One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle (blue cones).
When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones).
The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.
This is a good practice for both defending and dribbling (when playing without balls defenders can tag players to 'catch them').
You can start this drill at walking speed to get your players going.
Progression:
Add balls to jailbreakers to dribble with if this is too easy and too many players get away.
Good spacing is only the start. The best modern offences teach players to attack the defence's rotations and play in a permanent 4-on-3 - here is how to coach that read.
The ball screen produces almost half of all professional offensive possessions, yet most teams still teach it as a memorised play. The modern approach trains the read - giving players a framework to decide based on what the defence does, not what the coach called.
The closeout is the most repeated defensive action in modern basketball. With fouls per game climbing in the 2025-26 season, coaches must teach defenders to contest the three without surrendering the drive or putting shooters on the line.
Register for FREE and get coaching tips, top drills, session and more every week!
