Edit: 13/08/2016 – Added 2 more games!
Games based practices are great for all age groups – they teach practical skills, can be run with groups of all sizes, and most of all, the players love the fun competition. However if you’re a coach who’s been coached in an “old school” system, you might find it difficult to find substitutes for the drills that you’ve always ran. That’s why this week we’ve partnered with Brian McCormick, author of 21st century basketball practice. With his Ph.D in sport science and vast experience coaching teams of all age groups around the world, Brian McCormick has designed hundreds of games based drills that teach basketball skills better than their traditional counterparts. Today we present 8 outdated drills that you might still be using and show you 8 better games based alternatives.
The 8 drills (click on each link to go directly there)
- Zig zag –> 2 v 2 rugby
- Defensive slides –> Mirror drill
- Monkey in the middle –> 4 v 4 volleyball
- Block shooting –> Spot to spot shooting
- Layups lines –> Cone finishing drill at an angle
- 5 man weave –> Tip transition
- Spot shooting –> Bean bag drill
- Static warmup –> Tic tac toe
The dribbling drill- Zig Zag Dribbling
What the drill does wrong:
This drill is trying to teach players how to change the direction of the dribble against a defender, but it creates an unrealistic scenario. From the defender’s point of view, the zig zag is predictable and doesn’t teach them to move or change direction to disrupt the offensive player’s movements. Also, the ball handler will never actually have that much space to dribble in. Finally, the drill doesn’t emphasize one of the most important skill when facing a defender- changing pace.
The replacement- 2 V 2 Rugby Game
How it’s run;
2 players are on offense, 2 on defense. The offense starts on the baseline with a ball and must try to score on the opposite basket. A regular 2 on 2 is played, with one rule- players in the half court can only past backwards.
Why it work’s better
The freedom of a 2 on 2 game allows for better defensive and offensive principles to be applied. The defense should try to force the offense to the baseline and sidelines, and aim to prevent them from reaching the half court if possible. More skilled teams can even practice trapping. These are all vital skills for any full court press. The offense however, must rely on dribbling to pass the half court. Spacing and court awareness is taught- the two players can’t get too close to each other or the sidelines, otherwise the ball handler could get trapped. Finally, players also will be able to experiment with what dribble moves they find most effective, without restrictions of which directions they can move towards.
The defensive drill – Team Defensive Slides
What the drill does wrong:
Whilst this drills is a great drill for team building and communicating, it ultimately doesn’t teach a player to react to an offensive player’s movements. Each player is merely looking at the coach for instructions and not developing their own awareness.
The replacement- Mirror drill
How it’s run:
Two players face each other. One player is the offensive player, and must try and “lose” the defensive player by only sliding sideways. The defensive player must try to stay in front of the offensive player at all times.
Why it work’s better
This drill is great because it’s applicable and fun for kids of all ages. On offense, young kids who play this drill naturally figure out the best way to “beat” the defender is with a change of pace as well as direction. This then teaches the kids on defense how to read a player’s in game movements, as well as build up the vital motor skills to do so.
The passing drill – Monkey in the middle
What the drill does wrong:
This is a classic fun games drill but young players often find it too easy. Having only 1-2 monkeys for groups of 5 or more children means that players are able to stand still and not have to move or cut to find space. It is very rare that passes are that easy in a game of a basketball.
The replacement- 4 v 4 Volleyball drill
How it’s run:
Players split into two teams for a 4 v 4. The boundaries are the lines of a volleyball court. If the ball is intercepted or goes out of the lines, it is turned over to the other team. The first team to make 10 consecutive passes wins.
Why it work’s better:
The equal number of players allows for man to man marking (and even trapping at higher levels), meaning that players have to be actively moving around to receive the ball. The use of boundary lines also teaches players that the sideline and baselines can also act as “an extra defender” if they aren’t careful. Finally, the addition of a goal that the team has to work to makes the game competitive and more fun.
The finishing drill- Layup Lines with a coach under the basket
What the drill does wrong:
The point of this drill is to teach players to finish strong under the basket, against a defender. Whilst there is some initial challenge, players can get used to the position of the coach, and brace themselves accordingly. Rotations in a game are often less predictable- a player barreling strongly to the basket might over shoot a layup if there is less defense than anticipated if he is unable to adjust accordingly.
