Break Down Drills

Basketball coaches and basketball players are always searching for "new drills" to work on their game. Coaches sit at clinics and seminars for hours, waiting for that one drill that fits what they do. Team offenses, defenses and individual basketball skills can be practiced with an infinite number of "break down drills" . The only thing that limits the number of basketball drills, and the manner in which the are employed, is the player’s or coaches` imagination.

Any offensive or defensive strategy that a basketball team employs can be "broken down" by the basketball coach and practiced in much smaller parts. Learning, refining, and mastering a part of a sequence is much easier if the sequence is smaller or shorter.

A coach could take a specific part of the basketball teams` offense and make it into a shooting drill that mimics the execution of the play. For the most basic example: A line at the point, and a line under the basket can be used for a variety of drills. The point can practice his passing and entering the offense while the player beneath the basket can get work on getting open at the wing and establishing a pivot foot. Add extra players on defense for the next progression. Next the passer could cut to the basket for a "give and go", or set a screen for a pick and roll. Add a line on the opposite side of the floor and you could practice setting screens and using screens in a "motion offense" or reverse the ball to practice your passing and timing in the "flex offense" End every rotation with a shot, a block out and a rebound.

Now you’ve practiced getting open, passing, screening, using screens, and shooting all while working on the execution of your teams own offense. Additional work on rebounding and defense makes the drills that much more valuable.

With "break down drills" a team can get a maximum amount of repetitions and the coach can concentrate on the details of execution in a smaller, more controlled setting.

This will lead to optimum improvement in all areas of a teams performance.

Whole-Part-Whole Teaching Method

Important to the development of any basketball skill or strategy is an understanding of the `feel` or rhythm of the activity. The player should clearly understand how the activity flows from one segment to the next when done correctly in an effort to improve the game. As coach, it's crucial that you begin instruction with what is known as the "whole-part-whole" teaching philosophy. A beginner basketball player must understand the concept of the entire (whole) movement before instruction moves to the individual parts. The theory is that without "whole" knowledge of the activity, the individual components are worthless. This is true for both individual skills as well as team strategies.

When learning, it is important to understand the end result that you are trying to attain. Once that "whole" part is presented, the task can be broken down into smaller "parts" to practice. This is evidenced in learning how to shoot, pass or dribble just as much as it is apparent when developing team defense or executing an offense.

Shooting cannot be "fragmented", otherwise the shooter looses rhythm and power. It must be a smooth, continuous motion. Dribble moves will not be effective unless the "parts" of the move are precisely timed and sequential.

Similarly, an offense must have precise timing to free players at the most opportune moment. A team’s defensive rotation must occur instantaneously otherwise the offense will be free for an open shot.

When the player, or team, recognizes the ultimate objective it can then practice each minute detail separately. Once each part is learned the task then becomes one of blending these parts back together and learning the transitions.

This brings us back to, and reinforces, the whole-part-whole teaching philosophy mentioned earlier. The whole action cannot truly be understood and performed without an understanding and proficiency of the individual parts.

The use of the whole-part-whole method is a most effective teaching tool to achieve maximum understanding and performance in any basketball skill, technique, or strategy.

Running is Rarely the Answer

You want players to practice hard and focus because it is he right thing to do and, due to your well planned practice, is impossible not to do. You don't want them to practice hard for fear of running. You can't stop play in the middle of a game and tell them to "Get on the line!" They better be able to gain focus on their own - because it is a habit learned so that they know no other way.

A simple reminder or "attitude adjustment" time (sprint up and back, a lap, etc) is one thing to get their attention and recommit to the task. However, "punitive" running on a regular basis loses it's effectiveness and is counter productive over the long haul. They may straighten up for the next drill, but in reality down the line they are actually losing focus. Now when they practice, they may be thinking about "not running" as opposed to the real objective - to play the right way. Similar to the "Pre-Game Speech" that everyone looks for. It's only good for about the time it takes to run down the hall from the locker room to the court - then you better have a pretty good warm up, some focused players, and a solid game plan.

Running at the very end of practice can also cause players to try to “save” themselves by not practicing as hard as they can. This can create a negative effect, and players may develop bad habits. Finally, if the last thing that players do at practice before they hit the locker room and go home is something that they do not enjoy (or even dislike!), that is what they will be talking about until the next practice comes around. 

Practice Length

Practices should rarely, if ever, last longer than two hours. Players have a difficult time maintaining focus and effort beyond that time. Do not fall into the “lottle” principle. You know, if a little is good, a “lottle” must be better. By going longer you may end up accomplishing less .

Meaningful Drills

As a coach, you need to consistently improve your drills and work to get the most of them. All coaches have their own sets of drills that work in concert with their individual basketball philosophy, but there are many ways that you can create more intensity, enthusiasm, discipline, etc., among your team. Start by evaluating all the factors involved in a drill. Believe in what you are doing. Practice things you'll be trying to do in actual games. Design them so that all your players are working. Take full advantage of the gym's side baskets and your assistant coaches. Many times you can use players not in certain drills as outlets or feeders. Or have them shoot free throws. Obviously, though, there will be times when you'll want them to just watch and listen to all instructions and criticisms. Always do drills on both sides of the court, so that footwork, ball-handling and vision are properly developed. 



