Here’s a selection of my favorite defensive drills, including techniques for improving individual defense, team defense, and defensive communication. Give ’em a try – and make sure to leave a comment and let me know how they go!
Wing Deny
Wing Deny drill, aimed at teaching players the correct method to deny a wing entry pass.
Step Off
Step Off drill, exercise focusing on misdirection and quick directional changes to outmaneuver opponents and create scoring opportunities.
Tight Shell
This exercise focuses on teaching players how to effectively navigate and defend against downscreens and backscreens.
Shell Backscreens
Shell Backscreens drill, focusing on essential skills like communication, footwork, and play reading for both young and seasoned players.
Shell Downscreen
Enhance your basketball team’s defensive coordination against downscreens with our focused Shell Downscreen drill.
Slide Run Slide Drill
Players learn the proper footwork to recover when beat on defense in this drill.
Boxout Drill
Boxing out is a way to block an opposing player with your body to prevent them from getting a rebound. This is a great drill that focuses on boxing out and hustling.
Reminder Slides
Even a player with great footwork needs a reminder every once in a while, otherwise they’ll get sloppy. That’s the goal of this drill –to work on footwork in a safe environment where there is no concern of an offensive player taking advantage.
Step and Slide Drill
Players learn defensive footwork fundamentals in this fundamental drill.
Take The Charge Drill
Players learn how to get into position to take the charge in this drill.
One of the great tragedies of basketball is that the most important jobs in the game often get the least credit. We’ve all heard that defense wins championships, but scoring sells shoes. And because of this, players who excel in certain areas – your great screeners, the dominant rebounders, and the lockdown defenders – rarely get their due in the media and with the fans.
That’s a mistake you can’t make as a coach. A lot of the time you’ll hear sports commentators talk about how being good at defense is just about effort. And while that’s true to a certain extent, it’s not just about trying hard. And frankly, saying so is an insult to the great individual defenders who spend all that extra time perfecting their craft.
If you’re interested in some more advanced training, make sure you check out the Team Defense Drillbook and Individual Defense Drillbook as well.
More Defensive Basketball Drills
- 10 Easy Tips for a Killer Basketball Defense
- Lane Slides (video)
- Six Man Slides (video)
- 1 on 1 Kick the Can (video)
- Jump To Stance Drill (video)
- Man on Ball Drill (video)
- Deny and Deflect Drill
- Wing Denial Drill
- Mass Footwork Drill
- Full Court 1 v 1
- Super Drum Drill
- The Shell Drill
- The Bowl Drill
- The UCLA Drill
- Defending The Dribble Drill
- Half Court Half Court Drill
- Rush Transition Defense Drill
- Stack Fake Baseline Defense Drill
- Triangle Breakout Drill
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