Ball Pressure: Philosophy and Drills

Your defensive effort informs your honor. Your defense says who you are. The clip above shows MVP runner-up James Harden role-playing defense. C'mon. Do we ever want anyone contesting our honor? 

Great defense begins with ball pressure. Ball pressure helps limit dribble and pass penetration, challenges shots, forces physical and mental mistakes, and requires offensive players to exert more energy. It forces teams out of what they want to do.

Good drills have multiple elements simulating game play...offense, defense, competition, finishing, decision-making, conditioning, and so on. 

Here are a few I like. 

1. Manmaker.

Coach hands 1 the ball. Each player must stay in her lane against maximum pressure. You must advance the ball against maximum pressure...you can use only one dribble each time you handle the ball. Players must learn to protect the ball, pivot, cut, and pass in smaller confines. 

2. Gauntlet. 

2 on offense, 4 sets of two on defense in zones. Offensive players must advance the ball and score, moving through the 'gauntlet' of defenders. We also limit dribbles per each touch...if you don't pass and cut, you cannot succeed in this press-break simulation. 

3. Dog Drill (via Kevin Eastman)

I usually run this half-court outdoors in the summer. Simple one-on-one ball pressure within confined spaces. 

Digression: Don't be stupid. 

Heat injury is real. As a medical student on rotation at Bethesda Naval Hospital, I heard a case presentation of a midshipman admitted with acute kidney and liver failure after competitive road racing in extreme heat. His initial temperature was 106 degrees, and he was jaundiced without urine output. Ultimately he survived. 

Not surprisingly, heat-related deaths fluctuate with weather conditions. 

4. One-on-one, two dribbles. 

Defense hands the ball to offense, who immediately attacks...two dribble maximum. If you foul, the possession gets replayed. "Play it as though it's the last possession of the state championship." 

5. Closeout one-on-one. 

Tips and 'haunts' (a.k.a. encouragement)

• "Nose on the chest"
• "Crawl up into them"
• "Be within touching distance"
• "Ball pressure!"
• "Don't back down!" 

You all remember the scene from Hoosiers, where Gene Hackman says, "Stick with your man. Think of him as chewing gum. By the end of the game, I want you to know what flavor he is."