Basketball requires precision, speed, spatial awareness and agility. Practicing basketball-specific drills develops these skills. Full-court drills encourage an understanding of passing lanes, court positioning, and effective defense techniques. The drills described below develop basketball fundamentals as well as improve conditioning. Players benefit from significant drill time to become familiar with teammates and how they move. Drills develop a sense of teamwork and foster trust among players.
Full Court Layups
Full court layups are a well-known basketball drill. Players should form two lines of equal length. Each line should assemble at one end of the court where the baseline meets the sideline on the right side. The first two players in each line have balls. The first player in each line should begin dribbling and running toward the opposite basket, then taking a right-handed layup, getting his own rebound, and passing the ball to the next person in line. The second player in each line should do the same, but begin when the player in front of her reaches half court. After six to 10 minutes, players should move their lines to the left side of the court for left handed layups. Full court layups work on speed, ball handling, and lay-up skills.
Three Man Weave Drill
The Three Man Weave is another well-known passing drill. It is simple to execute once players grasp the pattern of movement. Each time a player makes a pass, he should follow that pass and run around the player he passed to, without running in front of the receiver. Players should form three lines of equal length on the baseline at one end of the court. Players in the center line hold the ball. The players on the sides begin the drill by moving away from the baseline. The player with the ball passes the ball to the side player of her choice. She then runs towards that player, without crossing in front of him, making a u-turn around him and preparing to catch the next pass. The player who received the ball passes it across the court to the other side player, then follows the pass, running around the receiver in the same way. This cross-court pass and weave movement is the hallmark of this drill. When players reach the opposite basket one player can take a lay-up. At this point the three players can repeat the drill to return to the starting end or form three lines and wait for their teammates to finish the drill before beginning again.This drill develops players' abilities to pass on the move and communicate with one another. It also sets the foundation for effectively breaking a press.
Six Man Passing Drill
The Six Man Passing Drill is a fast and fun drill that develops speed, passing skills, spatial awareness, and lay-up proficiency. Three players will line each of the two outside passing lanes, creating two passing gauntlets. One player should stand on the right sideline at half court. The other two should stand at the right elbows at each end of the court. Another set of three players should line up in similar fashion on the left side of the court. The remaining players will divide into two equal lines and assemble as they did for full court lay-ups,
The first player (the "running passer") in each line has a ball. He begins the drill by passing to the player standing at the closest elbow. He then runs to receive the pass back from the elbow player. He should receive the pass between the elbow and mid-court. Immediately, he turns and passes to the player on the sideline, who passes it back between mid-court and the next elbow. Again, immediately, the running passer dishes the ball to the player at the next elbow, who bounce passes it back to set the running passer up for a right-handed lay-up. The running passer takes a lay-up, gets his rebound and passes to the next player in line. The running passers should never use the dribble in this drill. Players continue with the drill for 6 to 10 minutes before switching the lines to the left side. Players should also take turns as passers and running passers.
3-on-2 Fast Break Drill
The 3-on-2 Fast Break Drill emphasizes ball handling, passing, shooting, and defensive skills. Begin with two players on defense in the back court. One player should be positioned at the top of the key, while the other defender should be positioned in the paint. Three offensive players should set up at the other end of the court, one in each passing lane. The player in the center lane should have the basketball. The fast break begins when an outside wing yells, "Outlet!" The center player then passes the ball to the player who called for the ball. The three offensive players run a fast break on the two defenders, attempting to score.
When the shot goes up, the shooter sprints to the opposite end of the court to play defense. The two former defenders now run a 2-on-1 fast break. The other two offensive players remain at the opposite end of the court to play defense against the next group of three. To maximize effectiveness, this drill should be run continuously. This requires at least nine players so that individuals can rotate in and out of positions seamlessly. This drill will not only polish fundamental skills, it is also a great conditioning tool.
Zig-Zag Dribble Drill with Defender
Recall the points where players stood for the Six Man Passing Drill: the elbow (or outside of the foul line), the sideline at mid-court, and the far elbow. These points are utilized in the Zig-Zag Dribble Drill with Defender. The team divides in half and lines up as for full-court lay-ups. This time, two players move at once from each line. If the team has an even number of players, the teams of two will stay the same throughout the drill. A team of two begins simultaneously from each end. One player from each team has the ball and begins dribbling towards the near elbow. The other player acts as a defender, shuffling in a defensive stance and working to reach the elbow before the dribbler. The dribbler then switches the ball to her opposite hand and dribbles toward the sideline at mid-court. The defender aims to reach mid-court before the dribbler. The dribbler switches the ball to the opposite hand and dribbles toward the next elbow, while the defender tries to reach the elbow before the offensive player. Finally, the dribbler switches the ball to the opposite hand and dribbles toward the corner of the baseline, while the defender tries to reach the baseline before the offensive player. The two player team lines up again on the opposite corner and repeats the drill until the coach or captain ends the drill. The purpose of this drill is to push the defender to cut the dribbler off at each of the three points by reaching each spot first. The dribbler should push the defender, attempting to out maneuver her and reach the spot first. This challenging drill develops ball-handling skills, defensive skills, and a team mentality.
