Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Basketball: What's Missing from a Drill?

Finding drills isn't a problem. Seek exceptional drills that combine offense, defense, decision-making, competition, and conditioning. I'd do a little more small-sided games and scrimmaging including end-of-practice three possession games (ODO - offense, defense, offense). But that robs individual skill building for team building.  

Every activity should impact winning. That sets a high bar. 

Warmups/starting practice. 

  • In high school we often started with five minutes of jumping rope.
  • Jay Wright's Get 50 warms up your shot. You can use pieces (like Bradleys) as well. 
  • Speed layups are another tool to warm up (above). They get a lot of touches and encourage player not to let the ball hit the floor. 
  • UCONN women used this full speed PnR warmup. 


Use multiple baskets whenever possible and movement into basketball actions. 

Modify existing drills to improve. For example, Tates Locke box drills are excellent. They're even better with defense. Add constraints such as one-dribble finishing to get even more. Or play small versus big and vice versa. 

Shoot while conditioning. 

Elbow-to-elbow (right) is a good drill, requiring a shooter to catch-and-shoot and make 8 of 10 shots. But elbow to sideline is even better, challenging a player to make as many shots as possible in a minute or in ninety seconds. It adds conditioning. 


Three player full court shooting for five minutes emphasizes communication (call the shooter's name), crisp passing, shooting, and conditions. Track makes.

Add fun while building skill and competition. 

  • Dribble tag inside the arc. Add constraints like non-dominant hand dribbling.
  • Shooting competitions, like Spurs shooting (below)



  • "One More" - coaches exhort players (talk, 'One more')



Combine actions. 

Modify scrimmaging with constraints. Start 4 on 4 half court. 
  • Everyone has to touch the ball before shooting. 
  • Or the ball needs a paint touch and reversal before a shot. 
  • Or no dribbling. 
  • Or ten passes before a shot. 
  • Or the shot has to be with the nondominant hand. 
What does our team need now? Problem-solving defines diagnosis. Diagnosis directs  treatment. And treatment doesn't always work. 

Lagniappe. 15 in 2:00 


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