Basketball Practice Drills for Youth Basketball Coaches

Team Practice Drills

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Slide - Run - Slide!
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Description A defensive footwork and conditioning drill that reinforces the concepts of using the step-and-slide technique to defend and the sprint to get back into position. Drill Set-up Players form two lines on one end of the court. The first two players starting the drill are the low blocks, in an athletic stance, facing the near basket Initially, no ball is needed for this drill. The Drill ANIMATION On the coach's whistle the defenders drop-step with their outside foot and defensive slide at a 45° angle towards the sideline until they reach the first foul-line extended. At the foul-line extended, the player then breaks directly upcourt in a full sprint simulating a scenario where they must catch up to the ball. The player sprints all the way to the foul-line extended on the other end of the court. At the other foul-line extended, the player then breaks down again into a defensive slide and reverse pivots, and then slides all the way to the baseline at a 45° angle to finish. Tips When your players have shown good footwork in this drill, add an opponent with a ball for them to defend.