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defending DRILLS
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2 on 2 - Transition Drill

Two players (blue) with the ball start from the half way line. They're playing against Red 1 and Red 2. After the attackers have had their shot the 2 defenders must box out and claim the rebound. Once the drill is complete players rotate: Attackers become the new defenders, the defending pair leave the court and swap with a new pair who are the new attackers! Continue until every pair has had a go.

Passing

3 v 3

Split the class into groups of 6. With 3 defenders and 3 attackers. One team starts with the ball and is attacking the basket, with the other team defending. If the defenders get the ball then the roles are reversed.

Games

3 vs 3 with defence

Players join with another group of 3. One group plays passive defence to start off with. As the attacking team improves they the defending team progressively become more active.

Screening

4 on 2 Grid Passing Drill

Players play a 4 on 2 passing game within the grid area. When defending wins the ball 2 whites move out of the area and another two move into play a 4 v 2 again.

Games

Catch the ball passing game

One defending player is trying to catch the player in possession of the ball. Players in possession of the ball can not move. Players without the ball can move though to make themselves available to receive the pass. If a player is caught whilst in possession of the ball they must now become the catcher and the drill starts again.

Games

Centre Circle Shuffles

Feet wide apart, crab across the centre circle; Hands raised as if defending, try and spread yourself wide, maintain stability; Touch the centre circle line with outside hand when you reach it.

Fitness

Crocodile Warm Up

Start in the corner of the court by the sideline and baseline, players lined up one behind another along the baseline; First player leads the line crouched and sidestepping diagonally across one half of the court; Keep low, arms outstretched as if defending; At the corner of the half court line and the sideline jog normally along the half court line; At the opposite side of the court, low crouched sidestepping diagonally to the corner of the court at the baseline and the sideline; Jog normally along the baseline to the starting position;

Warmup

Fast Feet 1

This drill works on fast feet, agility and footwork. Players start off with their own space on the court. On the coach's first whistle players sprint on the spot, standing with wide feet and their arms outstretched as if defending. Players sprint on the spot, with minimal leg raise - emphasis on fast feet. Players cease to exercise on coach's second whistle.

Warmup

Fast Feet 2

Players start off with their own space on the court. On the coach's first whistle players sprint on the spot, standing with wide feet and their arms outstretched as if defending. Players sprint on the spot, with minimal leg raise - emphasis on fast feet. On the coach's second whistle, players follow the coach's signal (right or left with their arm). Players move in the crab position in the direction of the coach's signal until the third whistle.

Warmup

Shoot under pressure

Player 1 passes the ball inside the key to player 2 and follows their pass. Before they enter they key player 1 cuts out to receive the return pass from player 2. At this point player 1 should dribble towards the basket with the intention of scoring. However, as soon as player 2 passes the ball they are allowed to close down and put pressure on player 1. Once Player 1 has taken their shot player 2 should collect the ball and drive out of the area before joining the back of the attacking queue. Player 1 joins the back of the defending queue.

Shooting

Defending a dribble Defense - ...

Force the dribble and control the ball handler. Knees bent, back bent, feet wide and hands down and outwards. Don't let ball handler get past. Place feet wide apart so the player cannot go past you. Go two steps back and the side step to cut off the ball handler. Stay an arms length gap apart from ball carrier. Look wide and intimidating. Alternate which foot is dropped first. Use body to control the direction the ball carrier can move into. Do this drill ten times.

General

Defending and offensive dribbl...

Simulate defense on an imaginary offensive player who is playing the wing position. Start our imaginary defensive position on the block playing off then toward the ball that is at the point position leading to the top of the key.

General

Defending dribble position Def...

When the player brings the ball down from above his head he is going to go into the dribble. Place feet wide apart so the player cannot go past you. Go two steps back to create a gap and go into a dribble defense mode. Knees bent, back bent, feet wide and hands down and outwards. Look wide and intimidating. Alternate which foot is dropped first. Do this drill ten times.

General

defending glide against dribbl...

You never want to lunge at the ball when shadowing a dribbling ball carrier. Keep one foot on the floor at all times and keep your balance. So if your man catches the ball you can immediately to an on the ball defensive position. Glide out to the side line and back to the block. Do this three times, rest and repeat. Do another three then repeat on the other side. This can de done in pairs or individually as a simulation drill.

General

Slide-Run-Slide Defense - Bask...

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.

General

2v2 Help Defence drill Defense...

Set players up as shown in video clip. The baseline offensive player will drive towards the basket. The help defender will come over and stop the drive. The player with the ball will pass to the other offensive player. The receiver of the pass will shoot the ball. The defensive player will sprint out and challenge the shot.

General

Defensive shadowing Defense - ...

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.

General

Zig Zag Drill Defense - Basket...

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.

General

Basketball: Defending a dribbl...

Force the dribble and control the ball handler. Don't let ball handler get past. Place feet wide apart so the player cannot go past you. Go two steps back and the side step to cut off the ball handler. Stay an arms length gap apart from ball carrier. Knees bent, back bent, feet wide and hands down and outwards. Look wide and intimidating. Alternate which foot is dropped first. If the ball handler goes right, drop your left foot straight back first then right foot moving into a defensive stance pushing back off your right foot to block the dribblers path. Use body to control the direction the ball carrier can move into. Do this drill ten times on each side.

