Defensive Breakdown Drills

5 on 3 Shell:

  • This drill starts with 3 offensive players, defensive players and 2 coaches who also act as offensive players.

  • The coach starts with the ball while the defenders start positioned in gap help.

  • The coach swings the ball to start the action. The offense looks to keep the ball moving with 1-3 being able to cut and move after passing. The defenders stay in correct guarding position as the ball moves along the perimeter.

  • The coach can eventually yell “live” which triggers live 3v3 without the coaches.

2v2 on & Off the Ball:

  • The coach starts on the wing with the ball while 1 & 2 occupy the slots. The defenders (Xs) start in gap help positioning.

  • When the ball is swung by the coach to 1, X1 closes out on the ball while X4 gets into gap help. 1 & 2 pass the ball back and forth (holding for 2 seconds on the catch so coach can check positioning).

  • After the ball has been passed back and forth a few times and each defender has had multiple reps getting on and off the ball, the coach can yell “live” to trigger live 2v2.

Skip Pass 1 on 1:

 
  • The offensive player (1) starts in the opposite slot of the coach, who has a ball.

  • The defender (X1) is positioned in help (halfway between the ball and his man and a step off the line).

  • On the coach’s skil pass to 1, X1 closes out while 1 is looking to attack the closeout and finish at the rim (2 dribbles max).

 

Wing 1 on 1:

  • Coach starts with the ball at the top of the key while the offensive player (1) is being guarded by the defender (X1) on the wing.

  • X1 tries to deny the catch, forcing 1 to work to get open (get into X1’s body and create space for the catch).

  • On the catch, the drill is live and 1 can use 2 dribbles max to try and finish at the rim. No jumpshots.