X Tennis Ball Catches:

This is a fun and very challenging drill to help improve your player’s coordination and hand quickness.  The player will get into a good athletic stance and hold a tennis ball in each hand at waist level.  He/she will then drop the balls at the same time but must attempt to catch the balls with the opposite hand. 

In the video clip, Canadian Senior Women’s National Team member, Kelsey Adrian first demonstrates just dropping the ball.  Near the end of the clip U17 Provincial Team member, Diana Lee demonstrates a lead-up drill, where she makes short tosses in the air and then catches the balls.

The 1-2 stop is characterized by the player catching the ball at the same time the inside foot is hitting the floor.  The second foot will follow quickly behind to move the player into a proper shooting stance. 
To properly execute 1-2 stops:
• Be low – the faster the player goes the lower he/she should be
• Hands must be up – fingers pointing up
• Land on the inside foot with the toes pointing to the rim
• Land in a heel-toe action – this is the first of the brakes
• The greater the speed the greater the angle of braking leg
• Bring the second foot in quickly to a position under the shoulder
• The faster a player is cutting a slightly, wider base will be necessary to stop lateral movement
• The second foot must also point the toes to the rim
• As the second foot gets under the shooter the player should be in a good athletic  with shoulders over knees and knees over toes – ready to go up to shoot

The 2 foot stop is when a player jumps off one foot when the ball is in the air and then lands on both feet at the same time in the proper shooting stance.  A phrase that helps to teach this skill is “ball in the air, feet in the air.”
To properly execute 2 foot stops:
• Be low – the faster the player goes the lower he/she should be
• Hands must be up – fingers pointing up
• Usually the player will jump off the inside foot
• Land on the balls of both feet
• The greater the speed the greater the angles of legs going into the stop
• As the player lands he/she should be in a good athletic stance with shoulders over  knees and knees over toes -
• The faster a player is cutting a slightly wider stance will be necessary to stop lateral movement

Most coaches have drills that become part of their drill package because of the value they see in it.  This is one of my favourites because of the number of benefits gained from using it. 

For players to have success in the drill they must be able to:
• pass through pressure,
• recognize openings and cut into an opening,
• pivot and protect the ball vs. double teams,
• read the defence and make the appropriate pass,
• keep proper spacing from teammates,
• anticipate where the next pass is going and be ready to quickly move into the next best position to receive a pass.

Here is how the drill works.  Three offensive players will attempt to advance the ball down the length of the floor against six defenders and score at the other end.  The offensive players are not restricted to where they can go on the floor however they may not dribble the ball.  The defenders work in pairs and cover certain zones of the floor (see the diagram below) however there will be an overlap of the zones by defenders.  This overlapping of the zones will make it much more difficult for the offensive players to advance the ball because at times they may be going against four defenders.  The areas in the diagram that are not shaded are the areas where there is likely to be an overlap of defenders.

Defenders must always attempt to double team the ball and deny the next pass. 

The drill usually starts with the ball out of bounds.  If the defenders steal the ball they will immediately give the ball back to an offensive player and the drill continues.  The drill ends when the offence scores or the defensive players get a defensive rebound or a steal in the last zone.  If the ball goes out of bounds off a defender the ball is given back to the offence and the drill continues. 

Look for the following in the video clip:
1) Do the players pass and cut immediately?
2) Do the players pivot aggressively to keep defender off them and create passing lanes?
3) Do the three offensive players form a triangle to create passing opportunities?
4) Are the players thinking one pass ahead?  Are they anticipating where the next pass is going?
5) Do the players take double teams down low and stay strong against the trap? or do they stand up?
6) Do the players pass fake?

While it may seem simple, skipping when catching a basketball is not as easy as it looks; but it has many benefits and is time well spent by coaches.  
1) First, it helps improve the coordination of your athletes. 
2) Secondly, a skip is a hesitation move that can fool the defender into slowing down or relaxing.  Then, as the player catches the ball, the lower body is getting prepared to explode. The hips get lower and the landing on the foot creates a “stretch reflex” in this foot for even more explosiveness.
3) Turnovers are cut down because players are less likely to travel when they skip, as opposed to running through the ball. 

To execute a skip the player will hop on their inside foot as the ball is in the air to them.  Initially the player’s timing may not be perfect but with a little practice it will become second nature and gives the players another method of attacking defenders.

No defensive skill is more important than guarding the ball.  “1 on 1 Stops” is a highly competitive drill that emphasizes this ability.

Four offensive players are lined up on the wing with the coach at the top with a ball. A defender is in the "gap" between the top and wing – in position to help on elbow penetration.  The coach passes the ball to the wing. The defender must close out and defends the wing in a live 1 on 1 game.  Emphasize the defender moving on the flight of the ball to close out!  The offence is allowed a maximum of three dribbles (two dribbles at higher levels.)  The drill continues until the defender recovers the ball through a rebound, turnover or made shot. 

If the defender forces a turnover or grabs a defensive rebound he/she scores a point.  Only the defence can score in this drill.  A defensive foul or a basket is no point for the defender. 

After this possession, the defender IMMEDIATELY sprints to his gap position, and coach has a ball ready at the top of key. The coach passes to the next player in line and another 1 on 1 game begins. Repeat this pattern until the defender has played each player in the line once.

The game continues until each of the players gets a chance to play defense. Each player has an opportunity to score 3 points.

Repeat the drill with the coach on the wing, and a line at the top, or coach on the top and the line in corner.

Coaches should not allow defenders to sag and “hope” the offensive player misses the outside shot.  Stress the importance of closing out with high hands, ball pressure, and staying stance.  At good teaching point is to emphasize that the defender’s shoulders should be lower than the offensive player’s shoulders.

As with most combination drills many fundamental skills can be practiced in this 3 on 3 drill.  The three defenders will begin out of bounds with a ball.  The offensive players are positioned outside the 3 pt. line at the wings and point. The defenders will pass the ball along the baseline and then X3 will pass to O3 at the wing. 

After passing the ball, X1 sprints across the court and closes out to O3.  After passing, X2 closes out to O2, and X3 will closeout to O1.  The drill becomes live as soon as O3 receives the ball.  The offensive players may reverse the ball or may drive at any time. 

Defensively the following points should be emphasized:
• Sprint to position
• Closeout out low with high hands
• Communicate – who is guarding the ball and who in help position
• Establish help position quickly
• Get in stance and stay in stance
• Attack penetration early

Offensively the following points should be emphasized:
• Look to penetrate the closeout
• Move off the penetration
• Find the open player when the defence rotates

Obviously, we put our two best rebounders in the inside positions on the lane, attempting to match up the best rebounder against the offences best rebounder.  The third defensive rebounder is in either of the third rebounding slots and is responsible for blocking out the shooter.  The other two players, usually guards, are on the 3 pt. line, at the foul line extended.  Their responsibility is to track down any ball that goes out towards the corners. 

When blocking out from the inside lane positions the defensive rebounders should get low with their hands up.  They should angle their body so if a line was drawn through their shoulders it would point at the foul shooter.  Their feet should be close together.  The first step should be directly towards the foul shooter with their foot nearest the shooter.