Basketballexercises for technique attack / offense
Last update: january 2026
Execution
- The player at the baseline shoots, touches the baseline, and runs their lane to the other basket.
- The player at the free throw line takes the rebound, passes to the wing, and runs along the sideline to the other basket.
- The player on the wing calls for the ball, dribbles through the centre to the midcourt line, passes the ball to the player on the left, who then passes it to the rebounder for a lay-up.
- Shooter becomes rebounder.
- Rebounder becomes wing.
- Wing becomes shooter.
- Starting lineup:
- Attackers extended free throw line right
- Passers extended free throw line left
- Coach stands above the free throw line
- Demonstration:
- Crossover
- Progression:
- Player 1 runs to the free throw line
- Player 1 runs to the top of the three-point line
- Player 2 passes to player 1 when he is at the top of the three-point line
- Player 1 does a crossover
- Player 1 does a layup
- Player 3 does a step slide to the center circle
- Player 3 sprints to the sideline and connects
- Progression:
- Active defense by the coach
- Player takes 1 dribble and shot
- Regression:
- NVT
- Starting lineup:
- 1 player in the right corner
- 2 players right on the center line, each with a ball
- 2 players left on the center line, each with a ball
- Progression:
- Player 1 dribbles to the three-point line
- Player 1 does a give and go with the player 2 in the corner
- Player 1 runs through to the bottom left corner after his layup
- Player 2 takes the rebound and connects at the top right corner
- Player 3 dribbles to the three-point line
- Player 3 does a give and go with player 1 who is now there in the left corner
- Player 3 runs through to the bottom right corner after his layup
- Player 1 takes the rebound and connects at the top left corner
- Progression:
- Quick execution of the exercise
- Jump stop instead of lay-up
- Lay-back
- Regression:
- AFTER
- Starting lineup:
- 1 player in the right corner
- 2 players right on the center line, each with a ball
- 2 players left on the center line, each with a ball
- Progression:
- Player 1 dribbles to the three-point line
- Player 1 does a give and go with the player 2 in the corner
- Player 1 runs through to the bottom left corner after his layup
- Player 2 takes the rebound and connects at the top right corner
- Player 3 dribbles to the three-point line
- Player 3 does a give and go with player 1 who is now there in the left corner
- Player 3 runs through to the bottom right corner after his layup
- Player 1 takes the rebound and connects at the top left corner
- Progression:
- Jumpstop instead of lay-up
- Lay-back
- The players of the offensive side all make a board pass.
- The last one gives an outlet pass to the pointgeard.
- There are 3 defenders on the attacking side.
- 2 defenders stand on the sideline near the center line, as soon as the last attacker crosses the center line they may join the defense.
- If the attacking team scores, the defending team makes board passes and attacks.
- If the attacking side does not score then 10 push ups for the attacking side.
- 2 rows at the level of the 3pt line-corner.
- The PG stands at the height of the tip of the free throw line.
- The coach stands a few feet next to the PG to receive the dropped ball and pass the ball to the PG.
- PG passes to the left and the player on the left goes hard to the board to finish.
- The player on the right steps toward the attacking player as fast as he/she can to stop the attack.
- Then the PG passes to the right, and so on.
* High tempo
* 30 hit
* 30 hit
- Make 2 rows low at the Bucket.
- The PG stands at the top of the 3pt line.
- Coach stands at the same height receives the intercepted ball and passes it to the PG.
- The PG passes a hard pass to the player on the left.
- The player on the left finishes the ball without a dribble.
- The player on the right automatically becomes a defender.
- Then the PG passes the ball to the right and goes left to defend.
- Then passes to the other side.
- High tempo.
- Hitting 30 balls.
- Starting lineup:
- 5 players on one side of the field
- 5 players on the other side of the field
- 1 ball
- Conduct:
- Play 1 against 0
- Play 2 against 1
- Play 3 against 2
- Play 4 against 3
- Play 5 against 4
- Games 5 against 5
- Progression:
- 30 seconds rest before the next session starts
- Play this 5 times in a row until everyone has started once
- Play 6 against 6 if there are 12 of us
- Regression:
- Play this 1 time
- Starting lineup:
- 1 player guard
- 1 player right forward
- Rest players under goal
- Progression:
- Player under goal passes to the right forward
- Player under goal does a close out
- Right forward passes to the guard
- Right forward cuts in front of player doing close out -front cut
- Guard passes to right forward
- Right forward does a lay-up
- UPDATE
- Player under goal passes to guard
- Player under goal does a close out
- Guard passes to right forward
- Guard cuts in front of player doing close out -front cut
- Forward passes to the guard
- Guard does a layup
- Progression:
- With enough players, split the group into 2
- Player cuts behind the player doing close out -rear cut
- The ball starts in the middle.
- The blue player stays in the middle and always grabs the rebound on both sides of the court. He passes the ball to the outlet.
