Basketball practice drills

Defensive

Defensive Basketball Drill #1: WHISTLE DRILL

The player(s) line up and get in a defensive stance. The coach/friend blows the whistle. They then begin
to defensive slide to the right. When the whistle is blown again they slide the other way. They continue
this until the coach stops.

Defensive Basketball Drill #2: PASSING LANES

First you need to be in a defensive position. With the butt down and knees bent, stay 1 step inside and
and make sure there are 2 or 3 steps between you and your man. You stand there till you see the pass
being made to another man. You got to look strait in the passing man's eyes and if he is about to pass it
go for the steal and the easy layup. This drill works best 2 on 2.

Defensive Basketball Drill #3: HIGH TO LOW

This drill requires you to use 2 balls and about 8 players. First you have one player standing at the
baseline three point area (Low) and another is standing at the top of the key area (High). The rest of the
group is behind the baseline.

First the baseline player makes a two handed chest pass to the 'Low' shooter and immediately sprints
and closes out with feet 'Squeeking' and one hand up challenging the shooter. Once they have tapped
the ballhandler then that person is allowed to shoot. Once a shot has been taken immediately locate,
blockout, then rebound and throw to the next person in line.

Once a shot has been taken from the first group the next player throws a ball to the 'High' shooter and
repeats the process. As your team gets better at closing out and challenging the shooter then allow for
dribble penetration (3 to 4 dribbles).

Defensive Basketball Drill #4: WT DRILL

WT drill is a drill used to 'bang' cutters in the lane. Anytime there is a pick in the lane or near the lane,
we demand our player's hedge and bump the cutter off path. Place onE player in the lane in the mid
post area. Position two lines, one on each sideline, free-throw line extended.

A coach needs to be opposite one of the lines to make an entry pass in to the cutting offensive player.
The line that is opposite the coach is the flashing/cutting offensive player.
As offensive player cuts in to the lane, defensive player must see ball and man (man cutting to
basket)and 'bang' his man to knock him off path. Offensive man must try to get open in the lane.
Contact is a must. If coach passes to offensive player and player catches the ball, then it becomes one on
one.

Defensive Basketball Drill #5: FULL-COURT TRAP

This drill requires 5 defensive players with 5 positions, and then 5 offensive players...

1 is a fast person down to 5 being the center. 1 and 2 positions are on the top corners of the free throw
on your team's side. 3 and 4 are on the corners of half court and 5 are on the free throw line on other
end. The other team passes the ball in, and the direction he or she chooses (if he goes left the 1 will pick
him up) that person must force him to the corner to the 3 or 4, the 3 or 4 will trap with the 1 or 2. Say
the ball goes left to the two and the 4 traps in the center corner. The other side watches for a long pass.
The 5 are the safety valve to fill in for the 3 or 4.

Defensive Basketball Drill #6: THE GAUNTLET

Three defenders are spread out at the foul line (1 in middle and 1 each at foul line extended). Another
three defenders are spread out similarly at half court and 1-3 defenders at the opposite foul line,
depending on number of players you have. A line is formed under the near hoop with at least 3 good
ball-handlers. On the whistle, one dribbler tries to break each line of defense without committing a
violation. Once a dribbler is past the first foul line, blow the whistle for the next dribbler. This will keep
the drill active and work on conditioning.

Stress forcing the dribbler to the sideline, where the trap is easier because the defense has an extra
defender (sideline).

Defensive Basketball Drill #7: SHELL DRILL-DOUBLE TEAMING

Make it a diamond format (1 guard - 2 forwards - 1 center) 4 on 4 four half court game; have your
player's double team as soon as the ball goes to the forward or the guard dribbles to one wing.

In the first case it is the guard double-teaming and in the second it is the forward coming for the double-
team.

Double-team everywhere on the half court except in the point guard position.
Have your players rotating, talking, helping and pressing the ball (not for steals but for pass deflections -
because the first gives you a lot of fouls, at least here...)

Defensive Basketball Drill #8: LOOSE BALL DRILL

Form 2 line under the basket on each side of the backboard. The Coach gets in the middle with the ball
and rolls (bounces) the ball anywhere in the half-court.

