Conditioning with a Basketball

This basketball drill is from the Xavier University men’s team.

“Can you do conditioning with a ball in your hand instead of just running?” This drill evolved from this question.

Drill involves 10 players —5 on offense vs. 5 on defense. It is executed for :45-:60 seconds in the NBA and :90 seconds in college.

Rules: No dribbling, no screening, no shooting. Emphasize passing! As one player has the ball the other four offensive players make 10-15 ft. cuts — no 3 ft. cuts are allowed.

The drill is initiated by a coach or manager who is out of bounds. This initial pass does not count. From this pass forward every time a pass is completed the receiver yells the # on the catch. A coach always encourages offensive movement. Anytime that you make a pass as a player you then cut.

On any deflected pass or turnover pass a manager or coach who is out of bounds quickly passes the ball to an offensive player to keep the pace of the drill moving. This pass is not counted.

As a defender, your responsibility is to NOT allow your man to receive a pass. Deny everywhere. At the end of the allotted time you count the number of catches by the offense as a unit, or the number of catches by individual players. The drill flip flops with the offense going to defense and the defense going to offense. Use two rotations. Great conditioner, very competitive, high accountability. Beware of “brother in law” deals happening. Make players guard different offensive players.

The Coaching Toolbox has hundreds of resources for basketball coachingincluding basketball practice, basketball plays, basketball drills,basketball quotes, basketball workouts, basketball poems, and more!