Republic of the Philippines

Eastern Visayas State University

Tacloban City

“Offensive and Defensive Drills in Basketball”

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in

PFIT 222

Submitted by:
Earl M. Agner
BSCE-2C

Submitted to:
Mr. Erickson Jimenez Cawili
 5 Offensive Drills (Man-to-Man Basketball Plays)
1. 1-4 Quick Floppy
Overview of the Play:
This play allows a team to get open looks on the perimeter early in an offensive
possession. This happens by running an immediate ‘floppy’ out of the 1-4 set where both
guards cut off screens to find open space.
Instructions:
Setup: The play starts in a 1-4 high set.
1-4 quick floppy play
1. 1 dribble down the floor and calls out the name of the play.
2. 2 and 3 cut along the baseline with 2 stopping close to under the rim.
3. 4 and 5 turn and trail once 2 and 3 have cut past them.
4. 3 sets a screen just inside the paint as 4 and 5 set screens a foot outside the
low blocks on their respective sides.
5. 2 now has the option of using the staggered screen or the single screen. For
this example, 2 uses the staggered screen and cuts to the perimeter.
6. Once 2’s defender has passed through the screen, 3 will cut off the screen the
opposite side to 2. For this example, 3 cuts off the single screen by 5.
(If 2 were to use 5’s single screen, 3 would turn and cut to the perimeter off 4’s
screen.)
7. After screening, 4 and 5 immediately duck in and look to receive the quick pass
for the layup. Often 4 or 5’s defender will be forced to help on the player cutting to
the perimeter which leaves 4 and 5 on smaller defenders.
8. The point guard has now had 4 great passing options which lead to quick open
shots.
9. If 2 or 3 catch on the perimeter, the closest post player immediately attempts to
get a low seal while the other post player clears to the high post to give them space.
2. Back Screen Post
Key Personnel:
A great post player at the 5 position. The key goal of this play is to get a quick and clear
post up.2 should be your team’s best shooter.
Instructions:
Setup: The play starts in a 3-out 2-in formation with the posts on the elbows and the wing
players in the corners.
Back Screen Post
1. 1 starts the drill by dribbling their defender down one side of the floor to create
good screening angle.
2. 3 walks their defender down to the low block.
3. 4 and 5 set a staggered screen for 1 as they dribble around the top of the key.
4. As 1 is dribbling off the screens, 3 sprints up and sets a strong back screen on
5’s defender.
5. 5 immediately rolls to the basket looking for the pass for the quick layup. If that’s
not open, they establish deep post position.
6. If 1 can’t get the basketball into the post, 3 and 4 set a staggered screen for 2
who cuts to the top of the key ready for the open shot.
3. Double Curls
Overview of the Play:
UCLA curls allows your team to get open layups at the basket by keeping the lower
key open and running guards off screens towards the ring. If the first two players can’t get
open, the play ends with a traditional wing pick and roll.
Instructions:
Setup: The play starts in a 1-4 high formation.
UCLA Curl - Man to Man Play
1. 1 pass to 3 on the wing.
2. 1 then performs a UCLA cut off 5’s screen looking to receive the pass for the
open layup. If it’s not open, 1 clears out to the weak side corner.
3. 4 and 5 then set a staggered screen for 2 who curls towards the ring looking to
receive the pass for the open layup also. If they don’t receive the pass they clear
out to ball side corner.
4. 4 pops out to the top after screening to create space.
5. 5 then sets a pick and roll for 3 who attacks the rim hard looking to score or
create a play for a teammate.
4. Flex Warrior
Overview of the Play:
This play involves numerous screens and many open shot opportunities. I
recommend this play to high school and older teams because timing, screening angles,
making the right play, and being able to shoot from the outside are all very important.
Instructions:
Setup: The play begins in a horns set with your wing players level with the lower blocks.
flex-warrior-man-to-man-play
1. The play starts with 1 passing to either of the two post players on the elbow.
Preferably the side with the best shooter on the wing.
2. 1 then cuts down the center of the lane and sets a flex screen for 2.
3. 2 can cut either high or low off the flex screen and looks for the pass from 4 and
the easy layup.
4. 5 sets a down screen for 1 for a screen the screener action. 1 cuts to the top of
the elbow or slot looking for the catch and shoot.
5. After screening for 1, 5 immediately sets another screen for 2 who cuts out to
the wing.
6. If 1 wasn’t open for the shot, they must swing the basketball to 2 who should be
open on the wing for the shot.
7. After screening 2’s player, 5 attempts to get a deep seal in the paint. If 2 wasn’t
open, they can pass in for the score.
5. Piston Elevator
Overview of the Play:
This is a great play for getting a quick three-point shot. The two guards will look
