Add constraints to make practice harder and games easier. Constraints are limited only by our imagination.
Use constraints during warmups, drills, scrimmages, individual practice.
What are constraints? Constraints are "limitations" or "rules" designed to increase the degree of difficulty. Examples include:
- Time constraints (score X points in Y time)
- Space constraints (e.g. shrink the court)
- Scoring (only score on layups, only score off the glass)
- Handedness (use of non-dominant hand or only one hand)
- Dribbling (limit number of dribbles)
- Advantage-disadvantage
- Number of passes
Here are some of my favorites.
1. Advantage-disadvantage. 5 versus 7, full court press break, NO dribbling. Numerical and play disadvantage an immense help training press break.
2. 3-on-3 "inside the split" (line bisecting the basket)
Combine half-court offense, defense, constraint, and a small sided game.
3. Warmup with "dribble tag" both ends, inside the arc, dribbling with non-dominant hand.
4. Zone offense practice. No dribbling, scoring only inside the paint. Player and ball movement.
5. 4 on 4 half-court with no dribbling. Another game requiring player and ball movement. If you don't move, you never see the ball.
6. "251" shooting game. You score one point for each shot taken. Start in either corner and rotate to next spot on each make. You're out with two consecutive misses. The initial record (Buddy Hield) was 251. It's higher now.
7. "Ten seconds to glory." Time constraint.
"Floppy action" where "scorer" needs to read defense against off-ball screens, defense can vary defense, and players have a time element (ten seconds) to score.
8. "Ten passes." Enter the ball as a SLOB (we usually start with Zipper action). Players must make ten passes without dribbling or a turnover before they can shoot.
9. "Ultimate." Five-on-five full court, no dribbling fast break. Ball is turned over if it touches the floor. Can play with 'scoring' hoops or "touchdowns" where a team advances the ball to the end zone.
10. "Bill Bradley/Beat the Pro." Competitive shooting game alone or with a partner. Game to 11, score by ones, but "Bill/Pro" gets three points on a miss. To win, you must make 11 before missing 4. Harder version, must make 15 before missing 2.
Combine constraints... size of court, scoring goals, time of drill. Require an off-ball screen, paint touch and ball reversal before shooting.
Steal away, coaching brothers and sisters.
Lagniappe. Need more constraints? "Four pass basketball." (From BBallBreakdown)