The replacement- Cone finishing drill at angle
How it’s run:
Players stand at the free throw line, one has a ball. Two cones are placed on each wing. Player with the ball dribbles to the half court and then picks one cone to run to. The defender must run to the opposite cone. Both players run around their cones and then the offensive player must try to score at the basket.
Why it’s better:
This drill teaches players to read the incoming rotation and decide how to finish at the rim. If the defender is late, the player can simply layup with an underhanded finish. If the defender is prepared, the player might need to shoot a floater or a power layup off two feet. This drill also teaches players to hustle and work hard on both ends- running the floor hard will make this drill easier for them as they can get in a better position.
The shooting drill- Block shooting
What the drill does wrong:
Too often, team shooting drills involve too many players standing around and not enough movement. A shot from a static position is rarely the look a player gets in a game. Also, whilst shooting many reps from one spot is good for developing shooting form, players also need to remember that they will never catch the ball from the exact same spot each time. Adjusting for a shot that is slightly further back, or slightly off angle, is a vital skill to have for a good shooter.
The replacement- Spot to spot shooting
How it’s run:
Player starts shooting at the elbow. They then curl around the perimeter to the corner for a shot. Curl back up to the elbow and repeat. Run for makes. This drill is run in pairs, and then players swap roles.
Why it’s better:
The curl to the corner or to the elbow is a cut that players often make in a game. By practicing it, they learn to square up and adjust after catching the ball. Also, the increased heart rate gained by the short but intense drill mimics a game and means that your players will be more prepared to take shots at the end of quarters.
The transition offense drill- 5 man weave>
What the drill does wrong:
A 5 v 0 fasbreak into a 3 v 2, 2 v 1 and 1 v 1 creates a lot of potential in game scenarios. However, it will not challenge experienced players who know how the drill is run, since they’ll know whether they’re on offense or defense and be able to get back quickly and easily pick up their men.
The replacement- Tip transition drill
How it’s run:
Players split into teams of 5 and line up in 1 line behind the basket. Teams alternate positions in the line, so the line looks like: players “1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2” etc Each player alley oops the ball off a backboard and runs to the back of the line. At the coach’s whistle, the team of the last player to catch the ball is on offense. The rest of the team is on defense. Play a 5 on 5.
Why it’s better:
The confusion after the coach blows the whistle means that players have to firstly, be alert after the rebound, and secondly, communicate to pick up their man. Each team needs to work on their team work skills to run an effective fast break, and also be prepared to play roles that they may not be used to playing, such as a big man acting as the first outlet, or a guard having to rebound and pass the ball.
These are just 6 common drills that we think could be ran more effectively. If you like them, help spread the wealth and share it with your fellow coaching community. We’ve got many more of Brian McCormick’s drills on the practice planner so you never have to be lost for new ideas again.
Shooting drill – Bean bag drill
How it’s run
You place a dozen cones/bean bags in the center circle. For each made shot, players can grab a cone. First to 3 wins. See more variations in our bean bag drill blog post here.
Why it’s better
This game because it incorporates shooting, dribbling, conditioning and every player is involved at all times. Everyone is doing something with a ball at all times, nobody’s rebounding or passing or waiting in line. It also makes the shooting competitive and forces players to shoot from different spots.
Warm-up drill – Tic tac toe
How it’s run
Place some hoola hoops to form a tic tac toe. Each team has bibs/cones they must dribble and place into the hoola hoop. First to form a compelte tic tac toe wins.
Why it’s better
It simulates dribbling at game speed and also decision making. Not only does the player have to dribble, they also have to look up and make decisions about where to place their bibs/cone to win.
Science behind random vs blocked practice
We’re big fans of games based practices and we have the science it to prove it! In the ground breaking Shea and Morgan experiment, it’s been proven that random practices force learners to become more engaged and thereby retain more of what they’ve learned.
Yes, games make your practices look disorganised and UGLY but it’s fun and proven to be better for your players in the long run. Do you want to look good infront of parents or do you want your players to get better?
Brian McCormick
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