Basketball drills

• Centers + Guards + Forwards
• from U14
• 2 or more players
• 1 ball per pair
• two baskets

Prerequisites:

• players must be able to dribble a layup run

Objective:

• to increase offensive creativity in 1v1

Organization:

• player 1 passes the ball to 3 and gets it back immediately
• 3 moves backwards
• 1 dribbles straight at 3 and has to close the distance between both players
• Unbalance and pass the defender
• Full speed to the basket
• Loser will defend, winner will attack
• Play up to the 3 to keep the intensity high.

Teaching Points:

• attacker must aggressively close the gap
• Dribble straight at the defender.
• throw the defender off balance with a feint.
• Attacker should be unpredictable.
• only choose which side to pass on at the last moment
• Use feints in the dribble
• after passing at full speed towards the basket cut off the defender by dribbling ON the line of the defender
• basket
• after the pass, the defender has to sprint at full speed to pressure the lay up

Objective:

Try to score 5 times with your group as quickly as possible.

Task:

Divide the players into 2, 3 or 4 groups so that there are max. 6 of them in a group. Give each player in each group a number from 1 to 6. Each group sits in a corner of the terrain. In the middle there are 2, 3 or 4 basketballs in hoops.

When the coach says a number, the players with that number sprint to the middle as fast as they can, take a basketball and dribble to goal. They get only 1 attempt to score. After their goal attempt, they put the balls back in the middle and rejoin their group. The first group with 5 scores wins the game.

Variations/ gradations

Make scoring easier by attaching a hoop to the ring where players can also score. A score through the hoop is then worth double points.

Objective:

Reenact all the exercises, which the trainer is demonstrating.

Task:

The players stand in a (half) circle so that everyone can see the trainer. The trainer shows some exercises. The players mimic him/her. Keep the balloon in the air by tapping it up in the air. Try to clap your hands as much as possible between each tap.

• Hold the balloon in your left hand and dribble the basketball with your right hand. Successful? Try with your other hand.
• Now hold the balloon high above your head and look at the balloon. Keep dribbling with your other hand. Change hands after 1 minute.
• Dribble the basketball with your right hand and hold the balloon with your left hand. At the whistle, change hands without losing either one and without stopping dribbling.

Dribble the basketball with your right hand. Try to keep the balloon in the air with your left hand by tapping it upwards. Can you do it with your other hand?

Objective:

• Reenact all the exercises, which the trainer presents.

Mission

The players stand in a (half) circle so everybody can see the trainer. The trainer shows some exercises. The players imitate him/her.

• Stand in a circle. Roll the ball between your legs in an 8-shape.
• Roll the ball around your waist, legs and head. Change direction every now and then.
• Bounce the ball on the ground with 2 hands and catch it again with 2 hands.
• Throw the ball in the air with 2 hands and catch it again with 2 hands. Who can clap before catching the ball?
• Stand in a spread position. Move the ball between your legs in an 8-shape without letting it fall to the ground.

Goal:

• shot from the elbow
• outlet pass after score
• overhead pass from low post to elbow

Organization:

• after shot rebound and immediately step over the back line and take the ball
• always chase your ball and take the next position
• set a goal; e.g. 30 shots.

Teaching Points:

• in the last step bring the ball above your head and turn your face towards the pitch
• Tight overhead pass to the outlet
• ask high for the ball
• Pass the ball in the shot hand

Variations:

• counterclockwise and clockwise
• Fill up waiting time at the forward position with fake passes
• The other way round: after scoring, pass to the elbow and shoot from the corner

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

Objective:

Force the dribbler to make a reverse dribble at the sideline and second defender goes for the steal.

Organization:

• 2 against 2 across the length
• losers must defend in the next round
• the trapper anticipates the reverse of the dribbler and taps the ball away as soon as the dribbler has turned 180 degrees Â- completes the lay up on the other basket
• a steal is 3 points Â- a 'normal score' by the attackers is 1 Â- the pair that has 12 points first wins Â- losers walk suicide

Teaching Points:

defender forces dribbler to the side, but must keep an appropriate distance, taking into account the dexterity and speed of the dribbler Â- defender must force the dribbler to the side so that he will make a reverse dribble

Variations:

• left and right
• with triplets half court; third defender must release his own man as soon as the attempted steal begins and cut off passing lines

Requirements:

players must be able to individually defend the man with the ball Â- players must be able to dribble

Objective:

Set up kick directly over the center line.

Organization:

2 against 2 across the longitudinal half Â- losers must defend in the next round Â- the dribbler must be over the centre line within 4 seconds (the trapper counts down)

the trapper moves aggressively towards the half way line just before the dribbler crosses it (but due to his speed and the position of his defender is not able to change direction) Â- the trapper widens himself, but moves the foot closest to the touchline backwards slightly, so that he can close the touchline with 1 or 2 slides Â- the dribbler must never pass between the two defenders

As soon as the dribbler grabs the ball, the trapper stays with it Â- the other defender sprints towards the free attacker

Teaching Points:

defender forces the dribbler to the side, but must keep an appropriate distance, taking into account the dexterity and speed of the dribbler Â- defender must force the dribbler to move at high speed along the touchline to the attacking half

Variations:

left and right