Basketball Drills

T-Closeout Drill Every Defender Needs to Master (with Variations)

By Brian Williams on June 24, 2026

Anthony Fobb, Asst Mens Basketball Coach, Sam Houston State

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

Explore coaching clinic replays, practice plans, skill development videos, and more. Click here to see all that’s included.

The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Defensive Drills for Better Man-to-Man

THE T DRILL — OVERVIEW

The T drill is a progression-based man-to-man defensive drill named for the T-shaped movement pattern players make on the court. It builds directly on the fundamentals introduced in the I drill, adding layers of complexity with each variation.

STARTING POSITION AND SETUP

The defender starts at the midline (or straddling the lane line for scout-based schemes). Two coaches or managers are positioned on both sides. The drill can be run with multiple players simultaneously, keeping everyone engaged.

CLOSE OUT FUNDAMENTALS

On the skip pass (which all players must call out loud), the defender sprints to close out past the three-point line before breaking down — chopping feet, getting the butt low, and throwing hands high. The emphasis is on contesting without giving up threes, which the coaching staff views as a game-losing flaw.

FIGHTING THE DRIVE

The drill progresses to live ball situations where the defender must read the offensive player’s dribble direction. The core principle is no middle — never surrendering the paint. The defender cuts off the dribbler with their chest, sending them baseline, staying in front at all times.

CONTESTING THE SHOT

When the offensive player leaves their feet, the defender jumps — critically, a high jump, not a long jump. A long jump leads to fouls. After the contest, the defender boxes out and pursues the rebound. A competitive add-on: the ball cannot hit the floor more than two or three times.

KEY COACHING POINTS

Always work both sides of the floor. Stress constant communication — calling “skip” and “shot” keeps everyone locked in. Defenders must see both their man and the ball without ball-watching. Teach A, B, C, D in order — never skip steps in the progression.

HUPPY Drill to Attack the Paint Under Control

By Brian Williams on June 17, 2026

Rob Brost, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, Bolingbrook HS, IL

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

Explore coaching clinic replays, practice plans, skill development videos, and more. Click here to see all that’s included.

The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Getting Comfortable Playing at an Uncomfortable Pace

This is a coaching clinic transcript explaining a drill called the “Huppy” (adapted from PGC Basketball about a decade ago). Here’s the breakdown:

Core concept: Huppy is a mental/physical checklist players run through every time they catch the ball in attacking situations, designed to improve decision-making in the lane and cut down on charges.

The five principles:

Peek — every time hands touch the ball, players peek at the rim (checking for a shot or an open teammate). This applies on both ends, including immediately after a defensive rebound to look for an outlet.
Powerful, low, wide stance — body positioning once attacking the rim.
Three points of contact — both hands on the ball plus a third contact point (shoulder or hip), used to protect the ball and absorb contact in the lane.
Patient in the lane off a one-two step — players land on a two-foot jump stop so they can pivot, then stay patient rather than forcing a play immediately (the coach notes they’ve never had a three-second call on a player using this footwork).
Fake, then purposeful and decisive — use fakes to let teammates relocate/get open, then commit fully to a pass, shot, or finish.

Drill structure: Five lines (top of the key, both wings, both baselines). The first player in each line starts at least one foot behind the three-point line — intentionally not on it. The coach explains this spacing matters for two reasons: it opens driving lanes, and it sets up “step-in threes” (a player can step forward into a three only if they start behind the line; standing on the line means stepping in turns a three into a long two). Drive-and-kick reads prioritize shots at the rim first, step-in threes second.

The drill is run daily (sometimes twice per practice), starting with fewer balls/lines and progressively adding more to increase chaos and decision-making speed. The coach frames it as a low-cost, repeatable habit-builder rather than a complex scheme — the goal is fewer charges and more disciplined, patient attacks of the rim.

Constraint Drills to Teach Hunting Dominoes

By Brian Williams on June 10, 2026

Matthew Cline, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, Missouri

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Implementing Offense with a Constraints Led Approach

WHAT ARE DOMINOES?

Dominoes is a decision-making concept built on one core rule: one defender cannot guard two offensive players. The moment an advantage is created, players must make a 0.5-second decision to capitalize on it — just like a chain reaction.

THE 0.5 DECISION STANDARD

Players must make reads and decisions in under half a second after catching the ball. The philosophy: you are most open the moment you first catch the ball. The Indiana Pacers are cited as a real-world example, with average ball hold times consistently under one second.

HOW TO TRAIN IT — KEY DRILLS

2v1 Shooting Drill

No dribbles, maximum two passes
Only “silver medal” shots (high-quality looks)
Deflection = -1 point, made shot = +1
Players must crash the offensive glass if they don’t shoot, then respace — building habits through repetition

4v3 Dominoes

Offense stays on for 60 seconds straight
Defense rotates in from the baseline each rep
Only layups or threes allowed — no mid-range
Constraints: 0.5 decisions, respace, one can’t guard two

THE COACHING PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT

Constraints are simply boundaries placed on players to manipulate a desired behavior. The drills are intentionally messy and chaotic — because that’s what games look like. The goal is transfer and carryover, not clean-looking practice. Players should be exploring, problem-solving, and figuring things out rather than running predetermined plays.

