Defensive Basketball Drill

Here is an idea that comes from the Canadian National Team.  It is a defensive basketball drill.  It can be done at both baskets. Have one person in the middle of the key with a basketball.  That person is going to be on defense.  Then you need 5 other people on the 3 point line (top, wing, wing, corner, corner).

What happens: The defensive player rolls the ball to one of the 5 players and proceeds to close out.  Once the defensive player closes out, the offensive player who caught the ball throws it to another one of the 5 players (it can be someone beside him though).  Again the defensive player closes out.

After all 5 players have caught the ball and the defensive player has closed out, the basketball drill continues but this time it is live (with the offensive player trying to score).  The offensive player is only allowed to have 3 dribbles and he/she can not spin dribble.  The defensive player get a point for every stop he/she has. At the end of the 6 people going through the drill, the person with the highest point total win.  The others run or do push-ups.

Focus of drill: proper close out stance, talking, making quick move to the hoop, etc.