Keep Your Hands To Yourself

The new “excessive contact” rule comes from the college game and hones in on defenders impeding a ball handler’s momentum, especially on the perimeter

WHY USE IT
As the game has become more physical, players are used to placing their hands on ball handlers. That now is going to be called a foul more often as referees are instructed to look for that type of contact now.

SET UP
The ball handlers line up on the baseline with a defender facing each offensive player. The defenders holds their hands behind their backs.

HOW TO PLAY
The ball handler dribbles toward mid-court reversing direction every so often as the defender slides to stay in front of him or her [1]. At mid-court, the players switch roles and the initial defender now dribbles back toward the baseline [2]. Players switch roles again and this time the ball handler uses the left hand to give the defender a different look and direction in which to slide. Players continue the sequence for a determined amount of time or number of up-and-backs (five, for example) [3].

TECHNIQUE
By keeping their hands behind them, you are training defenders not to reach and get called for a contact foul. Place the defensive focus on the feet and how to stay in front of ball handlers.