Online Basketball Drills

Basketball Drills, Plays and Coaching Tips

Shell Drill

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Purpose

To work on team defense, communication and positioning

Drill Setup

  • Four offensive players spread out around the arc – two players free throw lane extended, and two out on the wing

How it Works

  1. The ball will start at the top of the arc and players will then swing the ball around on the coach’s command.
  2. As the ball is swung around the arc, players will adjust their defensive positioning according to how many passes away they are from the ball:
  3. On ball: on ball pressure, mirroring the ball with their hands
  4. 1 pass away: deny position, just up the line with a hand in the passing lane and staying in contact with their matchup
  5. 2 passes away: player in help position, 1 third of the way up the line between the matchup and the ball 3 passes away: player in help position, halfway up the line between the matchup and the ball

Coaching Tips

  • To ensure players are aware of everything happening on the court, they should be able to see both their matchup and the ball at all times – it can be helpful for players to point at the ball and their matchup and ensure they always keep them in their peripheral vision.
  • The most important aspect of a good team defense is communication, and this drill is a good chance to reinforce those habits – have players yell out their position and role as each pass is made – “Help!”, “Deny!”, “Ball!”
  • This is not an offensive drill! In fact to begin, you’ll want to make the offense wait for your cue before making a pass, as you will want to step in and ensure each player is in the correct position before the ball is swung further.
  • Once the defense has gotten the hang of the drill, you can make the drill live, but we still want to limit the offense to a maximum of 3 dribbles.

Triangle Breakout Drill

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Drill Type:  Defensive Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this defensive drill is to teach the defense to box out. It also teaches players to transition quickly from defense to offense.

Set Up:

  • Three players set-up in a triangle under the basket.
  • Two other defensive players stand on each wing.
  • Three offensive players will try to get the rebound.
  • The three defenders must box out these players.

triangle-breakout-drill

Execution:

  1. Coach takes the shot. When the shot is taken, the defensive players must box out the offensive players.
  2. Once a defender grabs the rebound, that player must make an outlet pass to one of the players on the wing.
  3. The offensive players should contest the outlet pass. If the defense doesn’t grab the rebound or successfully make an outlet pass, then the ball goes back to the coach for another shot.
  4. Once the outlet pass is made, all five players (the three in the triangle under the basket and the two outlet players) break up court and run a play.
  5. Once the play is completed, the drill is run again.

Coaching Keys

  • The coach should make sure the defensive player find a man and successfully box that man out.
  • Players should go up strong for the rebound. Then a crisp outlet pass should be made.

Zone Defense Play: 3-2 Zone Skip Passes

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Zone defense is different from man-to-man defense. Instead of guarding a particular player, each zone defender is responsible for guarding an area of the floor, or “zone”, and any offensive player that comes into that area. Zone defenders move their position on the floor in relationship to where the ball moves.

Zone defense is also often effective in stopping dribble penetration and one-on-one moves. Using a zone, you can also protect the paint area and force the opponent to shoot from outside.

A lot of coaches don’t want to teach zone defense, but there are many reasons why it’s a good idea to go over it during basketball practice, including:

  • If you have a small gym
  • It protects your players who are in foul trouble
  • If you’re playing against a team with a big player and you don’t have one, you can throw a zone against them and neutralize that opposing, big player
  • It can help in a small team versus a big team situation
  • You can get excellent rebounding position
  • You can go into your transition very easily
  • It’s easy to teach

Check out this video demonstration of a great Zone Defense Play: 3-2 Zone Skip Passes

 

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“Defending the Back Cut” Basketball Defense Drill

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This is an excellent drill to stress the importance of keeping space between the defender and offensive player. It creates the situation where, if the space rule is not followed, you can be back cut very easily. This basketball defense drill is fast and fun, and helps build confidence in your players that they can defend anything.

“Defending the Back Cut” Basketball Defense Drill

When an offensive player goes out on a motion, if the defender can stay in his position and mirror cover the offensive player, that’s great. But that’s not always going to be the case. The back cut can come quickly, and your defender has to make a decision.

#1) He can either commit to the person he is checking, and when the offensive player leaves you, you swivel your head and putting the other hand out as a stop sign.

#2) You can decide to open up and commit more to the ball. This means the defender is taking his top foot (the foot of the direction he wants to travel) and opening it all the way back up so that he can see both the offensive player he was checking and the ball.

 

Check out our other basketball defense drill ideas, tips and more!  Be sure to “Like” Us on Facebook or join us on Google+, where we talk about footwork drills, basketball mechanics, passing and dribbling and a whole lot more!