2 Players should go after the ball and anything goes. The player who controls the ball comes back to the
basket and the player without the ball immediately becomes the defense trying to stop the player with
the ball from scoring.

Defensive Basketball Drill #9: 2 ON 1 DENIAL

The purpose of the 2 on 1 denial drill is to teach how to deny the ball. By using two players, emphasis is
also placed on double-teaming. This drill is also good for offensive players in that it allows them to work
on receiving the ball when being double teamed. This would be especially good for a post player. This
drill also forces the players on the perimeter to work on their passing. Place players around the three
point line with only one basketball. Select three players to go inside the three point line. Two of these
players will be assigned to deny the other player the ball.

The players on the outside are trying to get the ball to the player that is being guarded. If they cannot
get the ball to that player, they throw the ball to another teammate, who is also behind the three point
line. The defensive players need to try to get three steals. Once this happens, another one of the three
becomes the offensive player. This continues until everyone involved has been on both offense and
defense.

Defensive Basketball Drill #10: 2 ON 1 FAST-BREAK

The drill starts with 1 player on the foul line, one on the baseline, and two in the paint. A coach or
manager will throw the ball off the glass.

Once one of the two players in the paint has control, the player on the foul line sprints back the
opposite lane and faces the offense. The two players in the paint go on a 2 on 1 fast break. The player on
the baseline follows the play to the top of the key and will become the defensive player going the
opposite direction. Once the offense shoots, or the defense makes a stop, then first defensive player
and the offensive player who first handled the ball go on a 2 on 1 fast break the other way, while the
player who followed the play sprints back on defense once they have secured the ball.
This defensive basketball drill goes 4 trips up and down the floor, as each player in the drill ends up as
the defensive player once.

A 2 on 1 break is a nearly hopeless situation for the defense. But if you can convince them that by taking
a charge, or making a routine stop using good defensive principles in a game, that those types of play
can be huge momentum boosters or changers, then they will buy into the concept.  

Youth Basketball Drill #1: QUICK

In a circle, you in middle. The kids copy you running on the spot, jumping etc. When you say quick they
get into the defensive position. However if you say get down they continue to do what they were
beforehand. They are only out if you see them.

Youth Basketball Drill #2: HEADS UP DIRECTION CHANGE

Along the center court line space out 4 to 5 players facing you. You should be off the court at center
court. Instruct your players to move while dribbling in whichever direction you move - side to side,
forward and backwards. Change direction without words so they have to keep their eyes on you. As they
progress change directions more quickly and move faster.

Youth Basketball Drill #3: REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT 2

Have a group of kids start at one baseline, don't bunch them too closely together. Each child in the
group has a ball. When the facilitator shouts green light the children dribble forward, blue and they
dribble left, yellow they dribble right, and of course red they stop. All during this youth basketball drill
the children keep dribbling.

Youth Basketball Drill #4: SPEED LAY-UP DRILL

Coach times player for 1 minute; team counts aloud number of shots made and encourages player along
the way.

Player with a basketball stands to the right of the basket, coach says 'GO' and player shoots a layup
(using backboard) from right side... then miss or make goes to left side. She continues to alternate sides,
team counts how many are made in one minute.

Coach may decide to give stronger players 45 seconds, weaker players 1 minute +.

Youth Basketball Drill #5: SPEED DRIBBLE

Players start at 1/2 court or baseline. Each line or player has a ball. Objective is to reduce the number of
dribbles.
Let the players cover the required distance and count their dribbles. Have them cover the same distance
and reduce the dribbles by 1. Repeat and reduce by 1 again. Continue reducing until you have increased
speed.

Youth Basketball Drill #6: SIDE-LINE LAYUPS

The O's pass to the outlet line. The line to their left if they are going to shoot left handed lay ups and vice
versa. The O then runs the floor to receive a bounce pass at the other end. X throws a baseball pass
down the sideline. Then pass to the foul line, the x at the foul line gives a bounce pass to O for the lay-
up. X's always follow their pass to the next line. X at the foul line get the rebound of O and are the next
shooters.

