Basketball drills for technique defense

Requirements:

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

Goal: defender must force the dribbler to the side of the field. Dribbler must never penetrate over the defender's front foot and through the middle

Organization:

• 1 against 1 across the longitudinal half
• Loser must defend in the next round
• defender must press down 3 times if the attacker comes between the defender and the helpline anyway

Teaching Points:

• defender must keep an appropriate distance, taking into account the dexterity and speed of the dribbler
• defender must keep a constant distance from the three-point line (i.e. when the attacker comes within shooting distance of the basket)
• as the skill of the defenders increases, reduce the distance to the attackers

Goal: securing the dribbler against the sideline after stopping the dribble

Organisation:

• defender passes to attacker on signal of the coach
• Attacker is NOT allowed to dribble, only to pivot.
• the trainer counts down 5 seconds

Teaching Points:

• Get as close to the attacker as possible (but stay in your own cylinder).
• Move your feet closer to the attacker, but keep your position between the attacker and the helpline.
• If the attacker allows you to have his back, move your feet forward.
• trace the ball
• defenders always one hand low and one hand high (Umbrella)
• the attacker is never allowed to step or pass between the defenders (only passes parallel to the sideline are allowed)
• avoid mistakes; conquer ball by 1) 5 seconds, 2) bad pass, 3) attacker's foot on the line

Form of play:

Two additional attackers running free outside the lane. A successful pass between the defenders is a point for the attackers. 5 seconds or foot of the attacker on the line is a point for the defenders. Play to the 2.

Goal: to defend one pass away

Organization:

• attackers use quarter of the field
• try to get free with in-out or cut
• first restore balance by occupying the 3 positions before cutting again
• defender overplays when his man is playable with one pass
• attacker can dribble
• a waiting player counts down 20 seconds

Teaching Points:

• hand in the passing line
• front foot in the passing line
• catch your man with your forearm
• 3/4 of your attention on the man, 1/4 on the ball
• NO help
• change after x stops

Form of play:

• each team gets 5x ball possession
• who makes the most stops

Requirements:

players must be able to play individually 1 against 1

Goal: train position of the defender to help prevent penetration (instead of passing over) + recovery

Preparation:

• the defender must first choose his position in such a way that he can help stop the penetration
• after matching the attacker, he takes up his position between the ball and the ring
• at the distance suited to the qualities of the attacker
• or at the distance requested by the coach
• the players play 1 against 1
• Attacker becomes defender.
• New attacker turns in

Organisation:

• the three defenders start in the bucket, with the ball
• defender 5 rolls the ball to 1 and defenders take up their positions
• attackers hold their position and pass the ball back and forth (also pass fakes!!)
• they may score with a drive or a dribble with jump shot
• a three-point is a point for the attack
• a two-point shot is a point for the offense, but
• if there is still a defender between the shooter and the basket at the moment of shooting, it is a point for the defense
• interception or defensive rebound is a point for the defense
• play until the 5, then change

Teaching Points:

• defenders have to take the right position immediately after the pass with an explosive step
• Anticipate the pass and take a slide step so that you can get to your defensive position earlier (in case of a pass fake, you have to take a slide step back quickly)
• one pass away = one metre from your man and one metre from the passing line, so that you can help with the penetration of the ball
• when the ball is 2 passes away, you have to stand with 2 feet in the bucket
• immediately after the shot, both defenders must look at their man instead of the ball and box out

Variations:

• offensive rebound is a point for the attack (if you want to emphasize boxing out)
• shallow cut from 1 after the pass + 2 rotates to the head
• shallow cut from 1 after the pass + 2 sets a screen for 1 under the elbow and then steps out to the guard position

Requirements:

players must be able to play individually 1 against 1

Goal1: Improve the position change of the defender between helpside and ballside defense

Goal2: boxing out after the shot

Organisation:

• one of the defenders passes the ball from under the basket to an attacker
• A defender on the ball side closes the way to the basket (close out).
• the other defender takes the help side position: one foot in the bucket if the ball is above the free throw line; on the basket-basket line if the ball is below the free throw line
• When the ball is passed to the weak side, both defenders must quickly adjust their position relative to their man.

Substitutions:

• make it, take it
• or two is too much (push up defenders after 2 consecutive scores)
• (if you have more than 4 players, let the other players practice shooting at the other basket)

Teaching Points:

• Close out weak side shooter
• two explosive sprint steps, then lower your hips a bit + reduce step size
• inside foot in front
• outside hand in the shooter's face
• After the shot:
• immediately after the shot, both defenders must look at their man instead of the ball and box out
• put the forearm on the chest of the attacker
• box out with a front pivot or a reverse pivot and chase the ball

Variations:

• defenders may score from a rebound or interception
• the scoring team continues to attack
• play until the 7

Prerequisites:

players must be quite proficient and in good shape

Objective:

concentration and energy in defense

Organization:

• 4 against 4 on one basket
• new defenders when the defence has made 3 stops (i.e. the defenders gain possession of the ball).
• after a score or a foul on the shot, the defending team returns one stop
• The exercise lasts 12 minutes
• and if you do not defend well, you are defending for 12 minutes.
• if the attacks take too long, the trainer will count down loudly: 5-4-3-2-1-0

Teaching Points:

• After 2 stops the whole defense steps up their game. When they make the third stop, they can start attacking.
• As a side effect, the attackers learn in a playful way who will hit the balls when it gets exciting, and who will not.

