EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE
Basketball Offense
From Nancy Jones, head girls coach at Twin Falls High in Idaho The ‘Animal Drill’ develops the toughness you want combined with the quick-thinking you need for players to continue to improve within your program. Why use it Many transition drills feature a set offensive and defensive team. In this drill, the... MORE
Zones are meant to confuse offenses, so be sure your players know exactly what to run as soon as the opposition changes course and moves from man to zone. Why use it When a team quickly throws a zone at you, it’s best to have a set offense to run so you players don’t... MORE
From David Polett, Vistamar School in El Segundo, California Pull the big defender away from the hoop and take advantage of the mismatches this creates with pick-and-roll action after ball reversal. Why use it You’re still working with a lack of size, so this play works well to pull larger defenders away from the basket.... MORE
Quick passbacks force a 2-3 zone to cover a lot of space in an instant, which pokes holes in the zone and allows you to find openings for jump shots. Why use it A quick passback to start your action slightly shifts a defender into a perfect position to be screened. From there, a dribble... MORE
From Bert DeSalvo, former Division I and II men’s assistant & Division III women’s head coach Sharpen full-court passing, timing, a touch at the rim and conditioning in this fast-paced drill requiring focus, speed and hustle. Why use it Sometimes you just need your team to get running during a practice. This drill forces players... MORE
By Loree Payne, head women’s coach at Puget Sound University in Tacoma, Washington. This drill does it all – works on scoring with a numbers advantage, defensive communication, hustling back on defense, matching up and digging deep to beat teammates. Why use it A level of competition should be a part of everything you do... MORE
Set a time goal for the 5 players to get up the court and back while completing the proper passes and scoring layups at both ends in stride. Why use this drill This drill shows players how quickly they can get up the court and transition into offense, even if it’s off a made shot.... MORE
in In-Game Strategy, Offense drills
A lot of screening and motion goes into this set in which the opposite post comes high, sets a ball screen, rolls and eventually gets a pass from a dribbling wing. Why use this play Arizona’s offense has five players constantly moving, which keeps the defense on its heels and creates open passing lanes. Set... MORE
A great counter when facing a 2-3 zone, have your wings cross and screen the top defenders creating an opening for the ball handler to drive. Why use this zone play Robert Morris University ran this play against Youngstown earlier this season. Rather than the typical zone play in which the ball moves around the... MORE
Draw the opposite-corner defender into the lane with a dribble drive, then have a curling wing player screen that defender to allow for an uncontested shot. Why use this play Duke makes 3-point shooting look easy because of the movements used to create open shots. Here, the opposite corner becomes wide open after an inside... MORE
