One of the drills I use everyday is a 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 offense vs defense. This drill reduces the number of players on the floor which gives the drill the ability to focus on one skill. This helps players learn the skill in a small setting before having to apply it in a 5 on 5 game situation. This offense vs defense drill can be used for just about anything whether it be for offense or defense.
When the focus is on the offense, then you are actively working on a skill or movement used in your offense. This could be pick and roll. This could be dribble drive. This could be post entries. Any element of your offense could be broken down into smaller pieces and worked on before increasing all the way up to a 5 on 5 setting.
When the focus is on the defense, then you are working on defensive skills or adjustments that either an opponent is going to use or you are weak at defensively. One of the biggest reasons I use this drill so often is working on backside rotations. At first, the rotations are slow and unsure. After doing this rotation drill so much, the players are able to rotate in a game with speed and precision. And with good backside rotations, an offense may not get an easy shot or have to make extra passes to get a good shot. These extra passes can result in turnovers.
And the great thing about this drill is the ability to work on both offense and defense at the same time. A 2 on 2 drill using the pick and roll can be focused on both the offense and defense. The players can work on trying to score using a pick and roll. The defense can be working on how to defend the pick and roll. Both sides of the ball are getting better. And with this improvement, both sides of the ball will continue to get better.
This drill is simple and easy. It does not have to take a bunch of time out of practice to really be effective. Offense and defense can be getting better all within this one drill. That is maximizing practice time to its fullest effect.
I am listing different focus drills below that can be used within a 2 or 3 or 4 player offense vs defense. This list is just some of my favorite focused movements within this drill but it is by no means the only ones that can be used.
Focus on Offense:
Focus on Defense:
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