CULTURE & BUY-IN

The staff rewards domino execution after games with a large painted wooden domino (black and gold). The language used daily is “hunting dominoes” — reinforcing the mindset of always seeking and attacking advantages.

Turbo Transition Offense Drills (Hard to Guard)

By Brian Williams on June 10, 2026

Ryan Kapustka, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, Dartmouth

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

Explore coaching clinic replays, practice plans, skill development videos, and more. Click here to see all that’s included.

The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Transition Offense & Concepts.

OVERVIEW

This video covers a basketball coach’s preferred drills and concepts for teaching transition offense (“turbo”), emphasizing pace, decision-making, and player development in fast break situations.

KEY CONCEPTS

The coach stresses getting all five players — especially big men — skilled enough to sprint the floor, pass, catch, and finish. The goal is to create an offense that is nearly impossible to guard when all five players can handle and move the ball at pace.

FEATURED DRILLS

The video walks through several drills: 2-on-2 early opportunity drills, a 5-man bust-out drill focused on dribbling ahead and looking opposite, a full-court transition shooting drill, and the “Cycle Drill” — their most important daily drill — which incorporates outleting, throwing ahead, paint attacks, proper spacing, and make/miss identification, all with a target of scoring in 7 seconds or less.

ADVANTAGE/WILLIAMS DRILL

A progression drill starting 2-on-1, building to 5-on-5. The coach values this as much for offensive aggression and quick decision-making as for the defensive reps most coaches focus on.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Live play is emphasized as the best teacher. Coaches must be “maniacal” about holding players to standards — especially early in the season and during scout-heavy stretches when habits slip. Celebrate the right plays, give constant feedback, and never assume good habits are automatic.

How to Dominate with Ball Screens (At Any Level)

By Brian Williams on May 6, 2026

Jacie Hoyt, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Oklahoma State

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive:

Using Ball Screens Effectively at All Levels

A transcript of the video is shown below.

USE THE SCREEN: SHOULDER-TO-HIP & “WIN THE RACE”
When using the screen, the ball handler must come off tight—“shoulder to hip”—leaving no room for the defender. If X1 goes over the top, the focus is on “winning the race,” meaning beating the defender downhill to the basket for a drive.

ATTACK THE NAIL (PULL-UP OPTION)
If the defense goes over and the help defender (X5) is in a drop, players are taught to get to the nail (middle of the floor/free throw line area) and take a controlled pull-up jumper instead of forcing a drive.

STOP & POP VS. UNDER COVERAGE
If X1 goes under the screen, the ball handler should immediately stop behind the screen and take the open three-point shot. Proper screening angles are critical here to create space and keep the shot within range.

EMPHASIS ON SPACING & TIMING
Players must fight to get to their spots on the floor before initiating the action. The drill reinforces “plant then go” timing, ensuring players are balanced and attacking with purpose. Multiple shots are built into each rep to develop all positions.

SCREENER DEVELOPMENT & MULTI-TASKING
Screeners are not passive—they screen, then immediately look to score (post seals, rolls, or shots). The system builds habits where every player is a scoring threat within the action.

BIGS’ READS: ROLL & SHORT ROLL SERIES
The screener’s decisions are based on help defense (X3 and X5):

If there is no help or a late tag → Roll all the way to the rim (long roll)
If help is present → Short roll into space

SHORT ROLL OPTIONS
From the short roll, players have three reads:

Take the short jumper
Jab at the defender and shoot
Jab and attack to the rim if the defender commits

OVERALL TEACHING POINT
The system simplifies decision-making by giving players clear, repeatable reads based on defensive behavior. Guards and screeners are both trained to be aggressive, skilled decision-makers, allowing the offense to function efficiently against multiple coverages.

3 Competitive Shooting Games Every Coach Needs to Run

By Brian Williams on April 24, 2026

Van Green, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, Oral Roberts

This video is a segment from one of the 156 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball. Explore coaching clinic replays, practice plans, skill development videos, and more. Click here to see all that’s included.

OVERVIEW

Three competitive shooting games he uses in individual player development workouts, emphasizing that every drill should mirror the competitive nature of real games.

DRILL 1 — THE NBA 100

The player shoots from five spots on the floor. Threes are worth 3 points, mid-range shots worth 2, and layups worth 1. The goal is to reach 100 points. The player stays at each spot until he misses, then moves on. Progress is tracked over time — one player went from 34 to 76 across sessions.

DRILL 2 — CLOSEOUT READING DRILL

Five minutes, one ball, one rebounder, one coach closing out. The player must read the closeout and make the right decision — shoot if hands are low, ball fake or pull up if the contest is strong. The drill runs for five straight minutes with the coach talking and making noise to simulate game conditions. The record seen is 87 makes.

DRILL 3 — THE DAME LILLARD DRILL

Two minutes on the clock. The player must make two consecutive threes from five spots around the arc. A good shooter targets 12–15 spots completed. Wins and losses are tracked, and penalties (like push-ups) can be added for losing days.

KEY COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Competition drives improvement. Every drill gives players a number to chase, a personal record to beat, and a win/loss outcome to care about — because that’s what the game demands.