One of the staples in our program is using Turnover Cards in practice to emphasis the importance of

valuing the basketball. Each practice starts with ten 8X10 laminated cards taped to the scorers table.
They are numbered 1 through 9. Each time a turnover is committed in practice someone rips one of them
off.

This is repeated until there are no cards left on the scorers table.

At that point there is some sort of “reminder” imposed.

Turnovers in ANY drill count. Two line lay-ups, shooting drills, rebounding drills, live scrimmage.
Some days practice would begin with only 7 numbers taped up… some days 5… sometimes the #’s reset
during practice.

Another similar visual aid that we have heard of is placing 15 balls on

the ball rack. Anytime there is a turnover that ball is taken out of play.
Once the rack is empty, there is no ball left to complete practice with so
it’s time to condition!!

Thoughts on Turnovers:
We all know turnovers are a source of frustration for coaches because
they usually occur before we have ever even attempted a Field Goal.
That is compounded even more when you are a great rebounding team
and have cost your team an opportunity at an offensive rebound.

Chart TURNOVERS FOR TOUCHDOWNS… turnovers that lead to an

opponents score with us having no chance to defend in half court

Lack of concentration turnovers are usually a reason for us to substi-

tute… Lane violations on FT’s, running the baseline on spot bounds
play, hitting back board on a inbounds pass, lobbing to a post from
anywhere other than high post, etc.

Terrell Holloway #52 reacts in the second half during the first round of
the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament against the Minnesota
Golden Gophers at the Bradley Center on March 19, 2010 in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
One of the best game situation drills we have used is STOP-SCORE-STOP. Without a doubt our players
favorite competitive drill.

For a team to earn a point, they must successfully have a defensive stop, followed by an offensive score,
and finish with another defensive stop. That three-play sequence is the only way to earn a point. Any
interruption in that sequence puts one team onto their sequence of a stop-score-stop.

For example: BLUE starts on defense (the desired starting position) vs. WHITE. WHITE shoots but misses
and BLUE rebounds = STOP. With BLUE on offense they execute a great back door cut for a made lay-up
= SCORE. BLUE is again on defense has the opportunity to earn a point. They jump into a passing lane
and steal a pass = STOP… 1 Point for BLUE.

Since BLUE earned a point they get to start on defense again so that they can begin a sequence. This
time WHITE executes a post feed and move for an easy bucket. This = nothing, but does put WHITE on
their sequence of STOP-SCORE-STOP if they can come up with a stop. It is of great benefit in this drill to
have the players, a manager, or a coach yelling out where the sequence is at all times.

It is a great game situation teacher for shot selection, defensive rebounding, player recognition, and great
for intensity. Just wait until a team needs a big stop and someone gives up an offensive rebound! Or when
you need a SCORE to keep a team from earning a point and the “wrong” person takes a poorly selected
shot.

Have some rules for fouling in place, as this gets competitive in a hurry. We say that if a team draws two
fouls in the same sequence they are given a SCORE. Any offensive foul = STOP. We also say all tie-ball
situations go to the defense. It’s up to you whether you play
with boundaries. Sometimes it’s nice to not be bend by
sidelines and end line to enhance going for loose balls but it
can get a little out of control. RASHEEN DAVIS
Position: Assistant Coach

We believe it is at it’s best introduced as a half court 4-on-4 Email: davisr15@xavier.edu

situation with two teams rotating players when a “sequence” Experience: First Year at Xavier
is interrupted. From there you can progress to 3 teams and
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas '02
play on the full-court. Most important is how you emphasize
Hometown: New York, NY
the shot selection, the value of the ball, and competitive
spirit in the drill. Why I like PACKLINE DEFENSE:

Once you have utilized this drill in practice for a period of 1. Provides ANSWERS and
ACCOUNTABILITY
time, you can introduce the concept into an actual game. If
you are down five points with 3:00 to play, remind your team 2. Creates a Culture: Older players teach,
coach younger players
of a STOP-SCORE-STOP situation in practice that led to a
3. Defends the Dribble: Basketball
momentum swing and a victory in the drill. unfortunately is more dribble than pass
4. Simplifies Scouting: Do What We Do
and teach our system.
1. 5 MIN: WARM-UP: DAILY DOZEN
2. 7 MIN: BALLHANDLING: 2 BALL COACHING
3. 12 MIN: SHOOTING: CUT SCORING
4. 10 MIN: PERIMETER SERIES: KNOCK OFF DRIVING
5. 7 MIN: COMPETITION: 3 CHAIR 3’S

NOTE: Xavier Individual Workouts are typically done with 2-3 players. Although most of these drills can be adapted to work in a
single player workout setting, some work best with multiple players. Free Throws are added in between each drill to make for a
40 Minute Workout.

DAILY DOZEN: Player starts near sideline at half-court. Coach has choice to start each move from triple
threat or by 3 hard dribbles. Players in triple threat should be guarded by manager, slapping at ball.
Player explodes going “body to body” and executes a finish. The player then goes to opposite sideline
near half-court and waits until instructed to execute same drive and finish.

The order of the finishes is the following:

• Reach-out lay-up
• Two foot power lay-up
• Pull-up bank shot near block
• Stride stop, step thru
• Down middle, cut off trailer (ball – outside hand)
• Baseline corner, spin, reverse lay-up
• Baseline corner, spin, baby hook

2 BALL COACHING: Coach starts just above top of key. Drill is conducted for set amount of time (15, 20,
25 seconds). Player starts head under rim dribbling 2 balls simultaneously in unison. Coach is emphasizing
to player to pound the dribble. Commands are left, right, back, forward all the while keeping the dribbles in
unison. Player moves in direction coach demands as fast as he can.
Next rep (15, 20, 25 seconds) player uses alternate dribbles while following commands of coach.

CUT SCORING: Cutter needs to 1) Always cut hard 2) Use a set up cut by changing directions and speed
3) Read the defense

Pin Down
• Curl if chased (make defense chase by giving room early)
• Jumper
• Chase dribble finishes
• Hot potato (pass to slipping post)
Fade to corner if short cutted
 • Jumper
• Sweep and go baseline finishes
• Early fake baseline, rush thru the ball

Outscreen
• Same cuts if chased
Pop behind screener if short cutted (recognize early, push back)
• Same finishes

Flare
• Basket cut if chased (return for HO if post pops)
• Re-screen cut if chased (Outscreen reads)
Pop behind screener if short cutted (recognize early, push back)
• Same finishes

Backscreen
• Look for ball, return for HO or Trade

KNOCK OFF DRIVING: Coach works with player near the 3 point line. Both player and coach have back to
the basket. 5 spots are to be covered.

The coach throws the ball over the player’s shoulder and the player pivots to turn and face the defense
(coach).

Player will drive left trying to maintain a straight line drive to the rim while the coach who passed the ball
tries to bump the player off that line. Player should utilize a power finish against a tackle dummy.

• Player will drive left from all 5 spots then rest.

• Player will then repeat drill driving right at all 5 spots.

Important to stress staying low on drives and taking contact without sacrificing position on the drive.

3 CHAIR 3’S: Three chairs are set up on the floor on the spots of wing, point and wing. The chairs should
be about 1 foot inside the 3 point line. Player can start at any chair. Coach starts inside the lane and
passes to player through entire drill. Player moves from chair to chair shooting a 1-2 step 3 behind each
chair. Player has 1 minute to make as many 3’s as he can. Managers rebound and quickly hand balls to
coach so that he’s always ready to pass to player.
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5 4 5 4

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5 4 2 5 4

1 1
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5 1

3 3
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4 1 4
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