Being able to score is important in the game of basketball, but it won't do you much good if you're not able to stop the competition from doing the same. Defensive basketball drills can help you get your team ready to face an offensive juggernaut and stop them in their tracks.
Fresno Drill
This drill helps teach players the proper defensive stances and how to react to movement by an opponent. Have all your players spread out on the basketball court facing you. Take a ball and begin dribbling as your players assume a normal defensive stance with their knees bent. The arm that is on the same side as the ball you're dribbling should be out to the side with the palm up and the other arm up with the palm facing you. Dribble to the right and have your players slide their feet to follow you as you dribble. Cross the ball over and start dribbling to the left. Your players should switch their defensive hands accordingly and follow you and the ball. Dribble towards and away from them as they slide their feet forward and back to follow you.
Shell Drill
This drill helps teach players how to properly guard their man when playing zone defense. Have four offensive players spread out along the three-point line, two in the corners and two on each wing. The offensive players will pass the ball to each other as each one is defended by a defensive player. The point of the drill is not for the defensive players to steal the ball, but for them to learn and practice proper positioning. The player guarding the ball should yell "ball" and close out on his player. Players who are one pass away should be saying "deny" and playing deny defense -- standing near their player with an arm out to deny a pass, but not playing tight defense. Players two passes away should be saying "help" and playing help defense, standing several feet away from their opponents and in a position to steal a pass or help their teammates. Have the offensive players slowly pass the ball back and forth as your defensive players call out their assignments and shift according to where the ball is.
One-on-One Post Drill
Defending the post can help you eliminate close-range shots on defense. Divide your post players in half and have one group set up on the baseline behind the basket. These are the defensive players. Have the rest set up on the free throw line as offensive players. On the whistle, have one player from each group go to the low block. Bounce the ball to the offensive player and have him execute a low-post move. The defensive player must either block the shot or grab the rebound of a missed shot. Have the two players repeat the drill until the defensive player is successful.
Member Comments