As a parent, it can be both exciting and overwhelming to support your child through their first weeks of training. This guide is designed to help you understand the purpose behind the drills your child will be doing at practice. Whether they’re learning how to move off the ball, defend with discipline, or attack on the fast break, these activities are all chosen to build their confidence and skill in a fun and supportive environment. Below is a quick overview of each drill your child might experience early on, grouped into three key areas: offence, defence, and transition.
🏀 OFFENCE DRILLS
🔸 1. Pass and Cut Drill
This simple but effective drill teaches young players how to move after passing the ball. After passing, players cut to the basket looking to receive a return pass. The focus is on spacing and timing, helping players learn how to find open lanes and finish layups close to the hoop.
- Setup: 3–5 players on the perimeter in a half-court
- Action: Player passes, then immediately cuts to the basket
- Coaching Focus: Spacing, timing, finishing at the rim
🔸 2. Drive and Kick
A foundational skill in modern basketball, this drill teaches players to attack the basket and then pass out to a teammate when the defence collapses. It's great for improving decision-making, especially under pressure, and helps players understand when to shoot or pass.
- Setup: One ball handler, two wing players
- Action: Drive to collapse the defence, pass to open wing shooter
- Coaching Focus: Decision-making, passing under pressure
🔸 3. 3v3 Half-Court Spacing
Playing 3-on-3 allows players more touches and helps them learn how to move without the ball. This drill focuses on how to create space, read defenders, and make smart cuts and passes to keep the offence flowing.
- Setup: 3-on-3 game
- Action: Emphasize off-ball movement, floor balance, and spacing
- Coaching Focus: Reading the defence, player movement
🛡️ DEFENCE DRILLS
🔸 1. Shell Drill (4-on-4)
This classic team defensive drill teaches players how to move together as a unit. As the ball moves around the perimeter, defenders practice sliding, helping, and recovering to cover gaps. It builds teamwork and improves communication on defence.
- Setup: Four defenders guard four perimeter players
- Action: Ball moves, defenders slide, help, and recover
- Coaching Focus: Communication, rotations, help-side awareness
🔸 2. Closeout Drill
In this drill, defenders learn how to sprint out to guard a shooter without fouling. The goal is to slow down the offense while staying in control, keeping a hand up and their body in a strong defensive stance.
- Setup: Coach on the wing with a ball, defender starts in paint
- Action: Pass to offense, defender sprints to close out
- Coaching Focus: Controlled speed, hand up, no foul
🔸 3. Rebound & Outlet
This drill starts with a shot going up. Defenders focus on boxing out their opponent, grabbing the rebound, and making a quick, accurate outlet pass to start the fast break. It reinforces key fundamentals like positioning and reacting quickly.
- Setup: Defender under basket, shot goes up
- Action: Box out, rebound, outlet to wing
- Coaching Focus: Positioning, quick reaction
🔁 TRANSITION DRILLS
🔸 1. 3-Man Weave
A fast-paced passing drill that teaches timing and teamwork. Players pass and then run behind the person they passed to, moving the ball quickly up the court for a layup. It’s a great way to build rhythm and communication.
- Setup: 3 players, full-court
- Action: Pass and follow behind receiver, layup to finish
- Coaching Focus: Timing, passing on the move
🔸 2. 3v2 to 2v1 Continuous
This drill creates natural advantage situations, teaching players when to attack and when to pass. After a 3-on-2 play, the two defenders become attackers going back the other way. It’s fun, energetic, and helps players make quick decisions.
- Setup: 3 attack vs 2 defend, then 2 attack back vs 1
- Action: Continuous transition drill
- Coaching Focus: Advantage play, communication
🔸 3. Turnover Transition
Designed to simulate game-like mistakes, this drill helps players react quickly after a turnover. Defenders sprint back to stop fast breaks, practicing urgency and teamwork in high-pressure moments.
- Setup: Coach simulates a turnover or bad pass
- Action: Defence sprints back and protects the basket
- Coaching Focus: Urgency, communication, stop the ball
📘 Coach Tips by Age Group
- U10–U12: Simple rules, 1–2 key ideas per drill, always finish with fun game
- U13–U15: Emphasize communication, reaction, and footwork
- U16–U18: Add competitive scoring systems, condition drills to match scenarios