like they’re exchanging wings but your best shooter will quickly cut to the top of the key
off an elevator screen for the three-point shot.
Instructions:
Setup: The play begins in a 1-4 high formation.
Piston Elevator - Man to Man Play
1. The play starts with 1 dribbling towards one side of the court.
2. 3 Iverson cuts off the screens set by 4 and 5 on the elbows while 2 baseline cuts
to the middle of the key.
 3. Immediately after setting the screens on the elbows, 4 and 5 set a elevator
screen for 2.
4. 2 shoots through the screens to the top of the key for the catch and shoot three-
pointer
5 Basketball Defense Drills
1. 1-on-1 Continuous
How the Drill Works:
Players form a line at the top of the key and fill the wing spots. An offensive and
defensive player start by playing 1-on-1 from the wing. After the score or defense
takes possession, the offensive player immediately closes out on the opposite wing
and they play 1-on-1.
Purpose:
A fast-paced and competitive drill with focus on attacking the defender off a close
out and being able to guard the opposition in isolation. 1-on-1 play is fantastic for
development.
Setup:
One offensive player on each wing.
One defender guarding one of the wing players.
The rest of the players form a line at the top of the key each with a basketball.
Instructions:
1-on-1-continuous
On the coach’s call, the offensive player being defended starts the drill by v-cutting
to get open for the pass from the top and then competing 1-on-1 until a score or
change of possession.
As soon as they finish, the top line passes to the opposite wing and then fills the
free wing.
The offensive player from the previous 1-on-1 immediately closes out and they
play compete until a score or change of possession.
This process of the offensive player immediately transitioning to defending the
opposite wing continues for the amount of time given to the drill.
2. 4-Point Closeouts
How the Drill Works:
Defensive players start under the basket and must sprint out and close out on each
of the four offensive players spread around the three-point arc. They then retreat
to the basket and move on to the next player.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this drill is to work on closeout technique. Specifically,
footwork and staying on balance.
Setup:
4 offensive players or coaches spread around the 3-point arc.
The rest of the players underneath the basket.
The 4 offensive players all have a basketball.
Instructions:
4-point-closeouts
The first player in line sprints out to the first offensive player in a clockwise direction
and closes out on the ball.
They then put pressure on the offensive player for 2 - 3 seconds before back-
pedaling until they’re within the charge circle and then sprint out to the next player.
The next player in line begins once the first player has closed out, retreated to the
charge circle, and starts sprinting to the next player.
After closing out to each of the 4 offensive players, the player joins the end of the
line and starts again when it’s their turn.
After a certain amount of time, swap the offensive players with the defensive
players and continue the drill.
3. Defensive Specialist
How the Drill Works:
Defensive Specialist is a continuous drill that works on the different defensive
movements that players will make on defense including closeouts, defensive
sliding, back-pedaling, and sprinting.
Purpose:
Since this drill covers all the most frequent movements players will make on
defense, it’s one of the best basketball defense drills to get them used to these
different movements.
Setup:
Since it’s hard to explain where the cones and movements are by writing, I
encourage you to take a look at the image associated with this drill for better
comprehension.
You will require four D-men or cones for this drill.
All players begin in a straight line on the baseline.
Instructions:
defensive specialist
Players perform this defensive course one-by-one.
The first movement is a sprint and then close out to the cone in front. The player
then back-pedals around a cone directly behind them, and then slides across to
the other side of the court.
When the first defender slides past the line, that triggers the next player in line to
start the drill.
When the first defender has slid around the cone on the other side of the court,
they again sprint to close out, and then once again slide to the opposite side of the
court before returning to the end of the line.
Depending on the number of players you have, run this drill for 3 – 5 minutes.
4. Mass Sliding
How the Drill Works:
Players are spread out in the half or full court in a defensive stance an even
distance apart from each other. A coach or another player then instructs the team
to complete different defensive movements that players must follow as a collective
group.
Purpose:
A defensive drill that focuses on the fundamentals of individual defense while
incorporating in conditioning. Improves defensive footwork and technique required
to successfully guard a player with or without the ball.
Setup:
