move to the basketball and to catch it at its highest point. Drill 1: 2 players with 1 basketball … [Read more...]
Team Low Post Basketball Shooting Drill
Purpose: To work on cutting to the low post, receiving the pass, and finishing with a post move and score. Perimeter players also work on passing into the low post. This drill specifically allows the entire team to work on low post shooting in a quick, simple manner that is especially useful if there is only one coach or one basketball hoop available. Drill: At least 4 players at one basket, each with a basketball except for the first player who will begin the drill. If you have a lot of … [Read more...]
Flash High, Pass Low Play
A simple quick hitter from the box set, the 'Flash High, Pass Low' play is an efficient basketball play useful in getting an open layup attempt. Good for any level of play, it is an effective play for youth basketball teams because it is easy to run. Obviously, that makes it easy to run at all levels, but it would also be easier to defend. Young and beginning defenders might be found trailing the screen and standing when his opponent cuts. The play begins in a box set, as shown, with the … [Read more...]
High-Low Post Drill
Purpose: To teach the post players the basics of flashing to the high post and then looking for the low post teammate on a pass or for their own shot. Drill: This drill uses four defenders set up in somewhat of a box zone. The drill starts with #1 passing to #2. #4 flashes to high post elbow looking for a pass from #2. Upon receiving the pass, #4 looks to #5 pinning his defender. If #5 is not open, #4 can also look for his own shot or kick it back out to a guard. Coaching Points: If … [Read more...]
Weak Side Forward Drill
Purpose: To emphasize defensive help-and-recover technique. The weakside forward steps in to stop penetration of the offensive player to the basket and then recovering to guard own player. The defensive guard practices dropping down to ball line to give help in the opposite low post. Drill: Player 1 drives the baseline so that X2 must give help to teammate. The defensive guard on top (X3) drops as far as the ball goes in order to help out. X1 must stay with own player who has driven … [Read more...]
3 Quick Hitters vs. a Triangle and Two
It isn't often that you come across a Triangle and 2 Defense, but if and when you do see it, you will want to be able to run something simple against it. The following diagrams discuss three different quick hitters that can be run against a Triangle and 2 defense. Quick Hitter 1: O3 dribbles toward O4 at the elbow. O4 cuts down and replaces O5 as O5 slides up to the elbow opposite of O3. O2 clears out with his defender. O3 passes to O5 for the shot. If the defense comes up on O5, he … [Read more...]
Basketball Pickup Drill
Purpose: To improve lateral quickness, agility, conditioning, and reaction. An especially good drill for developing footwork and quickness for inside players. Drill: Two people are needed for this drill, with at least one basketball. The player that will be executing the drill stands at the free throw line. The coach, or partner, has the basketball at the top of the key area. The drill begins with the coach rolling the basketball to one side of the player. The player must slide over as … [Read more...]