Monthly Recaps
December 2003

““There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do.  And you must always keep in mind the choice you make, makes you”   - Anonymous

“Just one act of yours may turn the tide of another person’s life.”   - Anonymous

“There are no degrees of honesty.”   - Anonymous

“It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.”   - Abraham Lincoln
 
Defense Drill Tip!
The “Shell Drill” is a common practice drill used by many coaches to develop their defense.  This 4 on 4 version practiced by member, Dan Van Dyken of Bozeman High School in Bozeman, MT, might give you some new ideas.  “This is a read and react drill.  The drill begins with the basics (terminology, movement of defense, etc…) and proceeds to a drill with continual movement, eventually leading to a high-level game like speed.  We definitely see a carry-over into our games,” states Coach Van Dyken.  Begin with 4 offensive players and 4 defensive players.  The progression of the drill proceeds through the following game situations: positioning, cutters, help and recover, vertical screens, back screens, baseline rotation, rebounding, and screen on ball.  Coaches can teach their own techniques based on their defensive philosophy.  The key to this drill’s effectiveness does not lie in the basic drill itself, but the progression of your defense from techniques to game speed.  If you have 12 players, you can split them into 3 teams of four.  The teams can rotate off the baseline from defense to offense and out.  “It’s really 4 on 4 live once they understand our team defensive philosophy.  It’s incredible how quickly they progress, communicating and reading the offensive at such a high level of speed,” says Coach Van Dyken.  For a better understanding of this drill and the techniques used, please contact member, Dan Van Dyken at bozcoach32@msn.com.

Defense Drill Tip #2!
This drill termed “Blood and Guts” is a favorite of Oak Park High School in Kansas City and member Pete Gaskill.  You begin with two coaches on each wing or sideline.  The coaches will be an outlet and feeder.  Have two lines along the baseline, these two lines are your “winner’s lines or defensive lines.  Also have two lines at half-court; these two lines are your offensive lines or loser lines.  You start in a basic 2 on 2 shell.  Coach instructs offense what to do by calling pass or shot.  Defense reacts by jumping to the ball or blocking out.  Once the ball is shot  “Blood and Guts” begins.  If the shot is made off the shell drill then the defense outlets to a coach and becomes offense and the offense becomes defense.  If the shot is missed off the shell drill then the team that gets the ball outlets and becomes offense.  From there it is 2 on 2 live until either one team scores or gets an offensive rebound.    The team that scores or gets an offensive rebound wins and goes to the baseline (winner lines) and the team that loses the 2 on 2 battle proceeds to half court (loser lines).  The drill is timed.  When the time is up the players in the half court lines are the losers and the players along the baseline are the winners.  At Oak Park, losers run.   For more information or clarification please contact Pete Gaskill (pgaskill@nkcsd.k12.mo.us)
 
Shooting/Conditioning Tip!
This drill requires 3 players per group, a shooter, a rebounder, and a passer.  The shooter starts on the block and makes a V-cut to the wing.  He receives a pass from the passer, who is standing around the top of the key.  Shooter catches the ball and pivots on the foot specified by the coach and then shoots.  After he shoots, the shooter sprints to half-court and back to the block.  He repeats this drill for one minute.  “We emphasize v-cuts, pivots, and shooting while fatigued,” states member Mike English from Glen Brook North High School.  Another option could be having the rebounder touch the sideline after each rebound and also have the passer touch half-court after each pass.  For more information contact Mike English (menglish@glenbrook.k12.il.us )

Transition Drill Tip #2!
3 on 2 on 1 is a common offensive and defensive drill used by many coaches to work on their transition game.  Member Keith Cooper at Saint Martin’s College in Lacy, WA wants the drill to be more game realistic so he conducts his 3 on 2 on 1 drill in the following way.  Three offensive players start on one end and fastbreak against two defenders at the opposite end of the court.  Once the ball is rebounded, stolen, or a shot is made the point or middle man on offensive becomes the one defender in a 2 on 1 going the opposite direction.  The two defenders in the original 3 on 2 become the offensive in the 2 on 1.  The two wings in the original 3 on 2 will follow the 2 on 1 and touch the baseline before sprinting back to become the two defenders in the new 3 on 2.  “We like to have the wings sprint to touch their original baseline and then transition back to defend.  We feel this creates a realistic carry-over into our games.  How often do you see two defenders just waiting at one end of the court,” member, Keith Cooper, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Saint Martin’s College.  For more information or questions please contact Coach Cooper (kcooper@stmartin.edu)