Give all drills a name so players can identify the procedure and purpose of each drill. For example, "Two-Ball Power-Ups" drills on inside power moves, using two balls in the lane area. Don't waste time on the floor going from drill to drill. Discipline your players to sprint to the next drill station. You don't want to find yourself spending too much time explaining how to run a drill. Demonstrate all new drills on chalkboard prior to practice or give the players a page for their playbook the night before, to avoid confusion on the floor. Never allow your players to become bored with a drill or to lose their intensity because you stay with it for too long a time. Come back to that drill the next day rather than have your players lose interest. Talk about critical mistakes made in the drill in pre-practice chalk talks, rather than on the court.

Add options to all drills that will give each drill a different look and with a different emphasis. These additions will generate enthusiasm among your players by keeping the drills fresh. It will also allow you to work on different things when preparing for different teams. Never allow players to complete a drill without having done it properly at least once. Coaches must demand proper execution before we can progress with any amount of success. Having players do a particular drill right a few times builds confidence that they can do it. Repeat all drills throughout the season. Repeating drills correctly, with intensity, develops habits that are hard to break.



Teaching vs. Competition

We all have players who ask questions during drills in order to take a break. We encourage questions and suggestions from our players about how we might do things better, so long as it done off of the court. To help this we have "teaching drills" where questions and explanations are encouraged and "competitive drills" where it is more game like and the players need to self correct and make adjustments on their own.

Speak the Same Language

You must communicate on the court to be successful and organized. Be sure all coaches and players speak the same language. For instance, some teams may use the word "Go" when switching; other programs may just use "Switch." Constantly be aware that the same words trigger different reactions from different people. Be sure all players understand exactly what your key words mean.

Simulate The Game

Try to make all drills as much like a game as possible. Using the scoreboard and calling fouls create game-like situations and may help your players react better in actual games. All players love drills with something on the line, such as a sprint or push-ups. This competition generates enthusiasm and intensity. End all drills with a rebound, turnover, basket, foul, offensive charge or transition. All fouls should be called during practice and offenders penalized as in a game. We like to assign a few push-ups to a player who commits a foul. This reinforces our concern for playing tough defense without fouling. Develop transition into your half-court drills so your players will react to turnovers and push the ball up the court. It also motivates the defense to force errors and capitalize. Also, players seem to enjoy transition basketball.

Statistics and Video in Practice

Keep statistics in practice. This added pressure forces players to concentrate. Evaluate daily stats and post them in the locker room. Keep cumulative stats as well, to provide goals and weekly standards. It's extremely important that your players be aware that you're constantly checking their numbers on field goals and free-throw percentage, rebounds, assists and turnovers. If you videotape your practices, you'll be able to see the whole court and evaluate how all your players performed at practice. Taping your practices also allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of your drills. A secondary benefit is your players may actually work harder knowing that they are being filmed and “big brother is watching”.

Short-Sided Games

Going 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 puts added pressure on the defense because you remove weak-side help in most cases and force the defense to cover a larger area of the floor. Setting drills so the defense or offense is at a disadvantage forces tremendous intensity and execution to complete the drills successfully. Demand that all drills be run at full speed. Constantly check defensive positioning and talk about breakdowns as they occur.

Maximum Effort

Always demand a maximum effort from your players, both mentally and physically, in practice drills. This will prepare them to face all game situations successfully. Drills should be your best conditioner. If you demand hustle and push your players to execute properly, they'll be in condition to play full games.

Be Positive

Follow the following rules for players during practice: give your best effort; listen and try to learn; always try to compliment a teammate; be positive and enthusiastic. The same goes for our coaches, with an additional rule: Give constructive criticism ("Liked your effort, but here's a better way"). Reward your players daily and weekly with positive verbal reinforcement, plus actual awards of some kind, such as: Practice Player of the Week, Weekly Rebound Award, Weekly Free-throw Award, Take a Charge Champion, Defensive Player Of The Week, etc.

Enjoyable Drills

Be able to take time for some enjoyable drills each practice session. This will help boost team morale and create a positive practice atmosphere. As coaches, we can better prepare our teams for the tough grind of a season through the effectiveness of our drills. We can make it so our players enjoy drills and practice more through the constant evaluation of our practice sessions.

Sport Specific

When putting together a total conditioning program, try and make sure that the exercises are “sport specific.” The drills, lifts, and movements should mimic those that are used in the game of basketball.

Age Appropriate Workouts

When putting together a total conditioning program, try and make sure that the exercises are “sport specific.” The drills, lifts, and movements should mimic those that are used in the game of basketball.

Self-Motivating

It is a benefit if the conditioning program is motivating to the athlete. Rather than having a coach yelling and screaming to, “go, go, go” or “push, push, push” it will help if the athlete can see improved results. Always call out times, post results, or have the athlete chart his own performance. This will create a “self-motivated” athlete who will continue to work, even after the coach stops yelling.

Time Standards

A perceptive coach can tell if a player is running hard, and he should push his players to do so. Superior effort and personal bests are what should matter. Always encourage players to “catch the person in front of you”, or “don’t get caught”. Do