Defensive Breakdown Drills
Preseason build your defense first. You can add offense at any time. However, preseason training is the only time during the season that provides ample time to build a fundamentally sound defense. Once the season starts, it is very difficult or impossible to install a solid defense. In installing your defense first, it also provides offensive benefits since you want to practice against good defense. Practicing against poor or “dummy” defense will not adequately prepare players for games. To be successful, players need to practice against good, hard nose defense. Your offense will most likely struggle at first. However, players will soon learn to adjust to creating good leads, making crisp, accurate passes, etc.
Team defense is best taught using a series of breakdown drills progressing from 1-on-1 to 2-on-2 to 3-on-3 to 4-on-4 and finally to 5-on-5.
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Defensive Transition Drills
Circuit Training
Defensive Breakdown Drills
First Pass Denials "Dancing" (2-on-2)
Denying Ball & Basket Cuts (3-on-3)
Sequential Shell (4-on-4) Drills
Phase 1. Basics
Phase 2. Defending Dribble Penetration
Phase 3. Defending Cutters
Phase 4. Defending Screens
Phase 5. Go Live (4-on-4)
Sequential Shell (4-on-4) Post Defense Drills
Phase 1. Basic Post Defense
Phase 2. Post Disruptions
Phase 3. Go Live (4-on-4)
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