When you have 12 men:

• rotate with 4 men
• After every stop, score or foul on the shot, a new team of attackers enters the field (trainer determines if it is a foul).
• the team that causes the third and last stop goes to defend

Variations:

• three defenders, four attackers
• make 2 or 3 consecutive stops before being allowed to change.
• (with shot clock) 35 seconds of defense without scoring and without a foul. At a stop, the clock stays on and the attackers can try again. If the attackers score, or grab an offensive rebound, or if the defense makes a foul, the clock goes back to 35 seconds.

Prerequisites:

players must know how to apply help side and ball side defense

Goal: to learn each defense system

Organization:

• a team can get a point with a defensive stop, with a score from a fast break or with a three-pointer from the secundary break
• (stopping the break by capturing the ball counts as a defensive stop)
• winner is the team that earns the last point OR, if no one earns a point, the team that scores
• the winner may always go and defend
• new attackers enter the field

Teaching Points:

all aspects of team defense

Tips:

• defending the break is also part of this exercise. That is why the three-pointer from the secondary break is also a point. This forces all players to defend after losing the ball in the attack.
• If the break is not executed quickly, blow it off. This will improve the speed at which the players react.

Note: The illustration shows the situation after a score from a break. The defenders first made a stop and then scored from the (secundary) break. So, two points. They therefore continue to defend and new attackers have entered the field

Prerequisites:

players must know what a double team is

Goal:

• to train double teaming
• dynamic organizing and reorganizing of the defense
• practice transition

Organization:

• 3 players attack along the length of the whole field
• 3 attackers start at the half way line
• 3 defenders per half
• of both defending teams one player takes up position near the half way line
• defender 6 waits near the halfway line
• can only start defending when the ball is in the attacking half
• must sprint with both feet through the centre circle before joining the defence
• from that moment on, two defenders must always try to double team the man with the ball

Rotation after scoring:

• the defender closest to the half way line immediately takes up his position next to the pitch
• attackers must take the ball from the back line
• the three remaining defenders try to prevent this (5 seconds)
• if that does not work, they have to try to trap the dribbler with a double team
• if the defenders capture the ball, they immediately attack the same basket again (like in a Full Court Press in a game)
• the fourth defender joins the defense (i.e. the other three) immediately after the turnover

Rotation after the turnover:

• the player with the ball in his hands hands hands it off to another player and takes up his position near the center line.
• the three remaining players attack the other basket
• the team that has lost the ball defends.

Teaching Points:

defenders always try to conquer the ball with a double team.

Variation:

can also be played 3 against 3 + 1 half court: after a score the attackers have to take the ball and get it over the half court 1

Prerequisites:

players must know what help side defense and what ball side defense is

Goal: train early help and quick recovery

Organisation:

• the three defenders stand facing the back line and take up their defensive positions as soon as the coach passes
• coach passes the ball to a random attacker
• the attackers have 10 seconds to score and the coach counts down aloud
• play until the 3 stops or a difference of 2 (stops scores), then change
• screens on the ball are not allowed

Teaching Points:

• defenders must move when the ball is in the air
• occupy the agreed-upon helper position
• stop the penetration when the man with the ball passes his defender
• anticipate the swing pass: take the first step towards your own man even before or as soon as the passer picks up the ball
• Communication as agreed within the team

Variations:

attackers are only allowed to score from the bucket.

Variation with more competition element:

• attacker with ball starts at 2 meter of the three-point-line; place to be determined by the team.
• must start with a dribble
• the defenders may turn around at the first dribble
• the attackers must make a goal attempt within 20 seconds - the waiting players count down
• you can only earn points in defense
• two stops in a row are one point
• if you score twice in a row, you may go on defense
• Losers turn out
• new attackers turn in
• play until the 3

Requirements:

• players must individually be able to defend the man with the ball
• players must know how to defend the man without the ball

Goal: To apply individual defensive technique in a simplified game situation

Organization:

• attackers use a quarter of the playing field
• are not allowed to cross the lifeline
• play 2 against 2
• winners will attack on the other half of the field
• losers keep on defending on this quarter (when there are more than 8 players, turn in at the halfway line)

Teaching Points:

• emphasise what you have taught the players individually
• there is no help (this makes it clear who is not defending well).

Variations:

• let the defender keep their hands behind their back if you want to emphasise footwork In the picture:
• Defenders 1 and 2 have conquered the ball without allowing attackers 1 and 2 to score
• defenders 1 and 2 attack on the other half of the pitch
• 5 and 6 will enter as defenders and play against the winners of 3 and 4
• former attackers 1 and 2 wait for their turn to defend

Prerequisites:

players must know what help side defense and what ball side defense is

Goal: train early help and quick recovery

Organization:

• attacker 5 threatens with a drive outside, changes hands and attacks the elbow
• defender 1 starts with a foot in the bucket and needs to help early
• on the pass to the corner, defender 1 must recover his position with a sprint and close out
• defender 2 must drop far enough to stop a drive from 4
• the attackers must make a goal attempt within 20 sec - the waiting players count down
• you can only earn points in defence
• two stops in a row are one point
• if you score twice in a row, you may go on defense
• Losers turn out
• new attackers turn in
• play until the 3

Teaching Points:

• defenders must move when the ball is in the air
• the helper position is such that you can stop the penetration when the man with the ball passes his defender
• Anticipate the pass: take the first step towards your own man as soon as the dribbler picks up the ball
• Communication as agreed within the team
• close out = 2 sprint steps followed by minislides + lower hips + 1 hand up
• the helper position is below the line ball - you - man + chest parallel

• Get ready for the free throw with rebounders. 
  • 1 person shoots the free throw
• Rebounders try to catch the ball:
• Attack gets the ball trying to score on the same basket
• Defense catches the ball, tries to score on the opposite basket
• If a bucket is made, the scoring team may take a free throw.