The team with the ball is taking the basketball out underneath their basket.

Your best three point shooter is taking the ball out. The tallest person (#5) then the 4 then the 3 is lined side by side underneath the basket centering the 4 right under the goal. #5 is on ball side and 3 is on weak side of 4. The other guard (2) is stacked behind the 4.

When the ball is snapped, 2 moves back towards half court for safety.

The 5 in post position moves toward the ball asking for it, stopping two steps before you get to the three point line on a side shot.  Then player 4 side over in post position asking for the ball to ball side block and the 3 slide posting underneath  the basket.  The ball goes to the 5. 5 fakes the shot as the shooter steps in behind the 5n over head back pass.

Three point shot is then taken by the shooter.  Other players are in place for rebounding and safety.  This basketball drill should become an all time favorite with your team.

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When I tried to use a man to man with my relatively inexperienced team I found they wouldn’t stick to their guy, and just chased the basketball. It was a shambles. But this next basketball drill got them defending properly. Here’s how it’s done.

Split your group into two teams as if you were going to play a game. Then match each player on one team with an opposition player of similar ability. Let them play a game. The catch is that they can only play defense against the man they were matched up with. For example they can only try to steal or block that one player. If another player has the basketball they have let him go by if its not their man.

I found this helped my team really commit to their defense and put effort into tracking back down court.

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Often I have a couple of weak kids on my team. I designed a basketball play just to make sure they will have an opportunity to score. I like every player to score every game. It is good for them and good for the other players to learn about teamwork and sharing the basketball.

On an inbounds pass I line up three guys on the lane shoulder to shoulder at the baseline. The intended shooter inbounds the pass from the weak side to my strongest ball handler. The shooter then goes down the lane on the weak side and runs baseline to the other side of the triple pick. The point hits him with an easy pass for an easy two pointer.

The point can also penetrate the lane if the intended shooter is followed around the pick or dish it off to the lowest man on the pick who rolls off to the basket once the shooter passes him on the baseline.

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The point guard throws in the basketball.
The 2 guard and the 3 guard are free throw line extended.
The 4 and 5 are half court line extended.
Ball side guard sets a pick for the post on the half court line.
(For example the 2 sets a pick for the 4.)
The 4 runs towards the free throw line and receives the ball from the point guard. The point guard runs straight up the middle of the floor and receives the pass from the 4 about right after they pass the free throw line.
The 5 fills the offensive blocks, the 3 fills the lane. The fast break is completed!

This is a great press break and it works every time.  Timing is everything with this play; you have to hit the point guard as they are running down the middle.

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We liked the matchup and put her in a position to win the game (which was tied) facing the basket rather than posting her up with her back to the basket as we usually do. She beat her defender off the dribble and the help was late getting there. We got the high percentage shot we were looking for and won the game by two.

We also run variations (four options) off of this spread and hold look.

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You set up in a simple 1-3-1 format. Everybody expects the point guard to either drive to the basket or give it to the post player for a give and go.  I had the post player set a screen for the left wing and the forward came up to play post, who is given the basketball.

They turn around and give it to the left wing player, who should be where the forward was. As they are going for a short jumper or layup, the right wing goes to the opposite side for a rebound if the shot is missed. At the same time the forward jumps up into the point position as the point guard takes the spot of the right wing. If the other basketball team caught on to it, I yell out a another play, which is the same thing but it goes to the other side.

Usually I use universities’ names and use that university’s mascot to switch to the other side. This got us quite a few baskets until the other team caught on to both sides. The weaker teams in our conference we could get almost every time, without having to go to the opposite side.

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Have your point guard up at the top of the key.
Have one player in high post near the foul line as a diversion.
Two other players start near the three point line close to around the block area.

These players will set a double pick for your “superstar” to run through the middle from around the same area opposite. This pick will be set near the block closest to the setters.

Your best basketball shooter will then run through, most definitely shaking all of those three players men, and hit a jump shot from a spot about 5 feet in from the foul line.

This play should be used sparingly as that will keep the element of surprise high on the double pick.

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1. Start your 4 just beyond the tip circle in straight line to attacking basket.
2. Your 1 and 2 are on the side of the circle wide.
3. Your 3 is behind you in case you lose tip playing defense.
4. Here’s where play starts.
5. As soon as ref throws ball up the 1 and 2 immediately SPRINT straight to free throw line extended.
6. As soon as ball is thrown up the 4 steps in front of the defender guarding him.
7. The 5 gently taps the ball to the 4, who comes to the ball.
8. The 4 pivots and throws a bounce pass to the 1 or 2, whichever is most open.

Works 80% of the time.  Give it a try!

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There’s no point forcing the pick and roll if the guard cheats for example, so I tell my players to take the shot or the drive if it’s there.

You only need four players for this basketball drill, but you can use as many as you want and it’s better to have at least three people in each line to keep the drill going. The players can also shout encouragement or taunt each other!

It’s a 2v2 half-court exercise, with the two defensive players starting one side and the two offense on the other, arranged in a box. Line up the non participating players behind each line. The basketball starts with defense player 2. He passes to defense 1, who makes a long chest pass to offense player 2 who then finishes up by passing to offense player 1. As soon as offense 1 catches the ball, he can play. As soon as the ball leaves the hands of the defensive players, they must run across court to meet their respective matchup. As in a game, during half-court offense the ball gets reversed quickly to the opposite side of the half-court, and so this trails both the offensive and defensive players to react to this – how to close down on a player, and how to react to an approaching defender.

The emphasis is on offense player 2 setting a pick for his team mate, and then rolling to the basket. You should remind your players to keep dribbling, and NEVER to pick up the ball unless there is a clear pass. Too many guards coming off a pick take one or two dribbles and then pick up the ball looking for the pass. This is a godsend for the defense who will trap and smother the player. The dribble should be kept alive and another pick set.  Also, I have often seen that when very structured drills aiming to perfect one thing are repeated several times. If the offense does the same thing over and over, you learn to react – it’s human nature. So, to prevent this, the guards should look to read the defense every time. If his man is moving towards the screener, preparing to fight through, he should head + shoulder fake or jab step towards the screener and then drive the baseline to the basket. Also, if the defense is slipping behind the screener, the guard should look to pop back and take a shot. There are so many variations on the pick and roll, all of which can be incorporated into this drill.

Once a basket is scored, or the ball is turned over, the ball is passed to the corner, and the 4 players who have just taken part in the drill move clockwise to the next line. The drill starts again with the next four players.

The point must be made that this is not necessarily a new way to teach the pick and roll, rather it is how to quickly set a pick and react to the defense. Because the offensive guard catches the ball in the corner, and has defenders rushing towards him, this is how to teach players to avoid being trapped in the corner with the use of a quick pick and roll.

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If we need a three, the (1) shoots it, if we need a two, the pass goes to the  (3) for the the shot.

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