Players are spread out in the half or full court depending on how many players are
used.
Players must have enough space between each other.
The coach stands out front of the group to be seen clearly at all times by all of the
players.
Instructions:
mass defense
The drill begins with all players down in a low stance and ‘pitter-pattering’ their feet
(quick feet).
The coach then uses both visual and verbal cues to instruct players to perform
defensive movements.
This continues for a usually 2 - 3 minutes.
Incorporate the following defensive movements:
Lateral slides east and west - Point the direction you want them to slide.
Drop step slides - Point diagonally behind them. Players must drop step and then
slide that direction.
Close-Outs - Point hands in the air. Players sprint 2 - 3 steps forward and then
close-out with high hands while keeping a low base.
Charge - Cross arms at chest. Players fall backwards simulating taking a charge
and then get straight back up into pitter patter.
Rebound - Jump up with two hands. On the rebound call, players must jump up
and down three times as high as they can simulating getting a defensive rebound.
Back-Pedal - Pointing behind the players. Players behind must communicate with
the player in front of them.
Sprint - Motion forward with hands. Players must sprint forward to their starting
position.
5. Pass Denial
How the Drill Works:
Two players compete 1-on-1 from the wing. The goal for the defense is to prevent
the pass to the wing player while the offensive player attempts to make 3 catches
in a row.
Purpose:
Being able to deny the pass to your opponent is one of the most important skills in
a traditional man-to-man defense. This drill allows players to practice their
positioning and being able to react to the movements of the offensive player.
Setup:
One player with a basketball on the strong-side slot position.
One offensive player on the wing.
One defensive player on the wing guarding the offensive player.
Instructions:
pass-denial
The drill starts with the offensive player walking the defender in and exploding out
looking to receive the pass from the player in the slot.
The defense attempts to constantly deny the pass to the offensive player on the
wing.
The offensive player can perform a v-cuts and utilize changes of speed but must
stay on the line between the wing and the basket.
Each time the offensive player catches the basketball, they immediately pass back
to the player in the slot and the drill continues.
After the third catch, the players swap positions.
1. What have you observed and learned on your research and previous sessions in your
basketball class? (specifically, on basketball drills and exercises)
➢ It exercises the total skills of a player for an actual game. This will allow the player
on what’s going to do inside the court. It will also develop the decision making of a
player. The most important thing is the coordination of one team, it is necessary to
consider the chemistry of the players before playing to an actual game so there is
a higher chance to win in every game.
2. Based on your experience and research, what do you think are the advantages of
learning drills and exercises in basketball for the actual learning drills and exercises in
basketball for the actual gameplay.
➢ Based on my experience learning basketball drills and exercise, the advantages
for me as a player is, it develops my capabilities and confidence to lead the game,
I’m not prone to injuries, and it strengthen my stamina.
3. Choose one of your favorite drill FOR EACH offensive and defensive drills,
(1 for offensive, 1 for defensive) then discuss and explain how it will help you and your
team become better performers in the field of basketball.
Back Screen Post (offensive drill)
➢ This will allow to get an easy lay-up or a jump shot closer to the rim with the help
of a teammate to execute screen so whoever handles the ball could be able to set
a play and can pass easily to his/her teammate near the post. This play could help
to my team especially when we are about to get an easy two points. Back screen
post is really my favorite play because there’s no need to get a crossover to pass
the defender and there’s a lower chance to contest my shots or lay-ups.
Mass Sliding (defensive drill)
➢ It is commonly used especially when your opponent takes the lead in a run out of
time and you have to beat that. It forcedly get the ball from your opponent and then
score. I think this is commonly called as trap defense where in you and your
teammates occupies the whole court to defend your opponent in getting more
scores. This type of defense is very effective based on my experience as long as
the stamina of the player is strong. In my team, we often use this even in the
beginning of the game so we could be able to have a higher score lead against our
opponent. And also, if our coach observe that our opponent does not have their
reserve players to substitute. Because it allows the player to get exhausted and
tired easily especially if the stamina is not strong.