General

Defensive glide and run zig-za...

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.

General

Zig-Zag Defensive Slide Defens...

Have cones set up as shown in the image. Players will start at the 1st cone and defensive slide from cone to cone. Once the player gets their outside foot to the cone the player will push off of that foot and change direction.

General

practising peripheral vision f...

To work on your peripheral vision put a chair or bin on the wing and a chair at a point as you do this drill. Glide up and back staying side on to the passing lane with the near side hand out extended at the shoulder to deflect the pass.

General

Defensive Denial Drill Defense...

This drill will need 1 person with a ball and a offensive and defensive player who will be set up between the cones. The offensive player will run from cone to cone. The defence must keep a hand between the ball and the offensive player to stop a pass going through.

General

Mismatched Defence Defense - B...

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.

General

1v1 Zig-Zag to Jump Shot Defen...

1 offensive player and 1 defensive player. The offensive player will dribble through the cones, once the player has reached the last cone the player will dribble towards the basket and shoot a jump shot.

General

2v2 Deny Drill Defense - Baske...

Set up as shown in video clip. When the ball is on that players side of the court they will deny. When the ball is on the other side of the court, the players will come across and play help defence. Once the ball has been passed to one of those players then they will play 2v2.

General

Defender in the Middle Passing...

Once the player passes to the opposite line, they will follow their pass and play defense on the player with the ball. The passer will always go to defense.

General

1v1 From the Post Defense - Ba...

The coach or a teammate places the ball on the floor. Facing away from the basket, player 1 (attacker) stands in front of player 2 (defender). Player 1 then picks up the ball and attempts to get into position to shoot.

General

Defensive open up drill Fitnes...

Get down into a defensive denial position. Open up into a help position then close back up into a denial position. Do the drill for 10 seconds then rest for 10 seconds. Alternate the denial between right and left sides. Do this drill for 2 minutes. The 2-minute duration for these drills includes the rest. 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off for 2 minutes.

General

4 on 2 Grid Passing Drill Game...

Players play a 4 on 2 passing game within the grid area.When defending wins the ball 2 whites move out of the area and another two move into play a 4 v 2 again.

General

Mirror Drill Footwork and Move...

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.

General

Shoot under pressure Shooting ...

Player 1 passes the ball inside the key to player 2 and follows their pass. Before they enter they key player 1 cuts out to receive the return pass from player 2. At this point player 1 should dribble towards the basket with the intention of scoring. However, as soon as player 2 passes the ball they are allowed to close down and put pressure on player 1. Once Player 1 has taken their shot player 2 should collect the ball and drive out of the area before joining the back of the attacking queue. Player 1 joins the back of the defending queue.

General

3 v 3 Games - Basketball Drill...

Split the class into groups of 6. With 3 defenders and 3 attackers. One team starts with the ball and is attacking the basket, with the other team defending. If the defenders get the ball then the roles are reversed.

General

Fast Feet 1 Warmup - Basketbal...

This drill works on fast feet, agility and footwork. Players start off with their own space on the court. On the coach's first whistle players sprint on the spot, standing with wide feet and their arms outstretched as if defending. Players sprint on the spot, with minimal leg raise - emphasis on fast feet. Players cease to exercise on coach's second whistle.

General

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defending DRILL CATEGORIES
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Defense Drills
Games
Rebound Drills
Defense Drills
Games
Rebound Drills
defending SESSIONS
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Team Defense and Progressions

Bumper defending session that's positively bursting at the seams with 10 Team Defending Drills!

Small Forward Development Guide

Complete versatility! Coaching the fundamentals to develop an effective small forward

Team Development Session

Produce a winning mentality amongst your group of players with an unbreakable team ethos. The improvements in your play may just surprise you!

Introduction to Defence - Coaching the Stance!

Make defending just as rewarding and start to see a defensive player become the star!

Defending Fundamentals: Footwo...

Offence sells tickets but defence wins championships - Teach your players to take pride in their defence with this real game practice fundamentals session!
defending ANSWERS
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how can i get my freshmen girls team to be aggressive on bball court.

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.

Archived User Coach

What's the best sort of defence at college level?

I'm a  basketball coach in India, coaching at college level. In your opinion and experience which type of defenceworks best? So far my experiences shows that half court pressure, working man to man to deny the pass works best. Feedback and suggestions welcome! Thanks,Mahesh

Archived User Coach

this is for my team 5v5

i need some attack plan for my team adn some defend pls givve me some idea

Dcc001 Teun Coach, United Kingdom

Stealing/taking the ball

what would be a few good drills for stealing the ball from opponents my team needs working on it.

Aaron cass Coach, England

How do you defend against tall...

How do you defend against taller people in basketball?

Archived User Coach
defending COMMUNITY DRILLS
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Pass and Defence

Tournament

Attacker in the Corner:

Attacker in the Corner:

Possession game with one dribble only

Ewan versus the world!

thy litty baby boi uno

4 corner pivot then pass

1 V 1 From The WingAutosave 21945152

C licence 4-4-2 Defending Shape

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