Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Playing defense is a skill like everything else. It requires skill, understanding of the game, and dedication.
There are 105 basketball drills in this category, and the newest ones are listed first.
The drill starts out with one individual, either in the gym or driveway. He should imagine that all the other players are on the court. The player starts off guarding the ball. He should think that his man is driving on him and then shuffle his feet correctly. Next, his man just passed the ball away. He should then move into off-man, on-the-ball defense, in which he can stop the pass but be able to recover if there is a pass or a drive. The ball should be then swung to the opposite side of the court and the player should move into zone side help defense. Next, the defender should simulate that his man is cutting through the lane and he should stop his progress. The defender should then play correct post defense, including high and low side defense and moving around the man with correct footwork. The player should use his imagination to think off where the players are and when the passes are made. The drill should start off for a short time period, because the player will not be used to it, but after practicing for a while, the player should be able to do the drill for a couple of minutes straight. The purpose of the drill is not only to familiarize the player with how to play every defensive position, but also to increase his stamina on the defensive end.
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I started using this drill after 4 months of practice. Before I had done the simple shell drill (box format and diamond format – 2-2 and 1-2-1) and my players had progressed a lot on defense, so much that I hadn’t lost a game and I felt we could make it better. I decided to introduce double-teaming.
1/1 2000
This is a way to spice up your shell drill. Play it like a live game to make it more interesting for your players. Make every offensive rebound worth one point. Count every basket for the equivalent of what they are worth also add a point for a steal and a blocked shot. You will see your intensity go up with the competitiveness of this drill.
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Players partner up. Player1 has a ball and start dribbling from the corner of the court. Player2 is on defense in the correct stance. P1 begins dribbling toward half court using the change of pace dribbling skill (dribble forward hard 2-3 steps, stop, then go again). P2 stays in the perfect stance using quick footwork to stay with the P1. P2 shadows P1 as P1 change of pace dribbles up the sideline. When P1 gets to the half court line, P1 turns and dribbles to the center of the court, heading for the center circle. P2 continues to stay in perfect stance sliding along side of P1 (shadowing P1’s movements). When P1 hits the center circle, P1 makes the move to the hoop, going hard for the score. P2 has to deny the score, blockout and rebound.
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This drill focuses on the defensive player performing a proper close-out of a shooter. Upon release of the shot a proper box-out must be performed along with a rebound, proper pivot, and strong outlet pass to the shooter who is roaming along the free-throw line.
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2 single lines facing one another. About 10 to 12 feet between the lines. One ball at the front of one line.
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Group players into two teams inside the half-court circle.
The drill helps transition defense and verbal communication in defensive transition.
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This drill is great for working on getting back on defense and giving teammates time to recover. It is also great for conditioning. You can go 3 on 3, 4 on 4, or 5 on 5.
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Start a line at each elbow on one end of the floor. The lines should stretch towards the sideline. The coach stands underneath the basket and passes the ball to one of the two players at the front of each line. The player who catches the ball pushes the ball up the floor for a lay-up, the other player must sprint and touch baseline with his hand and then sprint to the other end and try to catch the ball before it hits the ground. If the ball handler misses the layup then he must do 10 fingertip pushups and the chaser is off the hook. If the ball handler makes the lay-up, the chaser must catch the ball before it hits the floor. The chaser must do 5 fingertip pushups for everytime the ball hits the floor.
1/1 2000
4 on 4 drill focusing on defense. First team to 6 wins, the losers have to run. A team can only score on defense.
Points are taken away for fouling, whether on offense or defense.
Main focus of this drill is to get your athletes to focus on the basic fundamentals of defense. (Stance, quick feet, boxing out, close out, communication, help and recover, rebounding, seeing man and ball and basket.
1/1 2000
Team A starts the drill on offense at one end versus Team B. Team A runs their half court offense until they score. Once the ball goes thru the net a coach outlets the ball(before it hits the floor and without taking it out of bounds) to Team C’s point guard who has been waiting out of bounds on this side of half court. Team A then sprints back into defense to stop the break and avoid Team C from laying it up.
1/1 2000
3 players learn how to move defensively but then go into transition from defense to offense. Teaches physical toughness and the desire to want the ball and to finish the play. (Like grass drills in football with linemen and linebackers)
1/1 2000
Have players get a partner. Have one partner stand with one foot in the paint while the other partner stands along the 3 point line facing his partner. The perimeter players spaced evenly around the perimeter. have perimeter players begin passing the ball around. As a perimeter player is about to receive the ball his partner leaves the paint and closes out (Note: He can only leave once the ball is on its way to his partner.) Once his partner passes the ball the defensive partner retreats to the paint and remains there until his partner is about to receive the pass again. progress with this drill by having passer cut through the key and then out to another spot. His partner retreats with him into the paint but remains in the paint until his partner is about to get the pass. this is a good fitness drill and is also a good lead up to teaching the concept of Ball side and weak side play. For interest you can always place a post player in the paint who follows the ball, His partner practices hi -low coverage. The perimeter players get to practice the kick it in ,,kick it out aspect of the game. I find this drill also serves as a wake up drill when players appear to be sluggish at the start of a practice.
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TLC: Pål Degerstrøm 2000-2010