Here are six of our best pressure defense drills for creating chaos with relentless pressure from one of the best pressing coaches in the game.

You'll improve your trapping, defensive rotations, communication, transition defense, and create more turnovers!

You can also get a free PDF of the seven relentless pressure defense drills.

The PDF features the 6 pressure defense drills below as well as a BONUS drill for how to press against the clearout - a common technique coaches use to attack man-to-man pressure defense.

More About 3x State Champion Coach Mike Hilmer

Coach Mike Hilmer started using the Relentless Pressure System in 2015 after 20+ years of coaching and a 56% win percentage (291-230 record). Since then, his results speak for themselves:

• 208-8 Record over 8 seasons (96% Win Percentage)
• 3X State champion
• 7 Straight State Championship game appearances
• Averaged 80+ points per game the last 8 years
• #1 in defensive points per game - led state 2x

It's clear Coach Hilmer knows how to build a dominant program through his relentless pressure system . . . let's get to the drills!

Here is an outline for future reference, so you can quickly navigate the drills:

• 4v4 Box - Sideline Trapping Drill
• 4v4 Box - Middle Of The Floor Trapping Drill
• Tip From Behind Recovery Drill
• 2v1 Tip From Behind Recovery Drill
• Recovery From A Pass Out Of A Trap - Tip From Behind Or Trap
• Recovery From Trap Split - Tip From Behind

Pressure Defense Drill #1: 4 v 4 Box - Sideline Trapping Drill

Trap discipline is an integral part of any pressing system.

It encompasses a few things:

• Good trapping technique - Lock feet and mirror ball

First, the players who are trapping must have good technique. They should lock feet, take away the ball handler's space, and mirror the ball with their hands.

• Steer towards sideline to trap

Trap discipline also involves knowing where to trap. As a general rule, you influence the ball handler towards the sideline for a trap rather than the middle of the floor.

When you trap on the sideline, the offense's options are limited. The out of bounds line functions as another defender. For example, if the trap is on the right sideline, the three defenders not in the trap know the pass is coming out left. This makes their rotations easier.

It also creates longer passes cross-court which are easier to steal or recover to.

If the middle of the floor is your only option, you still want to set the trap. However, the whole court is still available to the ball handler for MORE options for open passes that cover a shorter distance. This makes it more challenging for the other three players to read and cover everything.

• Use half court line as a trapping area:

If you're able to get the trap just across half court, the half-court line does the same. This also eases rotations as now the three defenders not in the trap know the ball can't go backward.

Any time you trap, you have three defenders covering four offensive players. Because of that, anything you can do to limit the area they have to cover is a huge benefit.

Trapping on the sideline makes decisions harder for the offense and easier for your defense.

4v4 Box Sideline is a great way to work on those rotations.

Setup

You start with four offensive players and 5 defensive players. Player 1 starts with the ball.

Even though the drill is called 4v4 Box Middle, Coach Hilmer puts a 5th defender on the floor (X5) to allow the defense a slight advantage during initial teaching.

Instructions

Player 1 begins with the ball. The defenders on the other side of half court must be on the line, up the line, ready to rotate. Player 1's constraint is that they must start the possession by making a hard sideline attack.

To make it a little more game-like, Player 1 can start with a hard dribble to the middle and then crossover to attack the sideline.

As soon as Player 1 speed dribbles up the sideline, X2 will sprint and chase the ball. This leads to a trap of Player 1 by players X1 and X2.

From there, it's live!

Play out the rest of the possession and look for other opportunities to jump and trap.

Points of Emphasis

• Take Good Angles:

X1 is picking a spot on the floor where they can cut off 1. Choosing good angles is an important part of the drill. If X1 picks a spot that's not far enough up the court, they won't get 1 cut off and the offense will have an advantage.

If X1 picks a spot too far down the court they will leave 1 space to change directions and attack the middle before the trap is set.

• Trap Speed Dribbles:

One element of a good trap is the level of control of the dribbler. If the dribbler is able to casually bring the ball up the floor, a trap is ill-advised.

In that case, the dribbler is under control and can make a read as the trap is coming. In this drill, you are forcing 1 to start by attacking the sideline hard. However, reinforce to players that if the dribbler is not speed dribbling, they may want to stunt and wait for a later opportunity to trap.

• Weakside On The Midline:

When the ball is on the sideline, no defenders should be on the weak side of the court. They should be midline and over, ready to make a play. If the ball is thrown out of the trap all crosscourt, they have time to react and steal the pass.

• Deny The Obvious Pass:

The most obvious pass out of the trap should always be denied. In this case, that would be the pass up the sideline. Take away the offense's best option and force them to make a more difficult play.

