1st Practice
The keys of man defense to teach at your first practice include:
stance and position; defense on the ball; and defense off the ball.
Here are the drills to use.
Command Drill. This drill is used to get everyone
loosened up and ready to go. Divide your players into three lines
within the width of the court. The coach stands in front of the
players with a ball. Issue each of the following eight commands and
the players respond:
Stance. All
players go from a standing posture to a defensive posture. They are
focused with their heads up. This position is held for a few
seconds, which gives you a good idea of who is off-balance. Pay
particular attention to players being up on the balls of their feet,
backs are straight and hands are out.
Fire. All players
start pumping their legs in place as a group. Heads are up, arms out
and feet are moving. Keep this going for several seconds.
Right (or Left).
On this call, players move two steps in the direction indicated.
Players use their hand to "dig up" at the imaginary ball
in front of them. They also call out the direction they are moving
with each step.
Retreat. Players
move backward using the pivot drop-step move for two steps on this
call while keeping low. Eyes remain focused on the coach and their
bodies are over their feet. Players must twist their hips and feet
but not their torso.
Loose Ball.
Players hit the floor as if scrambling for a loose ball. Then, as
quickly as possible, players get back on their feet and into a
defensive posture with feet moving.
Charge. Players
fall back onto the large muscle of their buttocks. They do not flop.
They need to be careful of whipping their heads and shoulders into
the ground.
Held Ball. Yell
"5" and players move a step closer to you as if you are
the offensive player. Players trace the ball with their hands. If
you pivot away, they move closer.
- Shot. Players rise up and pivot to box out
the "shooter."
Shuffle The Lines. All players are aligned on the
baseline. On the whistle, the first player assumes a defensive stance
and starts using a defensive slide along the outside lines of the
court. Players need to stay down with hands out while digging up with
the lead hand. When the first player reaches half-court, the next
player goes. Remind players this is not a race and never to cross
their feet.
Zigzag The Floor. Create two court-long lanes
from the sideline to the foul-lane line and from the foul-lane line
to the sideline. Players must stay in their lane. One player uses a
ball and one plays defense. The defender moves with the offensive
player as they go down the court. When the defender reaches the
sideline, the defender continues out of bounds for a one-third step
(to make sure he or she is not passed by the offensive player) and
the defender plants the outside foot and pivots on it to change
directions. Initially, this is a slow and deliberate drill as players
learn not to hop to change directions.
Shadow. A player is in a defensive stance on the
sideline facing the court. Three or four players line up in a row
facing the first player. On the whistle, the player in the defensive
stance moves back and forth, forward and backward. The players lined
up opposite attempt to move with the defender. After 20 seconds,
rotate another player to the sideline position.
Stop & Go. Use this drill to teach defenders
to sprint ahead of the ball to get a stop rather than running with
the dribbler. One player has a ball and starts dribbling the length
of the court. Another player, the defender, sprints ahead of that
player and attempts to force the offensive player to pick up the
dribble. Once the dribble is picked up, the defender uses his or her
body to remove space and uses hands to trace the ball.
Defensive Position (Shell). The drill starts with
five offensive players spaced around the arc and five defenders on
the baseline. The coach is under the basket with a ball. Pass the
ball to one of the offensive players. On the pass, the defenders
sprint out to defend. The defender on the ball breaks down the
receiver. The other three defenders use proper breakdown techniques
to ensure their offensive player does not just drive past them. The
player now with the ball holds it for a two-count, then passes to a
teammate. Offensive players only are allowed to pass. Make sure the
help defenders are sagging to the paint and recovering on the pass.
Eventually, feel free to add that offensive players can shoot off the
pass catch.
Shell Penetration. The variation to the Shell
Drill entails offensive players only scoring off a dribble drive. So,
the goal of each offensive player is to split two defenders.
Defenders must be in a position to help and deny the drive. Let the
teams play until either the offense scores or the defense gets a
turnover.
2nd Practice
The keys of man defense to teach at your second practice include:
jump to the ball; handling cutters; and help and recover.
Jump To The Ball. A coach is on the right wing
with an offensive player dribbling at the top of the key with a
defender guarding the dribbler. The offensive player passes to the
coach. On the pass, the defender takes one quick retreat step toward
the pass. The result of this step is that the defender has the left
hand and foot up toward the "line of the ball" and the
right foot back a bit. The offensive player tries to cut across the
face of the defender to receive a return pass.
