Each month we will include a number of drills and skills which cover many aspects of our great game. In this issue two excellent drills for teaching penetration in a game-like situation are shown. Included within these drills are explanations of how perimeter players should move off penetration. As well two great, competitive combination drills, an important cutting skill and drills to help develop balance are shown.
Penetration Drills
The following drills are designed to create game-like situations and encourage the players to drive to score, create penetration with two feet in the lane, and move off penetration. In the Coaches Clipboard site (www.coachesclipboard.ca) an article called “Penetration Principles” is available to coaches. This article outlines a system of how to play off penetration from any position on the floor. Look under the Coaching Article Library and then click on Offensive Play.  3 on 3 vs. Closeout:
Three offensive players are positioned on the perimeter, with a guard at the top and two wings. One defender starts under the basket with a basketball. The defender with the ball passes the ball to the top and closes out. All the offensive players can only drive or shoot after they receive a pass. The drill continues until the offence scores, the defenders recover the ball or the ball goes out of bounds. The objective of the drill is for the offensive players to drive to score, make intelligent penetrate and kick decisions and to move correctly off penetration.
Perimeter Movement off Penetration from the Top:
When moving off penetration from the top, the objective of the perimeter players, away from the ball, is two-fold: 1) create a passing lane for the driver, and 2) make the defender have to recover the greatest distance possible. Moving properly will usually result in an uncontested perimeter shot or a long closeout, which can in turn lead to an excellent opportunity to drive or shoot. The proper movement will be dictated by the potential pass receivers reading how their defender helps on the penetration.  The diagram to the right shows the two most likely scenarios for help. The situation on the right of the diagram shows X2 “helping uphill” or moving up the floor towards the ball. In this situation O2 should slide down the 3 pt. line making the recovery for X2 long. On the left, X3 “helps downhill”, i.e. he/she moves to the ball but also towards the basket. O3 should “I-cut” into a passing lane behind the ball.
 4 on 4 vs. Closeout:
This drill is the same as the above drill with a post player added. The post player should move quickly into the space created by the penetration. As an example, when the perimeter player drives towards the post player, the post should circle under the defence, to the opposite side of the basket. Again, review the “Penetration Principles” article, located in the Coaching Article Library, on the Coaches Clipboard site at www.coachesclipboard.ca . The perimeter can still only drive or shoot after receiving a pass. An additional point of emphasis can be placed on offensive rebounding in this drill. These drills are excellent for drilling penetration which is a critical part of offensive play. As well, they help perimeter players develop vital offensive skills. Coaches should always encourage players to work on driving both right and left hand, and passing with either hand, quickly off the dribble.
Combination Drills
 40 Passes:
Along with helping improve the player’s ability to pass under pressure, pivot, and move without the ball “40 Passes” is excellent for helping increase intensity, competitiveness, and aggression in players.
Divide the team into two teams of five (for younger teams may use 4 vs 4). The game is played in the ½ court. The offence is not allowed to dribble, and players may not pass the ball directly back to the teammate who passed the ball to them. The objective of the drill is for one team to complete 40 passes in total before the other team. One team starts with the ball out of bounds, while the other team plays defence and attempts to force a turnover. If the defensive team is successful in forcing a turnover they will take possession of the ball on the sideline and begin counting their passes. Each time a team takes a new possession they begin their count where they finished in their last possession. Teams should be aggressive and look to score; a basket is equal to five passes, plus they maintain possession of the ball, and will inbound the ball from the sideline. If coaches wish to add a pressure free throw shooting element to the drill they can have the team in possession shoot one free throw each time the team reaches a multiple of 10. The player who was in possession of the ball, when the team reached 10, 20, 30, or 40 shoots the free throw. Teams line up, as they would for regular free throws, if the player misses the free throw the free throw shooting’s team total passes goes back to the last multiple of 10. If the shooting team rebounds a missed free throw they maintain possession of the ball, the play continues and they begin counted from the last multiple of 10. If the defensive team rebounds the missed free throw play continues and they will begin counting their passes from their last possession. There are a multitude of benefits that can be achieved through the use of this drill: - Moving without the ball
- Passing through pressure
- Pivoting
- Ball pressure
- Pressure free throws
- Toughness with the ball
24 Second Drill:This is a great combination drill from Bruce Weber of the University of Illinois. He advocates its use at the end of practice because it very competitive and difficult. Two teams will play 5 on 5 in the ½ court. 24 seconds are put on the clock. As an example, the red team begins on offence and black team on defence. The black team must attempt to stop the red for the entire 24 seconds. If red takes a shot and black rebounds the ball at 16 seconds then white still has 16 seconds to attempt to score – they will take the ball at the top and begin again. If red turns the ball over at 6 seconds then they only have 6 seconds to score. This continues until black stops red through the entire 24 second clock. If red scores they go to defence. If white gets an offensive rebound but doesn’t score they will remain on offence but the clock goes back to 24 seconds.
Cutting
 Step Up:
Here is a simple skill that is often overlooked but results in missed lay-up opportunities when players cut across the lane. Often players cut across the lane open but end up catching the pass outside the key, or they slow down, and allow a defender to come around them and steal the pass. Particularly when cutting low through the lane, players must learn to step up the lane and get their defender on their back. As the offensive player gets position between the ball and the defender, whether coming off a screen or just a straight cut, he/she should slow down, with a wide stutter step and then step up the lane to get the defender on their back.
Balance
Balance training should be part of most warm-ups for basketball players. By improving a player’s balance you will help improve performance and, most importantly, help prevent injury. Here are four balance drills that can be incorporated in a warm-up:
1. Single Leg Stance - Stand on one foot and reach the other foot as far forward as possible, as far to the right as possible as far back as possible and as far left as possible. The athletes should work so they can balance and reach their foot while keeping their hands straight by their side with no lean in either direction. Repeat this 3 times on each leg for 10-15 seconds each time.
2. Lunge to balance – Complete a walking lunge. As you step forward, stop and balance with your upper leg parallel to the ground. Hold for a count of two and then continue. Complete 5-10 repetitions per leg.
3. 45-degree bound and hold - Hop from right leg to the left leg at a 45-degree angle moving down the court. Balance and hold the landing and then continue. Complete one length of the basketball court.
4. Side-to-side hops - Jump laterally as far as possible and land on outside leg. Ensure the athletes are sitting their hips back and down. The athlete should focus on allowing little movement at the knee joint upon landing. Complete 5-8 reps per leg. Though these drills take little time tremendous benefits can be gained by incorporating 2-3 of these balance drills in a dynamic warm-up.
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