• Backwards Passes Don't Hurt You:

While you would love to get a steal, that won't happen every time. Of all the passes the offense could throw, a backward pass doesn't hurt you.

If that's the pass the offense makes, you still have time to adjust and match up or look for another trap.

• Trap Fundamentals / Don't Reach or Foul:

Too many players get greedy in traps. They start reaching and either foul or open a passing window. Stress to your players the need to be disciplined in traps. Remind them the steals will likely come by their teammates.

Coaching Tips

• Make the drills harder:

As your players improve, you can make it harder for the defense by making the drill 5v5. This takes away the numerical advantage for the defense and makes the drill more game-like.

Pressure Defense Drill #2: 4v4 Box - Middle of the Floor Trapping Drill

In the run and jump, you want to force the ball up the sideline. That puts you in a great position to trap from behind, leaving the dribbler only bad options.

However, that's not always what happens. Ball handlers, especially good ones, will get to the middle of the floor.

That does not mean the press is beat. In fact, executed correctly, this can allow the defense to still create havoc.

Setup:

You start with four offensive players and 5 defensive players. Player 1 starts with the ball.

You'll notice that even though the drill is called 4v4 Box Middle, Coach Hilmer puts a 5th defender on the floor (X5). This allows the defense a slight advantage during initial teaching.

Instructions:

Player 1 begins with the ball. The defenders on the other side of half court must be on the line, up the line, ready to rotate. Player 1's constraint is that they must start the possession by making a hard middle attack.

This cues X2 to jump the ball. As the ball moves to one side of the court, the defenders on the opposite side must get to the midline.

From there, it's live!

Play out the rest of the possession and look for other opportunities to jump and trap.

If 2 dribbles up the sideline, X1 and X2 should follow and trap, just like the box sideline drill above.

The defense's goal is to make teams throw long, over the top passes that can be stolen.

Points of Emphasis:

• Stress short jumps:

Long jumps really kill a run and jump. X2 doesn't want to sprint at player 1 until they are 12-15 feet away. If they start their jump from longer away, it gives the dribbler too much time and space to see what's coming. This usually leads to an easy pass and advantage for the offense.

• The jump defender should stunt at the ball:

To create indecision before the jump, X2 must stunt at the ball. Stunts are foot fakes that make the dribbler believe the jump is coming.

Stunts buy time to shorten the jump. Sometimes they entice player 1 to pass the ball to play 2 who they think will be open, creating a steal opportunity when X2 doesn't come at the ball.

• Jump the ball with high hands:

When X2 jumps the ball, they should come with hands up. Player 1 will likely try to pass to player 2 so if X2 has their hands up, they may get a deflection.

• Be on the line of the pass:

X2 should also try to be on the line of the pass between 1 and 2. That makes the pass harder and also slower as it will have to go over X2's head.

• Don't actually jump:

That said, X2 does not want to leave their feet for the pass unless they are sure they can steal it. If they do, 1 can sprint past them and receive a quick return pass going up the floor.

The other reason X2 wants to stay on their feet is because their next job may be to sprint and trap from behind. It's likely that 2 will try to dribble up the sideline after receiving the pass.

If so, X2 would need to immediately sprint and chase 2 and close the trap with player 1, who already sprinted through.

Coaching Tips:

• Make the drills harder: As your players improve, you can make it harder for the defense by making the drill 5v5. This takes away the numerical advantage for the defense and makes the drill more game-like.

Pressure Defense Drill #3: Tip From Behind Recovery Drill

Pressing is a mentality. Coach Hilmer goes into this when he discusses the rationale for the press. He talks about the mental edge pressing creates because it wears down opponents.

He also talks about the importance of a sprint mentality.

`Tip From Behind' reinforces both of those points.

Against most teams, the offense can bring the ball up the floor at their own pace. This gives them comfort and confidence.

Coach Hilmer's pressure defense makes every dribble contested.

Even when the offensive player gets a step on the defender, they can't relax. That defender is coming hard from behind to make a play. If the offense lets up for a second, the defense will capitalize. That is mentally and physically draining.

The drill also reminds defenders that they are never out of the play. When they get beat, they must compete to get back in the play.

Too many defenders assume all is lost when they get behind the play. They jog back into the play, which is the real mistake. Doing so allows the offense to grow its advantage.

In Coach Hilmer's pressure defense system, players are always sprinting. If they get beat, they know their next defensive assignment.

`Tip From Behind' teaches players what to do when they are beat on the ball.

Setup:

Players partner up and line up next to each other on the baseline. The offensive player has a ball.