Shell Cutter. This drill is just like the Shell
Drill but the offense only uses cuts off the passes. This allows the
defense to focus on the "jump to the ball" technique. The
coach passes to an offensive player and the defenders break down the
players they are guarding. The ball moves around the perimeter and
any offensive player can cut to the basket from any spot on the
floor. If the cut is not successful, one of the other offensive
players replaces the cutter. Have the defense stay in the original
areas as it helps create game-like mismatches.
Help & Recover. Have two players on the wing
and a player at the top of the key with a ball on offense. Place
three defenders opposite the offensive players. The player with the
ball drives at the defender. If the defender is beaten, the call is
"Help!" and the other defensive players drop into a help
position as the drive is occurring. Once the drive is stopped, the
offensive player picks up the dribble. Now, the call is "5!"
like in previous drills and the defenders go into full denial mode
while staying between their offensive player and the ball. The player
passes out to a wing, the defenders recover and now the wing drives
starting the motion again.
3rd Practice
The keys of man defense to teach at your third practice include:
breaking down the shooter; bumping the center; running through the
passing lane; and rebounding.
Free-Throw Close-Out. Have four players line up
on the baseline with basketballs and four players line up opposite of
them at the free-throw-extended area. On the whistle, the players on
the baseline pass to the players opposite them. Upon receiving the
ball, the players assume a triple-threat position. The passers sprint
out about halfway, then start taking short, choppy steps to break
down the shooter. The defender keeps the left hand high to challenge
the shot.
Progressive. This drill is used over the course
of the next four practices to develop the skills for breaking down
the shooter and defending the offensive player. Start with a wing
offensive player and a defender in help position in the paint. The
coach is stationed on the opposite wing with a ball.
Part 1. The coach throws a skip pass to the
offensive player. The defender leaves the help position and charges
at the shooter. The defender uses the breakdown technique of small,
choppy steps to get to the ball. The offensive player holds the ball
in front. The defender touches the ball and the drill ends.
Part 2. The drill starts the same as the previous
except this time the offensive player catches and shoots. The
defender executes the same breakdown technique. The defender calls
"shot" and boxes out the shooter. Remind the defender that
once the shot is in the air, the main responsibility is to deny the
rebound to the shooter.
Part 3. This is the same drill except the
offensive player catches and drives. The defender executes the same
breakdown technique and stops penetration or forces a bad shot.
Part 4. The offensive player has the option of
shooting or driving. Make a game of this drill. If the shooter
catches, shoots and scores, it is worth three points regardless of
the location on the floor. Any basket off a drive is worth two
points.
Body/Hold/Release. Use this drill to "introduce"
players to the basic movements of rebounding. Have two lines of
players facing each other about two feet apart. One line is the
shooters and one is the defenders. When the coach calls "Body"
the defenders turn into the shooter (either the reverse pivot or a
step-across turn). The defender takes a good rebounding stance. When
the coach calls "Hold" the defender focuses on maintaining
contact with the shooter using the elbows, back, buttocks and
peripheral vision. When the coach calls "Release" the
rebounder explodes forward and up, driving hands up together catching
the rebound.
Shell Rebounding. This is set up like the Shell
Drill but have the offensive player take a shot after a skip pass or
a couple of passes. The defense must rebound. Have an assistant coach
watch for players that boxed out or did not, and turn that into a
competition.
Two-Player Tip. Have players line up in pairs,
facing each other, each pair with a ball. Have one person toss the
ball to the other. The receiver catches the ball at the height of the
jump and returns it to the passer. Do this five times, then reverse
roles.
2-Line Outlet. Have two lines of players start at
the elbows, facing the basket. Place two managers or players on each
wing. Each line has a ball. The players approach the basket and lob
the ball off the backboard. They then leap forward, securing the ball
at the top of their leap with both hands. Their legs should be spread
wide so they have a solid base to land. They must create space before
leaping, then leap forward to catch the ball. As they secure the
ball, they call "Transition," which informs the other
teammates that they have the ball and to start heading up the floor.
Once the ball is secured, the player pivots on the outside foot and
passes to the wing. Have the receivers vary their position on the
floor so the rebounder has to pivot and change the angle on the pass.
