![\"defensive](\"https:\/\/www.breakthroughbasketball.com\/haefner\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/defensive-lines.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn the picture you can see players lined up in what we call their “defensive lines”.\u00a0 We generally have 30-35 players in 7 lines.\u00a0 4 or 5 players in each line spaced out fairly evenly.<\/p>\n
Not only can you practice defense from this formation, you can also practice a variety of offensive skills.\u00a0 And the entire group of 30 or more can be led by one coach.\u00a0 We generally start our season using “defensive lines” quite often.\u00a0 And then taper off as the season progresses.<\/p>\n
On the first day of practice, players learn how to quickly get into formation.\u00a0 So you can yell out “defensive lines”!!\u00a0 And they should all be in their formation within 10 seconds.\u00a0 At first they will fail to get there in 10 seconds.\u00a0 But after a few practices and some encouragement, they will get there in a hurry.<\/p>\n
Defensive Skills<\/b><\/p>\n
Here are a few defensive skills you can practice from this formation…<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0 Stance.\u00a0 Simple yell “stance” and have players get in their defensive stance.\u00a0 They should stay in their stance while you walk around checking for proper balance, making sure feet are outside of knees, butt is down, etc.\u00a0 This builds their leg strength and allows you to teach them to proper stance.<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0 Footfire, stance, push step.\u00a0 Next, you can show them the proper way to push step \/ slide.\u00a0 When ready you call out “footfire”.\u00a0 Then call “stance”.\u00a0 Then point the direction you want them to slide.\u00a0 Or even better, you dribble a basketball to the left or to the right and have them mirror you.<\/p>\n
3)\u00a0 Footfire, stance, push step, stance.\u00a0 Now you run the same drill except you teach players how to keep their hands active in their stance and contest shots.\u00a0 Teach them to “dig” when the ball is in front and mirror the ball when you move it.\u00a0 They MUST stay in their stance and not lose balance when they dig and mirror.<\/p>\n
Also, teach them to contest when you shoot and stay down when you shot fake.\u00a0 Players MUST stay down in their stance when you shot fake.\u00a0 Many of them will raise up out of their stance. They can do push ups when that happens.<\/p>\n
4)\u00a0 Footfire, stance, hip turn.\u00a0 Next you can practice a proper hip turn when you need to change your angle to defend the drive.\u00a0 Simple call out “footfire”, “stance”, and then point the direction you want them to do a hip turn.<\/p>\n
5)\u00a0 Combos.\u00a0 You can continue teaching all the aspects of on-ball defense…\u00a0 cross steps, hip turn and slide, etc.\u00a0 Then you start combining them together and have all 30+ players respond to your voice and body signals.\u00a0 This helps them develop good defensive habits and all players are developing habits at the same time.<\/p>\n
6)\u00a0 Close outs.\u00a0 You can also teach proper close outs from this formation.\u00a0 Have them start in their stance (nice and low).\u00a0 Then when you point they sprint 10 feet, take choppy steps, get two hands up, and yell “ball, ball, ball”.\u00a0 You can point to the right the first time. Point to the left the second time. Then have them turn around and face the other direction. Tell them which direction to go. Again, you’re developing good habits for everyone at once.<\/p>\n
Offensive Skills<\/b><\/p>\n
You can also practice offensive skills from this same formation…<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0 You can of course practice a variety of stationary dribbling drills (figure 8, baby cross, windshields wipers, pounds, etc).\u00a0 There are hundreds of options, which I won’t list here.<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0 Two up two back.\u00a0 Take two hard dribbles forward, hockey stop, protect the ball, and retreat dribble with two big steps back.\u00a0 Then repeat with two big steps forward and two steps back.\u00a0 This is a quick and easy way for everyone to improve dribbling and practice the retreat dribble.<\/p>\n
3)\u00a0 Footwork.\u00a0 You can practice triple threat position and footwork from the lines.\u00a0 Practice front pivot, reserve pivot, drop step, step through, and sweep.\u00a0 As an example, I’ll call out… “Right foot step through.”\u00a0 Then I’ll pause for a moment to make sure everyone made a good step through and took a long step and tell them… “Back”.\u00a0\u00a0 Then they go back to their triple threat position.\u00a0 This allows us to practice good footwork and quickly teach the terminology to all the players.<\/p>\n
3)\u00a0 Rip high and rip low.\u00a0 You can practice ball security as you practice footwork.\u00a0 When they step through, have them rip the ball low (never near the mid section).\u00a0 Then come back and rip the ball high (never near the mid section where it can be stolen).\u00a0 Again we’re developing good triple threat habits and muscle memory.<\/p>\n
4)\u00a0 1 on 1 no dribble.\u00a0 Now you can add a defender (partner up).\u00a0 Have them protect the ball while facing you with a defender trying to steal it for 15 seconds.\u00a0 They need to be strong with the ball, rip it high, rip it low, and use their footwork to protect. Everyone starts at the same time on your whistle.<\/p>\n
I’m sure you can come up with many other skills and ways to improve by using the defensive line formation.\u00a0 The only limit is your imagination.<\/p>\n