The defender lines up on the side of the offensive player where the offensive player will be dribbling.

Instructions:

On your command, the dribbler begins speed dribbling up the floor.

The defender runs alongside and attempts to tap the ball away from the offensive player.

Players reset at the opposite baseline and switch roles.

Points of Emphasis:

• Swipe up at the ball: Downward swipes are almost always called fouls. Train your players to swipe up at the ball. It's also easier to maintain balance swiping up as opposed to down.
• Tap the ball softly ahead: The goal is for the tapper to get a layup at the other end. For this to happen, they must tip the ball softly so their teammate can corral it and throw it to them going the other way.
• Sprint mentality: Even if the defender can't tip the ball away, they must sprint the whole way. If the offensive player has the ball in the opposite hand, they may not tip it away. However, they might get back in front.

Or they might be able to run through to another player and steal a pass (when live 5v5).

Make sure players know they must sprint whenever they are beat.

Coaching Tips:

Progress the drill - As the drill progresses, allow the offensive player to switch hands.

This trains the defender on an important point - the defender only wants to tip when on the ball side. If they go across the offensive player's body, they are likely to commit a foul.

Thus, when the offensive player is dribbling with the hand opposite of the defender, the defender has two choices. They can wait for the offensive player to bring the ball back to their side. Or they can sprint behind the offensive player to the other side.

Pressure Defense Drill #4: 2v1 Tip From Behind Recovery Drill

How many times have you heard a coach tell a player to get their head up? Probably too many to count.

It's good advice. But it doesn't account for all situations.

When you press, players will end up behind the ball. You don't want this, but if you're being aggressive it will happen.

And it's okay. You can turn that to your favor when you tip from behind.

Coming from behind has a major psychological impact on the ball handler.

Even if they have their head up, they can't see what's going on behind them.

This can create a real uncertainty with the ball. Because they are worried about what's going on behind them, they are less likely to clearly see what's in front of them.

Use 2v1 Tip From Behind to train your defenders to create this situation.

Setup:

1 has the ball under the rim. 2 is at the top of the key. X1 and X2 are on the elbows. 2 has the ball under the rim.

Instructions:

The drill starts when 1 passes to 2. 2 catches and attacks towards the opposite hoop. They are trying to score. 1 is out of the drill after making the pass.

X1 and X2 start sprinting as soon as the ball is passed. Their goal is to tip the ball away from behind before 2 can score a layup.

Players would switch roles coming back.

Points of Emphasis:

• Sprint: Good things happen when the defense sprints. Even when defenders are behind the play, they must BELIEVE they can get back into the action.

Too many players assume the play will end before they get back. Never assume that. Instead, sprint back and make a play for your team.

• Tip on the ball side: The dribbler should be sandwiched between the two defenders. However, only one defender should be trying to tip at a time.

That defender is the one on the ball side. In other words, if the dribbler is dribbling with the right hand, the defender on the right side should be tipping.

The defender on the left would be waiting until the ball is crossed over to the left hand to attempt to tip.

Tipping across the ball handler's body will result in a foul.

• Tip up and softly: When tipping from behind, players should tip up on the ball. If they come down, they are likely to be called for a foul.

Also, remind players to tip the ball ahead softly. That way, in a game, their teammate can catch the tip and start transitioning to offense.

Coaching Tips:

• Coach Up Offense Too!

While this is a pressing drill, it's also a great offensive drill. We already discussed how this situation creates difficulty for ball handlers. Use this drill to coach up the offense, too.

The offensive player's first goal is to win with speed. They have a head start and want to maintain that. They can do that by taking as few dribbles as possible.

One way to use fewer dribbles is to use rolling crossovers. These are long crossover dribbles well out in front of your body (so only used when there is a lot of space). They allow the dribbler to cover a lot of ground with each dribble.

If the offense can't win with speed, they should try to take it from 1v2 to 1v1. The best way to do that is to veer out one of the defenders.

Veering is getting in the path of one of the defenders. NBA players like Kyrie Irving and Darius Garland are tremendous at this. Veering puts the defender on their back, essentially taking them out of the play.

Pressure Defense Drill #5: Recovery From a Pass Out Of Trap - Tip From Behind or Trap

Most pressing teams get one trap. If they create a turnover, great. If not, they try to get back and get matched up without giving the offense an advantage.

In Coach Hilmer's system, the press continues after the first trap. The defense is looking for multiple opportunities to create chaos. As I heard one coach say, "our mentality is that we are on offense even when we are on defense."

That type of aggressive mentality is necessary to be an elite pressing team.

