Full Court Press Breaker Drill

I've also used the drill consistently. If you make it harder in practice than it will be in a game, your players will be more prepared. This drill does just that.

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I've been using this drill for quite some time now (12-15 y/o). The good thing about it is that you can adapt it to make it useful for teaching different fundamentals. I.e. I often do not allow dribbles, since breaking the press should best be done via passing, IMO. If ball handling is the key element, I sometimes put 3-5 defenders with their hands behind their backs against one defensive player. Simply think about what you want to focus on and modify the settings!

Loving the site, btw.!

Best regards from Germany!

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Clint -

Your league needs to revisit their rules... pressing at this age is counter productive. It teaches them absolutely nothing.

Like you said - "The kids are hardly strong enough to make good passes more than 8 feet. Whoever is to receive the pass does not adequately seal or go to the pass very well even with repititive training. They lack the strength to stay tall and make a pass thru the contact."

With all that being said, why would anyone want to do that to kids that age when there is so much to teach them (fundamentals) let alone that it cant be a lot of FUN for them to turn the ball over all the time. Pressing at that age is all about winning and thats just wrong. JMO

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Rob says: 4/25/2023 at 5:00:24 PM There are very few leagues or tournaments in my area that don't allow pressing. Some have limits like only the last 4 minutes of each half, or the up 20 rule. We do the best we can on teaching them to keep their head up, moving without the ball, making sure we always have someone to reverse it to and teaching attack angles. Like     login   register

Breaking presses at a 9 y/o and younger is very tough. The kids are hardly strong enough to make good passes more than 8 feet. Whoever is to receive the pass does not adequately seal or go to the pass very well even with repititive training. They lack the strength to stay tall and make a pass thru the contact. As a coach you want them to pass, pass and pass. Break the zone the right way. It just doesn't happen very well come game time vs a slightly different press than you have seen or practiced against. Ultimately, the biggest problem with breaking a press is stopping or slowing the ball anywhere. It results in unmanageable double/triple teams. Young kids don't close out without control. Every trap is an uncalled foul. I suggest a system of your best ball handler getting the ball ASAP with any sort of continuous movement. Lateral or up the court towards at least 1 reliable screen. That can shed the M2M defender or at least the first layer of zone press. Note - usually at this age the first beat defender or defenders WILL catch back up to the dribbler and wolf or secondary trap the ball before the PG can dribble all the way to the basket on his own. Train you PG to use the screen, add a couple of "vision" dribbles to find a crosscourt or straight deep pass. The goal will be to either beat the press and make them pay or avoid an over dribble 1 man team caused turnover.

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Alex, here are some great articles on breaking pressure: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/offense/press-breaker.html

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/offense/breaking-pressure.html

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Is there any specific formation you should put the offense in so they break the press quicker?

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I need to explain full and half court trap defense to 9 year olds. Is there any help you can provide me?

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Ive done this particular drill many - many times as I am a player. While it is very frustrating at times, it eventually allows you (most of the time the point guard) to develop multiple options; composure, alerness and experience while under pressure.

Very good drill - if you are new to the coaching of basketball players, this drill will increase the effectiveness and attentiveness of not only the point guard, but the entire team thus, increasing team chemistry which then result in increased wins.


- Terrell

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Very good drill.

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