2-Line Outlet Dribble. This is the same drill as
the 2-Line Outlet except the rebounder takes a few dribbles toward
the wing before passing.
Minnesota Rebounding. Start with three offensive
players spread around the perimeter. Have three defenders in the lane
in a line. Have a coach positioned in the short corner with a ball.
Assign the offensive players numbers and tell the defenders their
responsibility. The coach passes the ball to a perimeter player and
that player shoots. The defenders must close out and defend against
the assigned offensive player. Switch assignments so the defenders
have to find a different player.
Three In A Row. Place a line of players at the
top of the key. Have a single offensive player at the foul line and a
single defender in the lane opposite of the foul-line player. A coach
on the wing takes a shot (there is a coach on the other wing as
well). The foul-line offensive player battles the defender for the
rebound. Once the ball is secured, it is passed to the other manager.
The next player in line steps up to the foul line to be defended.
Once the defensive player grabs three rebounds in a row, then that
player gets in line and a new defender takes the court.
Weak-Side Rebounding. Start with two offensive
players on the wings defended by two other players. A coach is at the
top of the key with a ball and passes to a wing. The defender on the
ball handler takes a solid defensive containment posture. The
weak-side defender drops to a help position. Now, the player shoots
and the weak-side defender first finds their player then boxes out.
The defensive team needs to get three rebounds in a row before coming
off the court.
Offensive Contact. Start with three players
facing the backboard to one side with the player in the middle
holding a ball. The ball is tossed off the backboard the rebound is
secured by that player. To secure the ball, the player catches the
ball at the height of the jump with both makes making sure the ball
is above the forehead and elbows out. That player now uses a
two-handed power move to score. The other two players use slight
contact (or more) to try to force the rebounder to miss, travel or
commit a turnover.
4th Practice
The keys of man defense to teach at your fourth practice include:
defending the post and tipping from behind.
Post Defense. Place a player or coach at the top
of the key, the wing and the corner. Position an offensive and
defensive player in the post. The ball starts at the top of the key
and is rotated to the wing, then the corner. At each stop, check the
defensive positioning of the defender. Speed it up and try it from
both sides of the floor.
Tip From Behind (TFB) #1. Start with two lines of
players on the baseline to the side of the basket. The line closest
to the basket is the offensive line. One player is at half-court. The
half-court player and the first person at the beginning of the
"outside" line are defenders. The drill starts when the
offensive player dribbles slowly to half-court. This is a slow,
controlled dribble. The defensive player follows looking for an
opportunity to flick the ball ahead as it is coming up from the
floor. Make sure it is on the upward movement of the ball as the
momentum of the ball carries farther in this scenario. And, the
defender needs to use the arm closest to the ball to tip it so as not
to reach in. On the tip, the half-court player recovers the ball and
becomes an offensive player with the player who tipped the ball. Now,
the original dribbler becomes the defender in a two-on-one situation.
Tip From Behind (TFB) #2. This drill is the same
until the two-on-one situation after the tip. On the tip, the player
who tipped the ball goes to the corner for a 3-point shot. The
defender is instructed only to defend the rebounder so the player in
the corner has an open shot.
Tip From Behind (TFB) #3. Place an additional
player at half-court, once the transition occurs from original drill
to two-on-one situation, the extra player sprints back to help on
defense, which adds a sense of urgency to the two-on-one break and
forces the defenders to talk as they adjust to the two-on-two
situation.
5th Practice
The keys of man defense to teach at your fourth practice include:
The defensive concepts to teach at the fourth practice are: The
defensive concepts to teach at the fifth practice are handling
screens and help techniques.
Shell Screen. This just like the Shell Drill only
players are allowed to screen defenders. Talk to your players about
how you want them to defend screens. Communication must be stressed
no matter if you plan on switching on the screen or not.
Help-Side Defense. There are two wing players on
offense, a defender in the low post on the ball side and a second
defender in a help position on the opposite wing player. Simulate the
wing player beating the defender off the dribble. The beaten defender
yells "Help!" The low-post player slides over to stop the
drive. The opposite wing defender drops into the paint to protect the
basket. Once the drive is stopped, the ball is passed to the opposite
wing and the drill starts over from the other side.
6th Practice
The sixth practice is a review of all the concepts stressed in the
first five practices. Utilize the drills previously explained that
your team had trouble with the first time around.