When you create multiple opportunities to force a turnover, the offense can never get comfortable. If the press never ends, they never know what's coming.

That keeps the offense on their heels.

To do this successfully, players must play with great effort AND great intelligence.

Effort alone is not enough. Coach Hilmer teaches a number of simple reads throughout the press to decrease thinking. That allows players to play fast and free.

This drill is a great example.

Setup:

This drill is done 2 v 2. An offensive player starts with the ball in the corner. They are trapped by two defenders. A second offensive player is underneath the rim.

Instructions:

The drill begins with the offensive player in the trap passing to their teammate under the rim. The defense is not allowed to touch this pass.

Player 1 is out of the drill after making the initial pass.

When player 2 receives the pass under the rim, they dribble hard up the opposite side. They are trying to score. This is important as it incentivizes the offense to go full speed. It also means the offensive player gets to work on their ball handling and finishing skills.

The two defenders are sprinting out of the trap as soon as player 1 passes. X1 should be moving towards the midline at an angle that will allow them to cut off player 2's dribble.

X2 also turns and sprints. They will likely be trailing the play. Sprinting allows them to get back into the play and make an impact.

X1's goal is to cut off player 2 and make them dribble back the other way. If this happens, X2 should be there to get a tip.

Sometimes X1 will not be able to turn 2's dribble back to the middle of the court. That's okay as it allows for a second trap.

In Coach Hilmer's press, you are looking to trap sideline dribbles. If 2 continues up the sideline, 1 should pick a spot where they can get ahead and stop the ball.

Points of Emphasis:

• Tip with the inside hand: As discussed in the video, this tip should occur with the inside hand. It should also be done by swiping up on the ball. Those two elements reduce fouls.
• Tip the ball softly forward: X2 will try to tip the ball softly forward. In a game, that would allow their teammate to gather the ball and pass it ahead to X1 or X2 for a layup.

Coaching Tips:

• You can easily make this drill competitive.

• Give the offensive player 2 points for a score.

  If they lose the ball on a loose ball turnover, they lose 2 points.

  If they get trapped but maintain possession in power position, no points are awarded. (Don't call :05 here as they have no one to pass to.)

  That scoring system encourages the offense to be aggressive and smart. That means your defenders will have to work harder.

Pressure Defense Drill #6: Recovery From Trap Split - Tip From Behind

In Coach Hilmer's press, the defense should execute a run and jump when the ball is dribbled in the middle.

This maneuver is meant to surprise the ball handler. Done correctly, it can create a turnover through a bad pass or deflection.

Even if that doesn't happen, your team remains matched up when X1 runs through to player 2.

Unfortunately, everything doesn't always go as planned. Even though your players know they shouldn't get split on a middle dribble, they will occasionally get beat.

It's critical that you practice situations like this where the play breaks down. Too many coaches only practice scenarios where things go right. The best coaches know that won't always be the case and plan accordingly.

That's where split and tip comes in.

Setup:

Begin the drill with an offensive and defensive player in each corner.

The offensive player in the corner has the ball.

Instructions:

On your whistle, player 1 takes one dribble towards the sideline. They then crossover and attack the middle, splitting the two defenders. (The second offensive player is out of the drill once the ball is dribbled.)

After getting split, X1 and X2 chase 1 and attempt to knock the ball away. This is where the disadvantage becomes an advantage.

Most dribblers focus only on what they can see. This presents an opportunity for your defenders to come from behind and create a turnover.

Points of Emphasis:

• Swipe up at the ball: downward swipes are almost always called fouls. Train your players to swipe up at the ball.
• Swipe with the inside hand: any time the defense reaches across their body or the dribbler's body, they are likely to get a foul called. Swiping up with the inside hand minimizes that risk.
• Tap the ball softly ahead: the goal is to tap the ball away and turn it into a turnover. The defense should tap the ball softly so that their teammates ahead of the ball can grab it and attack the other way.
• Relentless effort: even if the defenders can't catch the offensive player, they must sprint the whole way. When the press is live, they may end up running through to guard other offensive players down the floor. Make sure the defense has a sense of urgency to get back in the play.

They must realize there is always a next play to be made. That next play will only be made if they are going full speed.

Coaching Tips:

• Play it back - if the defenders are able to back tap the ball away and create a steal, play it back the other way. The relentless pressure system creates transition opportunities, and this is a way to practice.

Allow X1 and X2 to come back 2v1 against player 1.

FREE PDF: 7 Relentless Pressure Drills

Get the FREE PDF - 7 Relentless Pressure Drills

The Relentless Pressure Defense System With Mike Hilmer

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