Basketball drills

• Guards + Forwards + Centers
• from U14 - 6 to 12 players
• 4 balls
• whole field
• 2 baskets

Objective:

• Pass on the flyer training and finishing at full speed
• Players 1 and 4 receive the ball at the outlet position and dribble directly to the centre circle.
• passer sprints along the sideline (flyer)
• receives the ball at full speed
• makes the lay up without a dribble

Teaching Points:

• dribbler is not allowed to cross the centre line
• the pass should be such that the flyer can finish without dribbling
• The flyer must ask for the ball with his hand
• execute at full speed
• communication: outlet calls
• after the lay up join the line near the basket where you scored
• the dribbler returns directly to the outlet after the pass and for the next ball

Variations:

• (to teach the attacker to finish at full speed under pressure)
• Have a defender walk up to the attacker during the layup to distract him visually (no physical contact).
• make the defender appear bigger with a mat or similar in his hands

• Centers + Guards + Forwards - from U12
• 2 or more players
• 1 ball per pair
• two baskets

Prerequisites

• being able to run a layup at speed from the pass

Objective:

• speed dribble is along the sideline because the shortest route to the other side
• pass and catch on speed

Organization:

• player takes a free throw and captures the rebound
• catch the ball as high as possible
• 3 sprints to the outlet position and calls
• passes with an overhead pass to the outlet
• the man with the ball dribbles along the sideline to the other basket as quickly as possible
• defender over the axis of the field to the other side
• receives the pass at full speed
• and makes the lay up without dribbling

Teaching Points:

• sprinting
• communication
• correct dribble start
• push the ball at the speed dribble
• dribbler must see where the flyer is
• pass in time
• shooter catches his own ball
• passer sprints under the circle to the outlet on the other side
• calls
• receives the ball at the outlet position with an overhead pass
• both players run the same 2 on 0 break as on the way out
• but now on the other longitudinal half of the field

Variation:

• put 1 defender at each basket
• defender catches ball and gives outlet pass
• and becomes flyer
• shooter becomes defender

• Centers + Guards + Forwards
• from U12 - 2 or more players
• 1 ball per pair
• two baskets
• a pawn or pole

Prerequisites:
being able to run a layup from the pass at speed

Objective:

• train runner flyer
• Passing and catching at speed

Organization

• player 1 throws the ball against the board and catches the rebound
• catches the ball as high as possible
• 3 sprints to the outlet position and calls
• pass with an overhead pass to the outlet
• the man with the ball dribbles as fast as possible to the bucket of the other basket.
• defender sprints along the sideline
• receives the pass at full speed
• and makes the lay up without dribbling

Teaching Points:

• sprinting Â- communication
• correct dribble start
• pushing the ball at speed dribble
• The dribbler must see where the flyer is.
• pass in time
• Shooter catches his own ball
• passer sprints around the pawn
• calls
• receives the ball at the outlet position with an overhead pass
• both players run the same 2 teg

Prerequisites:

• Players can defend on their feet
• and be able to pass
  
  

Objective:

• to practice the double team in the arrow press
• and the first rotation
  
  

Organization:

• 1 takes the ball and then does not take part in the game, but counts down the 8 seconds
• the defenders allow the first pass
• (in case of 5 players, one of the attackers starts with a pass to himself or to the other and the weak side defender counts down) Â- defender 5 starts to double team immediately after the first pass Â- the weak side defender passes the pass to the free attacker
• If the attackers get on the offensive half within 8 seconds they have a point Â- if the defenders win the ball they attack the basket. A score is a point. Â- The attacker calls when there is a foul on him. Point for the attack.
• play 5 times in a row with the same teams
• loser must run

Teaching points:

in double team, the attacker is NEVER allowed to pass between the defenders Â- the third defender must use all his energy to make the pass impossible Â- if a defender in double team is beaten by the ball, he must sprint full speed to regain a position between the ball and the half way line

