Defensive Circle Movement Practise

DESCRIPTION

Simple drill that is useful for both beginners, to encourage them to get their body and running angles correct, but also more advance players to build up their intensity and reaction times.

• Feeders with a ball around the edge of the circle
• Defensive working player drives out, touches ball then retreats to post, before driving out to next feeder with the ball
• Through the drill they should aim to keep body open to the rest of the court and have an eye on the ball.
• Once the first defensive player has passed the 2nd feeder, you should be able to safely send in another working player, but even more key they use peripheral vision!
• Repeat in opposite direction

Progression 1:

Defensive worker now drives out, stops with a good 3 foot distance, puts hands over the ball. As they retreat, they look to win lifted high pass going towards post.

(If you have 2 players working at same time, important that the lifted pass are placed away from each other. This will probably only work safely with experienced players)

You may want to add in static GS as target for the lifted pass which will also encourage defensive worked to jump UP to get ball and avoid contact 

Progression 2:

Now there are only 2 balls on the outside, although still 5 feeders. Ball might be lifted to the back or sent to another feeder. Defensive worker needs to drop back to either get lifted ball, to guard the post or to mark a static GS if you are using one.

COACHING POINTS

• Feet under body, hips in direction of travel, but half-eye always on the ball
• Body open to the rest of the court , so angle changes from one side of the D to the other

Progressions

• Quickly getting to good distance with firm hands over ball to force that high pass
• Turn of hips and running back quickly to jump UPWARDS onto the ball (not flying/leaping)
• Dropping onto shooter to remain ballside