- The white player at the outlet passes the ball to the red player on the other side of the court and runs to the Free throw line.
- The red player runs the layup and becomes the new outlet.
- Blue grabs the rebound and passes to the outlet, red.
- Meanwhile, the white player has run back to receive the ball from red and run a layup.
- The blue rebounder makes sure the ball doesn't hit the floor!
An intense drill for:
- fitness
- team building
- perseverance
- passing
Variations:
- make x number of scores
- x number of scores in a row
IMPORTANT: build well
To make it easier:
- Ball may bounce once on rebound anyway
- The outlet may first set 1 or 2 dribbles before the long pass
- Starting lineup:
- 1 player sideline at free throw line level
- 1 player baseline at the bucket
- Players baseline with ball
- Sequence:
- Player baseline gives an arch pass to the player on the sideline
- Player sideline catches the ball, sprints and makes a lay-up
- Player baseline runs after player
- After 10 minutes of free throws
- Everyone baseline, 1 player makes a free throw
- If missed, everyone except shotter runs to the center line and back
- Progression:
- Return with passive defense, step slide
- Give player sideline less lead
- Score 2 free throws in a row
- Regression:
- Giving player sideline more lead
- Starting lineup:
- Use whole court
- 2 players stand right on the center line ready to do lay-up
- 2 players stand on the left center line ready to lay-up
- 3 players stand on the right sideline, level with the free throw line
- 3 players stand to the left on the sideline, level with the free throw line
- Progression:
- Players at the center line start their lay-up
- After the lay-up they take their own rebound and give an outlet pass to the waiting player on the sideline
- Then they join the sideline, at the level of the free throw line
- Lay-up, bob cousy, power lay-up, lay-back, jump stop
- Progression:
- Change of direction at the level of the three-point line
- Crossover, behind the back, reverse dribble at the center line
- Coach defends, attacker adjusts
- After lay-up, stay on defense
- Regression:
- Take shot instead of lay-up
3 play sets for offence
- Toronto switch hammer (Drawn)
- Drive and kick shooting: Player begin in corner, get ball and takes a fake shot, drives in passing to the top of the key; player takes fake shot drives in passing to corner; corner takes shot immediatly. (Take turn switching clockwise)
- Drive screen kick play: Ball starts under basket, passed to top of the key who then drives and takes a fake shot, passing it out to the right corner; corner takes fake shot and drives into the base line; while driving player and left elbow switches with left corner; left corner sets screen; elbow originating player at corner, receives pass and take a wide open three.
- Starting lineup:
- 1 forward left + defense
- 1 forward right + defense
- 1 guard center + defense
- 1 strong group, 1 weaker group
- Progression:
- Guard gives the pass to 1 of the forwards - alternating left and right
- Forward does a v cut to run free
- Defense tries to prevent the pass, but does not go full out yet
- Forward goes 1-on-1 and makes a drive
- Progression:
- Defense weak-side must drop off when the forward gets the pass
- Give and go with the guard instead of 1v1
- Active defense
- Regression:
- Passive defense
- Four players stand in defensive position.
- Coach throws the ball against the board.
- Player 4 takes the rebound and passes the ball to player 2.
- Player 2 receiving the ball:
- Receives the ball and watches.
- Dribbles into the lane just off the center circle.
- Player 1 on the ball side:
- Sprints into the lane next to the sideline and looks over his inside shoulder to stay within passing range.
- Is first option in the start of the fastbreak.
- Player 3 on the non-ball side:
- Sprints down the lane next to the center circle and looks over inside shoulder to stay within passing range.
- Does not go through the center circle if he/she cannot go to score.
- Player 4 may go take the rebound.
- Players divide along the length of the field, so they stand on a sideline.
- They are going to perform this exercise in the width of the field.
- In the middle of this field are scattered a number of pawns.
- Everyone has a ball.
Exercise:
- Players dribble to the pawns in the middle, there they hold the ball and pivot 5x.
- Then they dribble on to the other side.
- Once there, turn around and dribble with the ball as fast as possible to the starting point.
- Then do it all over again.