Prerequisites:

players on the dribble can defend Â- and can make a pass the length of the field

Objective:

to practice defending the backfield in the arrowpress Â- to anticipate the pass and always make sure you are in a position to intercept it

Organisation:

• 4 takes the ball and then does not take part in the game anymore, but counts down the seconds
• defender 5 applies maximum pressure on the dribbler
• the defenders can defend all over the field
• attacker 1 may only act on the defensive half Â- attackers 2 and 3 only on the offensive half
• after a stop or score, defender 5 takes the ball back for the next round
• if the attackers score within 10 seconds they have a point Â- if not, it is a point for the defenders Â- the attacker calls if there is a foul on him. Point for the attack.
• play 5 times in a row with the same defenders
• 3 new attackers each time.
• If the defenders make less than 2 stops, they must run.
• when there are 2 or more stops, all attackers must run.

Teaching points:

defend the dribbler on your feet - he may not pass you under any circumstances Â- arms wide to make a pass difficult Â- defender 6 must anticipate the long pass to intercept it Â- must position himself so that he can see the ball AND both other attackers as much as possible (split vision) Â- always adjust his position on the field to intercept the most likely pass Â- if he has not been able to intercept the long pass, Â- He must NOT allow a lay up Â- Defender 5 must then sprint full speed towards the free attacker on the weak side.

Variations:

In the beginning, you may have to limit the space for attackers 2 and 3. Use existing lines on the floor, or place pawns on the sidelines on the attacking half.

Requirements:
Players must be able to sprint and slide and switch between them Â- Players must be able to dribble

Goal: Press
the dribbler on the press

Organisation:

Have each player sprint fully along the drawn lines and always close off the touchline (set up cones) idem but now with slides idem with alternating slides - sprint - slides Â- attacker without ball. Defender must make slides as long as possible; sprint if necessary Â- defender must close off the sideline in any case Â- same with ball. Defender forces attacker to turn on the sideline Â- keep exercise short and intense

Teaching points:

defender should get as close to attacker as possible, taking into account dexterity and speed of dribbler Â- defender should close off sideline with foot, forcing dribbler to turn Â- defender should accelerate, get in front of dribbler before closing sideline

Form of play:

if the dribbler manages to dribble between the sideline and the defender, then he may score Â- defender then continues to defend Â- if the defender manages to make the attacker turn at the sideline then he may then dribble and the attacker becomes defender

Tips:

start with a weak dribbler and let him start with his weak hand Â- impose restrictions on the attacker in the beginning: he can only change speed, but not direction, except on the touchline Â- reduce the restrictions as the defenders get better

Requirements:
players must master the layup at full speed

Goal:
react
quickly
to a stray ball and be able to finish the next 1 on 1

Organisation:

• the coach stands in the middle of the bucket and has the ball
• Two players on the elbow are only allowed to look straight ahead.
• trainer passes between the players
• they may only move when they see the ball
• the player who captures the ball scores on the opposite basket
• the other player tries to prevent this
• the coach makes his passes so hard that the players have to sprint to keep the ball in.
• n.b. the defender must not make any mistakes due to the risk of injuries
  
  

Teaching points:

• speed of action
• do not let the defender distract you
  
  

Variations:

• have players start sitting or lying down
• Put two players next to each other on the elbow, or with their backs against each other. Then play 2 against 2

Prerequisites:
players must master the layup at full speed

Goal:
Dare to finish
the
layup under pressure of a following defender

Organisation:

• defender may only cross the half way line at the first dribble
• attacker may make feints
• if the defender steps in, he/she must put both feet behind the centre line before defending again
• Attacker dribbles as fast as possible to the basket and finishes with a layup.
• Finish with a layup
• winner takes ball and connects behind the attackers on the other half of the court
• loser defends on the same half.
• depending on the skill of the attackers, allow the defender to cover more or less distance

Teaching points:

• dribble at full speed
• do not let the oncoming defender distract you.
  
