One of the hardest skills to teach and coach is how to score through contact at the basket. Defensively it is also very hard to teach and coach how to defend with physical defense without fouling around the basket. This drill helps teach both of these skills at the same time.
This drill gives the offense an advantage to begin and the defense has to work to get back into a good defending position. While the defense is working to get back, the offense is working to score while having the advantage.
This drill and others like it can be done quickly in practice needing only 5 or 10 minutes a day but the improvement in finishing around the rim and defending around the rim will greatly improve. These two minor details will have a significant influence in improving a team’s offense and defense around the basket.
The defender starts on the foul line with a cone on each elbow. The offensive player stands with the ball at the 3-point line. On the first dribble, the defender must go and touch one of the cones. After touching the cone, the defender is trying to get back into a good guarding position.
Both players will be having to read and react to the other player. The defender has to react to the initial dribble. If they move to slow, then the offense will be past them and shooting a layup.
The offensive player will need to react to the movement of the defender to go in the opposite direction. When the defender moves to the offenses left, then the offensive player should dribble to the right side of the basket. If the defender moves right, then the offensive player should dribble to the left.
Once the defender touches the cone, they are trying to get back and stop the offensive player from scoring. This is creating a scenario where the two players should meet at the basket.
The offensive player has a couple of options to score. They can rush to the basket and absorb the contact and try and finish. They can try and initiate the contact and finish at the front of the basket. They can try and euro step across the defender as they run back.
This drill will make the offensive player get more comfortable around the basket with contact. The more this drill is done, the more moves and creativity each offensive player should learn by doing the drill.
The key for the defender is to get back in position without fouling. The defender must try and use their body to initiate contact with the offensive player and keep their hands up and out of the way. This is not something most players are going to want to do. Most players do not want to play physical. Over time of hitting and getting hit, players will become accustomed to the physical contact and it will not bother them.
A simple drill but will really improve both the offensive and defensive ability of each player around the basket. This drill only needs about 5 minutes of practice time a couple of times a week. Every player will become much improved around the basket with both their offensive scoring and their interior defense. Simple drills like this can produce great benefits to each player and their team.