- Base lineup:
- 3 players in defense
- 3 players on offense
- Players not participating wait at the center line in 3 groups
- Coach has the ball
- Sequence:
- Coach passes to 1 player
- Player opposite runs to the center line first and then returns to defense
- Play 3 against 3
- At ball loss, score, rebound, ball goes to coach
- Offense becomes defense
- Quickly line up again and next group plays
- Progression:
- AFTER
- Regression:
- Run defender less far
- Starting lineup:
- 2 players defense on each side of the court
- 2 players at the height of the extension of the free throw line on each side of the court
- 3 players on offense
- Conduct:
- 3 players play 3-on-2
- The rebounder gives an outlet pass to a player on the side of the court
- The rebounder joins in offense to the other side of the court
- Progression:
- AFTER
- Regression:
- NA
- Base lineup:
- 1 player left on the end line
- 1 player center on the end line
- 1 player right on the end line
- Ball in the middle
- Conduct:
- Middle player throws the ball against the board and takes rebound (as high as possible)
- Middle player makes an outlet pass to the player standing to his/her right
- The player standing to the left starts to run
- Player receiving the first pass (right) takes 2 dribbles and then passes to the player running left
- The player running left does a layup
- The player running in the middle takes the rebound
- The outside players cross and run back to the other side of the court
- Here we do the same thing, first a pass to the right, then a pass to the left and finish with lay-up
- Progression:
- 1 dribble instead of 2
- Regression:
- Allow multiple dribbles
- Starting lineup:
- 2 teams of 5 players
- 3 attackers
- 3 defenders
- 2 players baseline one side of the field
- 2 players baseline other side of the field
- Conduct:
- Playing 3 against 3
- The defensive player who takes rebound or steal goes to the other side of the court with the 2 players who were baseline
- The 3 attackers become defenders on the other side of the court
- Progression:
- Each player must have had the ball before there is a goal attempt
- Regression:
- AFTER
- Starting lineup:
- 1 player at the level of the free throw line -both sides of the court-.
- 1 group of players to the right of the center line
- 1 group of players to the left of the center line
- Progression:
- Player at the center line passes to the player at the free throw line and runs through
- Player at the free throw line passes back to the running player
- Player does a lay-up
- Player who made the lay-up goes to the free throw line to pass
- Player who gave the pass takes rebound and passes to the other group at the center line
- Progression:
- No dribbling is allowed
- Regression:
- Group at the center line may be closer
- Per 3 players, 1 PG, 1 SG, 1 Center/Wing.
- Dribbling up ball, defender comes from baseline defending.
- Defender over screen, ring attack.
- Defender under screen coming over, then jumpshot, step back.
- Pick & Roll, screener rolls over screen and asks ball for inside to attack or takes jumpshot.
Important:
- Firmly set screen, arms in front of body, do not move toward defender.
- Attacker must move toward screen, right or left, watch feet.
- Basic Setup:
- 2 players defense on each side of the court
- 2 players at the height of the extension of the free throw square on each side of the field
- 3 players in offense
- Conduct:
- 3 players play 3 against 2
- The rebounder gives an outlet pass to a player on the side of the field
- The rebounder joins in offense to the other side of the field
- Progression:
- AFTER
- Regression:
- NA
- 2 players low -team blue-
- 2 players high
- 1 player, not actively involved in the game, on the baseline
- 1 player, not actively involved in the game, around the 3-point line
- Player on the baseline passes tightly to the player standing around the 3 point line
- Player on the 3 point line shoots
- Team blue provides a good close out
- Team red and blue fight for the rebound
- After the rebound there is a 2 vs. 2 situation and they continue until there is a score
- Explain well in advance what constitutes a good close out
- With a large group, divide the players over several baskets
- Players divide along the length of the field so stand on a sideline.
- They will perform this exercise in the width of the field.
- In the middle of this field are scattered pawns.
- Everyone has a ball.
- Players dribble to the pawns in the middle, there they hold the ball and pivot 5x.
- Then they dribble again to the other side.
- Once there, turn around and dribble with the ball as fast as possible to the starting point.
- Then do it all over again.
- Starting lineup:
- Half court
- 1 player stands ready to hand the ball in
- Progression:
- 1 player hands the ball in
- Play 3 against 3
- Within 10 seconds there must be a goal attempt
- The coach counts down loudly
- Progression:
- Goal attempt within 5 seconds
- Giving at least 1 pass
- Regression:
- Goal attempt within 14 seconds
- Defense with hands behind the back
- Starting lineup:
- 1 group at the free throw line
- 1 group just outside the three-point line
- Conduct:
- Player at the three-point line passes to the player at the side
- The player first walks slowly to the left
- Then runs to the right; v-cut
- Player receives the pass and finishes in lay-up
- Progression:
- Defender at the level of the free throw line
- Defender under the bucket
- Defender at the level of the three-point line running along and defending
- Regression:
- Working without a v-cut
- Starting lineup:
- Use the whole field
- 2 players stand right on the center line ready to do lay-up
- 2 players stand on the left center line ready to do lay-up
- 3 players stand on the right sideline, level with the free throw line
- 3 players stand on the left sideline, level with the free throw line
- Progression:
- Players at the center line start their lay-up
- After the lay-up, they take their own rebound and give an outlet pass to the waiting player on the sideline
- Then they join the sideline, at the level of the free throw line
- Lay-up, bob cousy, power lay-up, lay-back, jump stop
- Progression:
- Change of direction at the level of the three-point line
- Crossover, behind the back, reverse dribble at the center line
- After lay-up stay on defense
- Regression:
- Taking shot instead of lay-up