  

Variations:

• increase the pressure by having the defender start closer to the basket
• Have players start sitting or lying down. The defender can only get up after the attacker.

Requirements:
players must be able to make a lay up from the pass

Goal: learn the
running move to free another player + have the courage NOT to pass to the first man who moves

Organisation:

• 3 pawns
• fixed pair
• fixed passer in the corner of the field.
• adjust deep post
• cut in, ask for the ball and pass
• second incider gets the ball and makes the lay up
• catches it himself
• passes to the oulet
• and runs to the pawn on the other side of the free throw line
• in the meantime, the man with the ball dribbles to the next pawn
• passes to his regular teammate
• who passes to the regular passer in the corner
• cuts in and asks for the ball (but does not get it)
• when there are more than 10 men: make 5 free throws and then change with a fixed passer

Teaching Points:

• the first man to cut in must look at the passer and ask for the ball with his hands
• the passer must use pass fakes to keep his defender out of the pass line until the second man cuts in

Variations:

Left and right

Requirements:

• players must have the courage to shoot defensively
• master open step and crossover step
• and master a feint followed by a dribble + shot or drive

Objective:
to decide which action to take as a forward in a 1v1 situation

Organisation:

• defender passes the ball with a bounce pass to the attacker
• and starts defending
• Attacker stands within shooting distance

Teaching points:

• foot, knee and shoulder in one line
• Hands ready to shoot
• Knees in an angle of 60 degrees (shot fake) to 90 degrees (drive fake)
• Shot fake: ball not higher than the nose + bend the knees a bit
• Drive fake: short, quick step + forward movement with the shoulders
• Open step: first step is short
• Bringing the ball to the other side with sweep/rip: bring the ball below knee height

Decide:

• defender has his hands low and/or more than an arm's length away: shoot (quick draw)
• Defender has his hand on the ball: driven directly (preferably over the front foot / along the back of the defender)
• make one fake at the most. Read the defender's reaction during your fake.
• If the defender does not react, continue the move (fake shot becomes shot, fake drive becomes drive).
• if the defender reacts, take the other option, i.e.: fake shot becomes drive; fake drive becomes shot; open step becomes rip + crossover step; crossover step becomes rip + open step
• do NOT introduce an element of competition here, to prevent defenders from making hard mistakes to avoid losing

Variations:

• instruct the defender to only defend the drive hard and leave space for the shot
• defend crossover and shot, but leave open step
• defend the shot to the full

Requirements:

• players must have the courage to shoot defensively
• and control a feint + dribble + shot or drive

Goal:
practice
1
against 1

Organisation:

• after a goal attempt, each player catches his own ball
• waits until his team-mate is in his shooting position.
• passes the ball and defends the attacker.
• the attacker uses the space left by the defender for a shot or drive
• or lures the defender towards him with a shot fake and then makes a drive to the basket
• OR a bounce + step + shot
• do NOT introduce an element of competition to prevent defenders from making hard fouls to avoid losing.
• Make sure the attacker gets the ball where he can actually shoot, so the defender has to consider the shot AND the drive.

Teaching points:

• Catch the ball in your shot hand (ready to shoot).
• adjust shooter well
• shooting technique
• if a player never shoots but always makes a drive, instruct the defender to only defend the drive hard and leave room for the shot
  
  

Variations:

• shot distance
• Position in relation to the basket.

Requirements:

• players must be able to individually defend the man with the ball
• Players must be able to dribble

Goal:
fitness / intensive interval training

Organisation:

• players start with 1 foot on the back line
• start on signal of the coach
• loser takes the ball and has to defend in the next round.
• 1 and 2 place the ball on the middle line so that 3 and 4 can pick it up
• 1 and 4 play 1 against 1 on the basket on the side they came from

Variations:

• left and right
• Place a hoop just beyond the baseline to handicap the defender.