Basketball Drills

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.

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:

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.

4 Decision-Making Drills | Small-Sided Games with Constraints

By Brian Williams on April 22, 2026

David Martinez, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Atascocita HS, TX

OVERVIEW

This video covers a series of progressive basketball drills focused on offensive reads, closeout defense, and decision-making. The drills are designed to isolate specific skills before putting players in full 5-on-5 situations.

TWO-ON-ONE CLOSEOUT DRILL

Players work on reading closeouts from a baseline catch-and-shoot setup. The offensive player receiving the pass must decide whether to shoot off the closeout or make one more pass to a shooter. The emphasis is on shooters being ready before the catch — down, locked in, and not rushing the shot.

DHO (DRIBBLE HAND-OFF) TWO-ON-TWO

The team runs two-on-two actions built around dribble hand-offs. If the defender goes under the screen, the ball handler turns and shoots. This mirrors actions used heavily in their actual offense, with both offense and defense learning to react in real time.

POINT GUARD READ DRILL (ADVANTAGE SITUATIONS)

This is a key teaching segment. A point guard starts with a defender trailing behind them, forcing them to read the second line of defense — not the on-ball defender. The coaching point stressed repeatedly: read the back line, make the simple play, and get the ball out quickly. A freshman is highlighted learning to jump stop, play off two feet, make the pass, and relocate to space.

FOUR-ON-FOUR ADVANTAGE DRILL

The same concept is expanded with more bodies and flying closeouts. A sophomore is corrected for repeatedly shooting a corner shot when a better open shot was available. The key lesson: hunt the better shot — just because you’re open doesn’t mean it’s the right play.

KEY COACHING TAKEAWAYS

Isolating reads in small-group drills allows coaches to see and correct mistakes faster than in 5-on-5
Spending just 5–10 minutes daily on situational drills pays dividends in game decision-making
In a five-out offense, players must know when to attack the rim vs. when to kick it out
Always prioritize the better shot over the quick shot

Stop Wasting Transition Opportunities — Run These 3 Drills

By Brian Williams on April 17, 2026

Justin Leith, Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, Bullis School, MD

Full video on Glazier Drive: Building Shooting & Skill Work into Your Practice Plan

KENTUCKY THREE-POINT SHOOTING DRILL (130 MAKES)

The team runs a five-minute three-point shooting drill with a goal of 130 team makes. Players start staggered to avoid crowding the same basket, shoot, get their own rebounds, and rotate. The drill emphasizes transition threes and requires genuine focus to hit the target. If the team falls short of the goal, they run as a consequence. The coach notes the goal is attainable but demands consistent effort — someone is always going to be shooting well, so there’s no excuse for the whole team to be off.

FULL-COURT DRIVING AND KICK DRILL

Players line up on the baseline on both sides of the court. The drill involves a player receiving a pass at half court (via a hand slap), executing a shot fake, then kicking the ball out to a corner shooter. A key coaching point is that the corner player must fade to the corner on the shot fake — staying even with the ball and the dribble penetration — not drifting too early or too late. The drill runs two to three minutes per side, with a team goal of around 12 makes for a two-minute block. Though the volume of shots isn’t high, it builds habits around full-court catching, driving, and kicking — all critical to game success.

COACHING TAKEAWAYS

Both drills work well early in practice as conditioning tools while also developing game-specific skills. The driving and kick drill can be used to emphasize different things depending on the focus of the day, and it doubles as a way to work on defensive positioning. Setting team goals with consequences keeps players dialed in and creates a competitive, purposeful practice environment.

Finishing Thru Contact

By Brian Williams on October 23, 2025

In this video San Antonio Spurs Associate Head Coach Sean Sweeney demonstrates a simple drill to work on finishing thru contact.

PLAYING THROUGH CONTACT IS ESSENTIAL FOR OFFENSIVE SUCCESS
The video highlights the importance of teaching basketball players—especially offensive ones—how to maintain control and strength while playing through contact. While flashy moves have become popular, true scoring consistency comes from being able to finish plays after absorbing physical defense, a skill that becomes especially critical during postseason competition.

GAME-LIKE DRILLS TO BUILD REALISTIC STRENGTH AND CONTROL
The coach outlines a detailed drill using coaches with pads to simulate in-game contact. Players practice absorbing bumps while maintaining balance and protecting the ball. The setup includes specific footwork techniques such as reverse pivots, rip-throughs below the knees, and long, powerful strides to help players adjust to defensive pressure naturally.

FOOTWORK AND BALANCE UNDER PRESSURE
The drill teaches players to maintain a low, balanced base and stay strong on two feet. Reverse pivots are emphasized to control body positioning and prevent defenders from forcing turnovers. This approach helps players stay grounded, even when absorbing hits, leading to more efficient and confident finishes near the rim.

PROTECTING THE BALL WITH BODY POSITIONING
A major focus is on ripping the ball low—below the knees—to keep it away from defenders’ reach. This movement naturally positions the player’s shoulder against the defender’s hip, giving them leverage and space to finish. The technique trains players to use their body intelligently, not just their hands, to protect the ball.

STRONG, LONG STRIDES FOR POWERFUL FINISHES
Players are trained to take one deliberate, long step to absorb contact while maintaining momentum. This “bump-bump-finish” rhythm helps prevent disruption from defenders and ensures powerful, controlled finishes at the basket. Long strides also help maintain forward drive through defensive resistance.

ONE-DRIBBLE FINISHES TO BUILD DECISIVENESS
The drill prioritizes one-dribble finishes, forcing players to make quick, assertive moves toward the basket. This builds faster decision-making, minimizes turnovers, and enhances offensive tempo, especially when defenses close gaps quickly.

OFFSEASON DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
The coach stresses the offseason as the ideal time to develop these foundational skills. Younger players can focus on strength, balance, and body control without the pressures of competition. These fundamentals prepare them to handle physical contact and excel at higher levels of play.

SUMMARY
The video delivers a complete framework for developing players who can thrive under contact. By combining realistic physical drills, precise footwork, and intelligent body mechanics, coaches can help athletes build the confidence and toughness necessary to score effectively in high-pressure, physical game situations.

This clip was taken from a recent coaching clinic. If you would like access to the full presentation click the link:Insights on Transition, Isolation & Modern Offensive Principles