Basketball drills for technique defense

• Divide players into groups of 5.
• Normally we have 2 or 3 baskets available.
• For example, every 7 minutes turn over, first center explanation. (most guidance on the dribbling skills needed)
• Station 1. (Basket 1)
  • 3x2 play from the center line without dribbling (only passing, free running, pivoting)
• Station 2. (basket 2)
  • 1x1 play (substitution, attacker becomes defender, occasionally change the order to get different match-ups, 1-shot attempt or under time pressure to keep up the momentum)
• Station 3. (Basket 3 - if available)
  • Shooting exercise: 5 positions on edge of bucket (low, elbow, free throw line, elbow low).
  • 1 player shoots, others catch and pass the ball (1 shot per position, highest score of the group)
• Station 4 dribbling skills. (1-2 pawns)
  • Over the pylon (do not take it with you, keep control, from left to right, 1 hand behind your back)
  • Lift the pylon with the left, dribble with the right (throw the pylon, catch it with the other hand)
  • Left/right and touch pylon (timer, counting) - hand that releases the ball must touch pylon (low position, defend the ball)
  • 2 pawns, dribble left, touch right
  • 2 cones (8 dribble with 1 hand)
• Station 5 dribbling skills. (row of pawns)
  • Slalom around the pawns, low dribble, back and forth (tempo)
  • Variant: low dribble, feet on both sides of the pawns, cross after every pylon.
  • Low dribble, always touching the according pawns.
  • Stay in control, stay on the same side. (dribble left, touch pylon with right)

• 5 against 5 half field. (Depending on turnout, at 20 and 3 baskets possibly)
• Especially explanation to U12-2.
• Sometimes stop, whistle, explain:
  • Run.
  • Second dribble.
  • Free running.
  • Playing together.
  • Pivoting.
• Defending (own man, not running to the ball, running back, taking the ball after scoring).

• Dry practise
  • All players on the baseline.
  • First player starts in the corner, makes slides.
  • Slanting towards line of basket. (Put a pawn down!)
  • From there, sprint to the side of the center line.
  • Then slides to line of basket.
  • Then from there sprint again.
• Practise with attacker - without 1v1
  • Pairs with 1 ball.
  • Start on the baseline, in the corner.
  • 1 attacker, 1 defender.
  • Explain position:
    • Sit deep.
    • Hand in knee.
    • Other hand prevents pass.
  • Slides to the other side.
  • Second round same as above, but from the middle line 1-on-1.

• Breaking free, learning in/out, 5 out (keep moving).
• Free with defender, receive ball and score.
• 2x2, also possible with 3x3, 4x4 (vests), trainer passes (or good player).

• Arm's length distance -
• Player is unprecedented/general good
• Poet
  • Shot is good
  • Drive is less
  • HIGH so do not give shot
• Further
  • Shot is not good
  • Drive is strong
  • LOW still hand up!
• General
  • Forearm
  • No reaching
  • No step slide!
  • Ball is on forward man is on top with defender in closed denail
  • Watch out for backdoor

Prerequisites:

• Knowing defensive stance / attacking principle of in-out.

Organization:

• Coach gives pass on spot one (only attack after four passes/four swings)
• Attacker at spot two and three
• In/out move
• First part of the exercise 1vs1; second part 2vs2
• Passing on: offense becomes defense, defense connects and steps in as offense afterwards (stay on same side)

Goal:

• Teach correct defensive position (denial + help defense)

Teaching points:

• Quickly change position when the ball changes sides, read defenses as attackers (backdoor)
• In/out to the bucket, when defending short, get out to 1m outside 3pt line and use backdoor option, jump to the ball as defender

Prerequisites:

• Some game insight at fill the spot, be able to apply defensive stance (denail - helpside)

Goal:

• offence: quickly see where there is an empty spot and cut through after a pass, defence: adjust stance according to how the ball is moving

Organization

• 4 players (U10) on a spot with defence, empty spot under the ring.
• Offence: pass the ball around and make a quick cutting move towards the empty spot below the ring, other attackers move up and the empty spot is filled in by the cutting attacker.
• Defence: adjust position according to the ball. (hands on the ball, denail, weakside help on the line ring-ring)
• 5 passes (calmly), then 4vs4
• Passing on: offence becomes defence, defence steps out and then becomes offence
• Possibly start with passive defence (hands on back) depending on players' level.

teaching points

• Offence: good pass - in/out to deep bucket and high stepping out - placement of feet - attention to mistakes.
• Defence: anticipate the ball - check correct posture per spot before passing - jump-to-the-ball

Three teams line up one ball on the back line.

• Coach throws ball against the board (if he scores take it)
• Middle player picks up rebound and chooses an outlet side
• Outlet at speed to head of the bucket on the other side, matching player cuts behind the outlet.
• Fill three lanes, possibly add defenders to make it harder (pick up two players from the center line, or rebound more first)

• From the middle line 1-1.
• Defender has a limited area (pylons) in which he can defend.
• Attacker finishes with free lay-up (must go in or push up).

Prerequisites:

• to know the defensive position

Organization:

• coach gives pass to spot 1 (only attack after 4 passes/4 swings)
• attacker on spot 2 and 3
• in/out move
• first part of the exercise 1vs1; second part 2vs2
• shuffle through: offense becomes defense, defense connects and joins in as offense afterwards (stay on same side)

Goal:

• To teach the correct defensive position (denial + help defense)

Teaching points:

• Quickly change position when the ball changes sides, read defence as attacker (backdoor)
• In/out to the bucket, when defending short, get out to 1m outside 3pt line and use backdoor option, jump to the ball.

Prerequisites:

• Bit of game insight at fill the spot, be able to apply defensive stance (denail - helpside)

Goal:

• Offence: quickly see where there is an empty spot and cut through after a pass, defence: adjust stance depending on how the ball moves

Organisation

• Four players (U10) on a spot with defence, empty spot under the ring.
• Offence: Pass the ball around and make a quick cutting move towards the empty spot below the ring, other attackers move up and the empty spot is filled in by the cutting attacker.
• Defence: adjust position according to the ball. (hands on the ball, denail, weakside help on the line ring-ring)
• Five passes (calmly), then 4vs4
• Passing on: offence becomes defence, defence steps out and then becomes offence.

Teaching points

• Offence: good pass - in/out to deep bucket and high exit - jump-to-the-ball - placement of feet - attention to running faults
• Defence: anticipate the ball - check correct posture per spot before passing.

• Player sprints from the corner baseline to the first post.
• At the first post a drop step and slides towards the second post.
• From the second post, backward defensive footwork to the third post.
• At the third pole a dropstep followed by slides to the fourth pole.
• You do this until you are back at the starting point.