In order to build a great defensive unit, players must practice the right defensive strategy and realize where they should be on the field, based on who they are defending and the location of the basketball team. The easiest way to do this is to use proven Basketball Defense Drills during the team workout.
The goal on the defensive end of the floor is to force the opposition into taking the most difficult shot possible. This requires players to be able to play great on-ball defense and for help defense to be in the correct position and ready to rotate and help when needed.
Below mentioned are few Defense drills for you to practice on:
Defensive Specialist Basketball Defensive Drill:
Defensive Specialist is a constant drill that focuses on various defensive motions, including close-outs, defensive slipping, back-pedaling, and sprinting. Since this practice includes all the most common motions that players can make on defense, it’s one of the easiest basketball defense drills to get used to these various movements.
1-on-1 Continuous:
Players are forming a line at the top of the main and occupying the wing spots. The offensive and defensive player starts by playing 1-on-1 from the wing. When the score or safety gains possession, the offensive team then closes on the opposite wing and plays 1-on-1.
A fast-paced and aggressive practice with an emphasis on attacking the defender from near range and being able to hold the opposition in isolation. 1-on-1 is a great game for development.
4-Point Closeouts:
Defensive players start under the basket and must sprint out and closeout on each of the four offensive players spread around the three-point arc. They then retreat to the basket and move on to the next player. The primary purpose of this drill is to work on the closeout technique. Specifically, footwork and staying on balance.
Mass Sliding
Players are spaced out in half or full court in a defensive posture with equal distance from each other. The coach or other player then instructs the squad to complete various defensive movements that the players would follow as a cohesive group.
A defensive practice that emphasizes the basics of individual safety when adding it into the conditioning phase. Improves the defensive footwork and technique needed to effectively defend a player with or without a ball.
Pass Denial:
Two teams are playing 1-on-1 from the wing. The goal of the Basketball Defense Drills is to keep the player from passing to the wing while the offensive player is attempting to make 3 shots in a row. Being able to refuse a move to the enemy is one of the most critical abilities of conventional man-to-man defense. This drill helps players to practice their positioning and to respond to the movements of the offensive player.
Coaching Points:
- If the attacker is in a state of denial, he should have his chest facing the offensive player with his arm looking over his back. This helps them to easily stop a backdoor pass instead of trying to switch 180 degrees.
- The offensive player will earn a backdoor pass for the structure if they are overplayed by the defender.
The saver can maintain touch with his arm-bar during the Basketball Defense Drills. Alert players that it would be a foul if they stretch their arm-bar and drive it
