If you're unfamiliar with basketball, you might think that all basketball players are "big men." To an extent, that's true, but the true big men are those that play directly under the basket as the post, center or "five" position. To put it another way, they're the Shaquille O'Neals and the Chris Boshes of the basketball world. Players who play down low need to focus on posting up, getting position, blocking out and rebounding the ball.
Superman
Have each big man player spread out to a different basket with a ball, or have players team up and take turns doing the superman drill. This drill works on quickness and agility when it comes to rebounding. Instruct the players to stand outside the lane, between the block and the second free-throw hash mark. Time the drill for a minute. On your "go!" the first group of players "shoots" the ball, but without the intention of making the shot; rather, they want to hit the ball off the backboard so that they can rebound the ball on the opposite side of the free-throw lane. They must rebound the ball without letting it hit the floor, move to the opposite side of the lane and repeat the drill, continually moving from one side to the other. Each player performs a minute of the drill, is allowed up to two minutes rest, then repeats the drill.
Junk Drill
You want your big men to make offensive rebounds and capitalize off of them by making a quick short-shot. A lot of players who rebound the ball under the basket make the mistake of pulling the ball down to their waist before powering it back toward the hoop, giving defenders plenty of time to guard the put-back. Teach your big men to immediately put up a second shot after getting an offensive rebound.
Have one player stand on the perimeter of the court with a ball. Have one big man standing in the center of the key playing "dummy" defense, while a second big man plays offense. When the perimeter player takes a shot, with the intention of missing, the offensive big man works to gain position on the dummy defender, rebounds the ball and immediately shoots a lay-in, resisting the urge to pull the ball down to waist height. Continue until the offensive center makes five put-backs, then rotate offensive and defensive positions.
Short Shots
In addition to close-up lay-ins, big men need to be able to make a shot from anywhere within the key. Have all your big men line up on the baseline underneath the basket. The first player in line should step onto the court, choosing either one of the low blocks. You should stand at the wing position, near the three-point line, with a ball. When you slap the ball with one hand, the center runs to the top of the lane. Pass him the ball. When he receives the ball, he has to turn to the basket and shoot a short jump shot, following his shot and crashing the boards. After he rebounds his shot, he passes you the ball and rotates off the court as the next player rotates on. Continue the drill until all the players have rotated through the line four or five times.
References
- The Coach's Clipboard: Basketball Drills -- Low Post Breakdown Drills
- GuidetoCoachingBasketball.com: A Typical Summer or Off-Season Workout for the Basketball Post Player
- Breakthrough Basketball: Rapid Fire Post Moves
- Basketball Drills and Plays: From Jump-Hooks to Power Moves, These Big Man Basketball Drills Create a Killer Front-Line
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