Full-Court Ball-handling:

Arizona State University Men’s Team worked on their ball-handling skills in each of the three practices I attended.  This drill was done by all players not just the perimeter players.

The players dribbled the length of the floor executing the following skills. Each length of the court begins with the players on the court, facing the baseline and spinning the ball to themselves.  The players will catch the ball on a two-foot stop, reverse pivot to face down the floor and then sweep the ball 1-2 times.  Next, they crab dribble (they called it a glide dribble) and explode, three times going the length of the floor.  At the other end of the floor the players stop with another two-foot jump stop.

The following are the other dribbling sequences used:
1. Crab dribble to back-up dribble to explode three times going the length of the floor.
2. Crab dribble to back-up dribble, between legs to explode three times going the length of the floor.

Power 45:

This is a great shooting drill from Nike Skills Instructor, Kevin Sutton.  The drill is done with two basketballs and three players – a shooter, passer and rebounder.  Each player will take a total of 45 shots – 15 shots from 3 different spots.

The shots are:
1. 45 degree angle bank shot.

2. 45 degree angle bank after the player sprints to 3 point line, back to the block and receives a pass for a shot.
3. 45 degree angle bank shot from the left side.  The player completes a bounce-bounce shoot, with the ball kept high.
 

The players will change responsibilities so each player shoots at each spot before moving to the next spot.  The other two spots are directly in front of the hoop and on the right side.

Footwork:  Coach Sutton has his players shoot step-up jump shots.  When shooting from the left side the players will have their right foot back and use their left foot as the pivot foot.  As the pass is in the air the player will step up with their right foot and go into their shot.  When the players shoot from the right side the right foot is the pivot foot and the left foot is the free foot.

Catch and Go:

Catch and Go is a fundamental drill combining footwork and shooting that can be done with all players at one time.  Each player has a basketball and will start near a basket.  The players spin the ball out away from the basket, sprint to catch the ball on a two-foot jump stop, pivot to square up to the basket and shoot.  Each player recovers their basketball and repeats the drill.  Players should use reverse pivots and front pivots as well as practice pivoting on either foot.

1 on 1 vs. Closeout:

This is a great combination drill that can help develop many skills and concepts.  Besides working on 1 on 1 offensive and defensive skills, this drill also enables the passer to work on the timing of their entry pass.

A chair is placed in the corner. The drill begins when O3 drags the arc, touches the chair and blast cuts back to the wing. O1 will dribble towards the swing position and make the entry pass right off the dribble to O3.   The timing should be so that the ball and O3 arrive at the wing at the same time.  O1 should not be stopped when he/she makes the pass.  X1 may leave and closeout to O3 as soon as O3 blasts back to the wing.

Sprint to the Ball, Stunt and Recover:

This is a fundamental 3 on 3 defensive drill, from University of Dayton Head Coach Brian Gregory.  The first part of the drill is used to teach the defenders to move quickly on the flight of the ball into proper help position.  The second part of the drill is to teach players to stunt at a driver and recover to their own man.  Finally, the drill is live and the offence will attack the defence.

Part 1 – Sprint to the Ball

The offensive players do not move, but will pass the ball and then hold for a two-count.  The time will allow the defenders to establish proper position and then the coach can ensure their positioning is correct.  The offence should do this until the coach is satisfied with the execution and effort or for at least two ball reversals. 

The defenders must:
1. Sprint to the ball to get into proper help position – do not slide.
2. Closeout with a high hand to disrupt pass or challenge a shot.
3. Turn their head, as if on a swivel, to see both the ball and man. 

Part 2 – Stunt and Recover

The help defenders will make a fake or move at the driver anytime the ball is driven towards them.  This move is called a “stunt”, and is used to buy time for the on-ball defender to recover.  The defenders must not allow any dribble splits between them.

The offensive players will drive the ball to either side of the defender for 1-2 dribbles and then pass to the next offensive player.  The offence should do this until the coach is satisfied with the execution and effort or for at least two ball reversals.

The help defender will:
1. Stunt at the ball as soon as the dribble starts towards them.
2. Recover to the player he/she is defending on the air time of the pass.
3. Closeout with a high hand to disrupt pass or challenge a shot.

Part 3 – Live

Part 1 and Part 2 of the drill are controlled – the offense does not cut, drive or attempt to score.  When the coach calls “live!” the offence now looks to score and the defenders apply the sprint to ball and stunt and recover skills just re-enforced.

Defensive Movements to Avoid: 
1. Turn and look at where the ball was passed rather than moving right away – “you know where the ball is going!”
2. Jumping back to basket on the pass rather sprinting to the ball.

Inbounding 2 on 2:

All players should learn to break man to man pressure with simple screening action.  Whether it is from the sideline or baseline learning to read this action will help athletes throughout their basketball career.

From the baseline, the screener should be on ball-side and closer to the ball than the cutter. Beginning in this alignment will make it more difficult for the defenders to switch effectively.  Notice in the first diagram that O1 starts at the top of the key and O3 starts in front of the ball.  With O1 starting at the top of the key it is much easier for him/her to go towards the ball as opposed to going towards the sideline. 

Here are several other important aspects to make this screening action effective:
1. The screen must be set at an angle with the screener’s back to the corner, not parallel to the baseline.
2. The cutter should fake opposite the screen.
3. The cutter must run shoulder to shoulder off the screen.
4. The screener must be a “quick second cutter” after the first cutter goes by the screen.
5. The screener and cutter must go opposite each other so there are outlets on each side of the ball.

“85 in 2”:

This is a full-court team lay-up drill from Arizona State University Men’s Team.  It is a conditioner but also serves more to bring the team together.  The objective is for the team to make 85 lay-ups in two minutes; this would have to be modified for high school teams.

The drill uses four basketballs, one at the front of the line at each end, one with the second player in each line. The drill begins with O1 and O7 passing to the coach (manager or player – rotate players).  The players will then sprint and receive a pass back from the coach.  They then dribble the length of the floor for a lay-up. O2 and O8 will begin after O1 and O7 receive pass back from the coach. The next players will take the ball out of the basket and go immediately.

The drill continues for 2 minutes in this direction or the coach can call out “change!” at 1 minute and the drill will begin in the other direction.

Drill Leaders:

Tom Crean, the Head Coach at Marquette University, uses a unique strategy to help develop leadership in his team.  During the competitive drills Coach Crean selects leaders for each group.  As an example, if they run 4 on 4 Shell Drill and they have 3 teams of 4 players; each of these teams will have a leader.  The leader is responsible for making sure the team gets on the floor quickly when it is their turn, keeping score for their team, and is generally responsible for motivating and keeping the team focused on what needs to be done during the drill.  If the leader’s group is slow moving from out of the drill into the drill, is not communicating, or makes a mistake in the area of emphasis, the leader will run for the group.