With two balls, shoot to get 20 makes in two minutes with 4-6 graders. Try 25 in junior high and 30 with
Varsity players.

Double this when adding the third and fourth ball.

Youth Basketball Drill #7: REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT

This youth basketball drill starts with everyone at the baseline with a ball. When the coach says 'green
light', the player starts to dribble and walk. When the coach says 'red light', the player stops.

For the younger kids just learning, tell them this is not a race. When 'red light' is said, let them pick-up
their dribble. As the level of play increases, different variations could be things like walking backwards,
making it a race, using opposite hands, or any errors in dribbling having the player to go back to start.
You can also use a whistle; one blow signifies 'green light' and two whistles mean 'red light'.

Youth Basketball Drill #8: PIN-BALL

Players start in a confined area. Each player has two cloths pins clipped on the back of their jerseys
about shoulder blade level.

On command, everyone goes after cloths pins on everyone else. Winner is player with most pins.

Helps young players with aggressiveness.

Hustle. Reward winner by sitting out next round or X number of sprints, etc.

Time - 5 minutes

Youth Basketball Drill #9: PCPP

Three players are lined up in a straight line approx. 30ft. apart

A player on either end starts with the ball.

This players slap on the ball starts the drill and is a signal for the player in the middle to cut towards him
to receive a pass from him.
The middle player cuts towards the passer, receives the pass that is thrown to him and completes a legal
stop(jump stop or one two stop).

After making the catch and stop, this player makes a legal pivot and passes to the player on the other
end. After this pass is caught by the ender the middle player cuts towards the ender and receives a
return pass from him where apon the middle player again completes a legal stop, pivot and passes to
the player on the other end.

For youth players I would switch the middle man after he has made anywhere from 5 to 10 passes or or
you could do the drill for 30 to 45 sec. and then rotate players so that everybody in the drill gets a shot
in the middle especially.

Youth Basketball Drill #10: KEEP IT BOUNCING

While dribbling try to tap the other players ball out of bounds. Second dribble is not allowed. When your
ball goes out of bounds you must do 5 push ups or run one lap, after you did that you can join the group
again.

Make sure the kids keep there head up, use both arms.

The more the try to tap away other players balls (in stead of just protecting there own ball) the better
dribblers they become.

Youth Basketball Drill #11: HOT HANDS

You cannot dribble the ball in this game! The player who receives a pass can take two steps and then has
to pass the ball to someone else. As soon as the player receives a pass, he/she is requires to count out
loud the steps he/she takes. If the player exceeds the two steps, the coach stops the game and this
player is replaced by someone on the bench (if there are any).

Youth Basketball Drill #12: HEADS UP

Minimum of two players spaced 5-8 feet apart (depending on age level).

Each player has a basketball and one has a wiffle golfball or ping pong ball.

Dribbling with your good hand (proper form required) you underhand pass the ping pong ball back and
forth while dribbling. If you miss the ping pong ball dribble to get it and continue the drill.

Switch to your off hand and continue drill (5-10 min drill total)

Youth Basketball Drill #13: GOPHER BALL

Players start at 1/2 court circle or free throw circle. Teach players to react quickly to loose ball. - Go
quickly into Offense.
Players lay down on stomach with eyes closed. Toss ball into air and blow whistle. Players scramble for
ball.

Youth Basketball Drill #14: BEAN BAG GAME

Using half court place one team at center court, and one team at the corners of the baseline.

Each team has one ball.

Place bean bags in key circle in a pile.

On coaches comand one player from each team dribbles into the key, while still dribbling the players
must bend down and pick up a bean bag each.

They must then dribble back to their team while still dribbling deposit the bean bag and give the ball to
their next team member.

This process continues until all bean bags are gone, then they are able to steal bean bags from the other
teams.

After two minutes the team with the most bean bags wins.

NOTE: Only one bean bag is able to be taken at a time.

Youth Basketball Drill #15: BALL SCRAMBLE

On command, everyone drops ball and runs to half court or bleachers, etc. and returns. While the
players are running, coach removes one ball. Player without ball is out. With fewer players, start to
reduce area.