What Makes a Basketball Drill Good?

"Repetitions make reputations." Malcolm Gladwell's "10,000 Hours" chapter in Outliers relates time in 'deliberate practice' to mastery. Mozart grew up surrounded by music, ignited by passion to play like his sister. Brazil rose to soccer practice via futsal, small-sided games in alleys...more touches and more skill. This Kobe Bryant story illustrates his commitment and discipline. 

We spend time developing and implementing drills to change behaviors and enhance skill. What makes drills good?

Translation to game activity. Distinguish skill building from conditioning and training. We don't jump rope during games, but jumping rope conditions and builds quickness. Brian McCormick distinguishes "block practice" from "random practice". Typical dribbling drills are block practice. Dribble tag is random. 

Details (correct fundamentals). If we're teaching shooting, we should analyze everything from shot selection to pre-shot preparation, footwork, alignment, targeting, release, and follow-through. We should explain both the how and the why. 

Effort. Dean Smith said, "I don't teach effort; I teach execution." We don't have that luxury. "Don't cheat the drill. Don't cheat your teammate." Lackadaisical drilling produces casual play. Casual play produces limitations.  

Offense and defense. The best drills teach offense and defense, decision-making, and better habits. We can make 'good' drills even better with constraints (time, space, conditions - e.g. limiting dribbles). 

Multiple skills. "Great offense is multiple actions." The drills referenced below include dribbling, footwork (jump stop and pivoting), passing, receiving, and finishing. 

Efficiency. We want as little 'standing around' as possible. We also want clear rotations (e.g. offense to defense). 

Competition. Low point games (e.g. games to three), situational starts (e.g. free throws, SLOB, BOB), and O-D-O (offense-defense-offense) simulate game action and create competition. 

Appropriateness. We want to challenge players without completely frustrating them. Having most twelve year-old girls practice three-point shots creates more bad habits than good. I want players with ability to score with one dribble from the three-point line by the time they enter high school. Expecting twelves to do that isn't reasonable. 

Conditioning. Pete Carril saw the future. He conditioned within drills and scrimmaging. We have enough transition, conversion, pressing and press breaking drills to accomplish that. 

Sample multipurpose drills. 

Progression: add defense on wing; rotates offense to defense. 

Progression into 4 on 4. Build in constraints of your choice.