Ten Point Drills for Basketball

The 10-point drill in basketball is another name for a series of defensive drills known as shell drills. The drills are a way for coaches to work with players on defensive positioning against all types of offenses. The drills begin with offensive players remaining static and moving the ball, while defenders adjust their position according to the ball's location. When practiced well, 10-point drills look much like the team and individual defense that good teams execute during a game.

  1. Five-On-Four Drill

    • One basic 10-point shell drill is done with five offensive players positioned around the three-point line and four defensive players below the free-throw line near the lane. It begins as a static drill, with the coach handing the ball to one of the offensive players. The offense does not move initially, and the defense does not steal the ball, but instead works to be in the right place defensively at all times. The goal is to have the defender closest to the ball run out at the offensive player with the ball and defend him nose-to-nose. The next closest defenders on each side would move in tight on the closest offensive players to either side of the ball and aggressively take away the pass. The fourth defender would float to the lane and with an eye on the ball and the other on the two open players. At the whistle, the offensive players pass the ball and the defense has to adjust to the ball's new position. As it progresses, the coach will instruct the offensive players to begin moving and the defensive players to use the same principles of defense on active players. This drill is designed to help players with matching up on defense.

    Double Team Drill

    • Another 10-point drill works on the principles of the pressure trapping zone defense. It is run four-on-four. One offensive player is designated the point guard, and he is the one player the defense will not double-team. Every time the ball is passed to a player other than the point guard, the two closest defenders will rush to double the player with the ball. They are not trying to take the ball from her but to make it difficult for her to pass out to another player. The other two defenders will adjust to account for the remaining three offensive players. As in all defensive drills and live defense, the players must communicate well when they are going to the ball so they do not end up with too many or too few getting there.

    Help Defense

    • A good help defense 10-point shell drill is run four-on-four in the half-court as a man-to-man style defense. The point guard will bring the ball to the top of the key and try to penetrate past his defender. The object of the drill is to have the closest defender slide to the lane to take away the drive. He then will kick the ball out to the open man and the defenders are responsible to rotate with the closest player to that man running at him to disrupt a possible shot. The other defenders rotate to the next open man so that all are covered. This teaches players how to help each other on defense and play strong team man-to-man defense.