1-2-1-1 Diamond Press Drill: Half Court Overload
Here is a simple drill to help you improve your 1-2-1-1 diamond press.
This drill reinforces the importance of covering more ground on the press by adding an extra offensive player. If your team can guard six players in practice, they can certainly guard five in the game.
In this drill, be sure to emphasize the fundamental components of your 1-2-1-1 defense. Communication, anticipation, and fundamentals will be critical in order to run this overload drill effectively.
Half Court Overload
Setup:
- The offense starts with 6 players on the floor, aligned as shown above.
- The defense starts with 4 players set up in a diamond press. Player 5 (the safety in the press) is not on the floor.
Instruction:
- The offense looks to inbound the ball to an open player and advance it beyond half court.
- The defense traps and rotates as needed.
- If the ball goes to the corner, x4 will trap with the guard (x1).
- The weak side guard (x2) and interceptor (x3) shift towards the ball, splitting the offensive players 3, 6, & 4.
- If the ball goes to player 2 on the other side, rotations are the same, with roles reversed.
- If the ball goes to players 4 or 5, the defense still traps using the interceptor (x3) and ball side guard (x1).
- The weak side guard (x2) drops to mid court while the on-ball defender sprints to the level of the ball.
- If the offense gets the ball across half court, they earn 1 point. If the defense forces a turnover, they earn 2 points.
Coaching Tips:
- Read shoulders: When the ball is in the trap, defenders must read the shoulders of the ball handler. If the shoulders are facing up the floor, defenders should drop toward the offensive players. If they are facing the baseline, defenders can press up more aggressively.
- Take good trapping angles: In the diagram, you'll see x1 approaching the trap at an angle. This ensures a proper right angle with x3.
- Move with the ball: The weak side guard should cheat towards the middle of the floor to quickly rotate on passes to the ball side. The interceptor should stay aligned with the inbounder.
- Shade inbounds to the coffin corner: The on-ball defender should force the inbound pass to the sideline corner, commonly known as the "coffin corner," making it easier to trap.
- If the ball is passed to the middle: The press is over. Sprint back to defend, but players may attempt to back tap while doing so.
Hard Now, Easy Later - Ready To Press More?
6 v 4 is going to be hard for your defense. And that's okay. If your players can rotate quickly enough to make this drill hard for the offense, they'll be in great shape when it's 5v5.
Good pressing teams have an attitude. They mix aggression with intelligence. They take smart risks that put the offense at a disadvantage without overly exposing themselves.
If you're looking to press more, consider:
- The Relentless Pressure System With Mike Hilmer - Coach Hilmer goes over the system that helped him win 3 State Championships. He covers 3 different presses that you can adapt to your personnel. There's also a press for every coach's personality, as you can dial up or back the press to fit your style!
- Uptempo Basketball System With Keith Haske - these videos provide you with step by step instruction to press aggressively on defense. They also include a complimentary offensive system that will have your team playing fast and creating chaos for your opponent on both sides of the ball.
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