Full Court Layups
Full court layups are a well-known basketball drill. Players should form two lines of equal length. Each line should assemble at one end of the court where the baseline meets the sideline on the right side. The first two players in each line have balls. The first player in each line should begin dribbling and running toward the opposite basket, then taking a right-handed layup, getting his own rebound, and passing the ball to the next person in line. The second player in each line should do the same, but begin when the player in front of her reaches half court. After six to 10 minutes, players should move their lines to the left side of the court for left handed layups. Full court layups work on speed, ball handling, and lay-up skills.
Three Man Weave Drill
The Three Man Weave is another well-known passing drill. It is simple to execute once players grasp the pattern of movement. Each time a player makes a pass, he should follow that pass and run around the player he passed to, without running in front of the receiver. Players should form three lines of equal length on the baseline at one end of the court. Players in the center line hold the ball. The players on the sides begin the drill by moving away from the baseline. The player with the ball passes the ball to the side player of her choice. She then runs towards that player, without crossing in front of him, making a u-turn around him and preparing to catch the next pass. The player who received the ball passes it across the court to the other side player, then follows the pass, running around the receiver in the same way. This cross-court pass and weave movement is the hallmark of this drill. When players reach the opposite basket one player can take a lay-up. At this point the three players can repeat the drill to return to the starting end or form three lines and wait for their teammates to finish the drill before beginning again.This drill develops players' abilities to pass on the move and communicate with one another. It also sets the foundation for effectively breaking a press.
Six Man Passing Drill
The Six Man Passing Drill is a fast and fun drill that develops speed, passing skills, spatial awareness, and lay-up proficiency. Three players will line each of the two outside passing lanes, creating two passing gauntlets. One player should stand on the right sideline at half court. The other two should stand at the right elbows at each end of the court. Another set of three players should line up in similar fashion on the left side of the court. The remaining players will divide into two equal lines and assemble as they did for full court lay-ups,
The first player (the "running passer") in each line has a ball. He begins the drill by passing to the player standing at the closest elbow. He then runs to receive the pass back from the elbow player. He should receive the pass between the elbow and mid-court. Immediately, he turns and passes to the player on the sideline, who passes it back between mid-court and the next elbow. Again, immediately, the running passer dishes the ball to the player at the next elbow, who bounce passes it back to set the running passer up for a right-handed lay-up. The running passer takes a lay-up, gets his rebound and passes to the next player in line. The running passers should never use the dribble in this drill. Players continue with the drill for 6 to 10 minutes before switching the lines to the left side. Players should also take turns as passers and running passers.
3-on-2 Fast Break Drill
The 3-on-2 Fast Break Drill emphasizes ball handling, passing, shooting, and defensive skills. Begin with two players on defense in the back court. One player should be positioned at the top of the key, while the other defender should be positioned in the paint. Three offensive players should set up at the other end of the court, one in each passing lane. The player in the center lane should have the basketball. The fast break begins when an outside wing yells, "Outlet!" The center player then passes the ball to the player who called for the ball. The three offensive players run a fast break on the two defenders, attempting to score.
When the shot goes up, the shooter sprints to the opposite end of the court to play defense. The two former defenders now run a 2-on-1 fast break. The other two offensive players remain at the opposite end of the court to play defense against the next group of three. To maximize effectiveness, this drill should be run continuously. This requires at least nine players so that individuals can rotate in and out of positions seamlessly. This drill will not only polish fundamental skills, it is also a great conditioning tool.
Zig-Zag Dribble Drill with Defender
Recall the points where players stood for the Six Man Passing Drill: the elbow (or outside of the foul line), the sideline at mid-court, and the far elbow. These points are utilized in the Zig-Zag Dribble Drill with Defender. The team divides in half and lines up as for full-court lay-ups. This time, two players move at once from each line. If the team has an even number of players, the teams of two will stay the same throughout the drill. A team of two begins simultaneously from each end. One player from each team has the ball and begins dribbling towards the near elbow. The other player acts as a defender, shuffling in a defensive stance and working to reach the elbow before the dribbler. The dribbler then switches the ball to her opposite hand and dribbles toward the sideline at mid-court. The defender aims to reach mid-court before the dribbler. The dribbler switches the ball to the opposite hand and dribbles toward the next elbow, while the defender tries to reach the elbow before the offensive player. Finally, the dribbler switches the ball to the opposite hand and dribbles toward the corner of the baseline, while the defender tries to reach the baseline before the offensive player. The two player team lines up again on the opposite corner and repeats the drill until the coach or captain ends the drill. The purpose of this drill is to push the defender to cut the dribbler off at each of the three points by reaching each spot first. The dribbler should push the defender, attempting to out maneuver her and reach the spot first. This challenging drill develops ball-handling skills, defensive skills, and a team mentality.
