Basketball | Defense Drills

You have to turn into a run when an offensive player beats you. Start in the corner of the court or in a grassy area. Go two steps back then glide about 2 meters then go into a run. Do not rise up when running.Stay low to the floor. Take three running steps and then return to a glide. Cover a total distance of about 25 meters. Do a total of four in both directions.

Start in the corner of the court or in a grassy area. Glide / side step at a 25-30 degree angle to a fixed point 15 meters away. Drop the trailing foot in the opposite direction to the line. Change direction 4-5 times, go up and back twice, a total of 4.

Set up as shown in video clip. Position 1- Close Out and guard the ball. Position 2- Deny the ball Position 3- Front the post Position 4- Help side defence Position 5- Sprint out deny the pass Position 6- Sprint to help side defence Position 7- Bump the cutter and play 1v1 from the top of the 3 point line.

Make the opposition player turn their back away from the play, put the ball on the floor in a dribble and make them have to make a pass under pressure. Shadow the player with one hand up shadowing the ball. The other hand is down and slightly outwards.

Away from the wall the players stand in 2 lines staggered so coach/teacher can see all players. Coach will then direct the players a direction to move by pointing in different directions ( left, right, forward,back) Players must keep their knees bent, backs straight, one arm dribbling, one arm guarding, lead foot moving heel toe and their back foot sliding. When teacher shouts FOOT FIRE! players must move their feet quickly on the spot for a set time.

Defensive slide going at angles from cone to cone.

Set players up as shown in video clip. Offensive player will post up on the side of the court the ball is on. The defensive player will try and stop the pass being made into the post, by half fronting, full fronting etc. When the ball is passed across the court the players will continue the same thing on the other side. When the ball is passed into the post, the players will play 1v1.

Set 3 blocks (white board eraser) out in a straight line about 10 feet apart. The player will do a defensive slide and pick up the block with the closest hand. Once it has been picked up it will be switched to the other hand. When the player gets to the next block they will pick up with the closest hand and drop the 1st block they picked up.

One player has a ball and their partner faces them. The person with the ball then dribbles the length of the court, constantly changing direction. The defender has to shadow their movement whilst running back to protect the basket. Try to keep the players wide.

Have players and cones set up as shown in the video. The player with the ball will hold it in the middle of their chest. Going for 30 seconds the defensive player must keep their head in line with the ball by staying low and using a defensive slide. The player with the ball can move how they like side to side between the cones.

Two defenders under hoop, three attackers setting up a triangle formation around key. Attackers to balance the court, pass and move. Defenders not to leave hoop undefended.   

Split players into groups of 3. One player has a ball and throws it to the middle player, who in turn throws the ball to the third person in the group. Once the initial passer has passed the ball the run to put pressure on the receiver.

One attacking player sets up near sideline with the ball.  2 defenders set up in line to defend players. Other attacking player sets a screen on first defender. This opens the player up for a pass and a shot or clears the way for a lay up.     

Start with 5 players on court as attackers. Ball starts on half way. 3 players at top creating a triangle, 2 players under hoop. Player with the ball passes to the 'strong side' and stack.  Ball is passed around. Any player can put a shot up as long as the triangle is maintained.  Players still hold triangle formation around the key - this gives options on offence.   

This drill will simulate breakdown play being the furthermost defender. Start at the guard position denying the ball. In the glide position go up and back twice then go into a help position opening up to the lane at the free throw lane. There is now an imaginary baseline breakdown. The offensive player is driving to the basket. Another [virtual] defensive player who has been guarding a player on your side moves to stop the ball handler, which leaves an offensive man wide open. Drop down to the base line under the basket to deflect or steal and pass made. The only offensive player who is completely open should be the player previously being marked, who is furthermost from the play and thus has the poorest percentage change at the basket. The [virtual] pass is thrown over the top to this man. React again to intercept this pass. Run onto the offensive player who is now into his shooting motion, jump to bother his shot. Do this drill three times on each side. Once this drill is perfected it can be used for quickness cutting the repetitions down to just 2 each.

Cones will be set up as shown in the video. Two players will be competing against each other. On the coach's whistle the players must touch each cone 5 times. Once they have done that it is the 1st player to grab the cone in the middle.

In a defensive position the player will move towards the cone on their side in a defensive glide. Once they have reached that cone they will turn and run to the cone on the other side. Once the player has reached this cone they will defensive glide back to the start position.

Set-up over about 30m. Use three blocks of wood or something similar, evenly spaced across the working area. Crab sideways, as fast as possible as possible but do not bring your feet together. Collect each block in first hand and transfer to other hand and replace on ground. In training to be a top player do this drill twice a day.

Set out cones to split the court in half, with your players working in pairs. The player with the ball should dribble the ball up the court in a Zig Zag pattern. The second player will be playing passive defence. They should be in front of the attacker at all times but are not actively trying to steal the ball. The defensive player must try to cut the dribbler off at each of the the lines (cones and touchline) using their outside foot so that the dribbler has to change direction. They continue to do this until they reach the end of the court at which point players then switch roles and repeat the drill in the opposite direction.

Players and cones will be set up as shown in video clip. One offensive and one defensive player. The offence will dribble through the cones with the defence sliding keeping their head in line with the ball. Once they have gone through all the cones, the defensive player will retreat. The offensive player will dribble to 15 foot away from the basket and shoot the ball. The defensive player will contest the shot and then box out to get the rebound.