Basketball Workouts

Basketball Drills: Celtic (Toughness Shooting Drill)

By Brian Williams on April 18, 2013

Player starts at spot 1 with the goal of making it back to spot 10 within 2 minutes.

Coach starts 2:00 countdown as the first shot is taken.

You must make 2 in a row before advancing to the next spot.

When the player makes 2 in a row on spot 5, she advances to spot 6. You don’t have to make 4 in a row.

If the player doesn’t make it back to all 10 spots in 2 minutes, record where they were as time expires. The goal is then to beat that in the next workout.

If the player does make it in under 2:00, then record the time and that is what the player will stirve to break next time.

Basketball Workouts Fifty Point Shooting Drill

By Brian Williams on April 11, 2013

This is one of our technique shooting basketball drills. We have several basketball drills that are designed to improve individual shooting and dribbling skills.

You can see them in our basketball videos section.

The purpose of this drill is technique, not game pace. So, all shots (including the in close shots) are shots, not layups.

You can do a similar drill to this one (at game pace) called 3-2-1 where you shoot a 3 point shot.

Then catch beyond the arc, shot fake and shoot a one dribble pull up 2 point shot. 3rd move is catch beyond the arc, shot fake one dribble, then a dribble move and finish at the basket for 1 point if made. You repeat those 3 shots for all of the angles that are used in this 50 point game.

The game involves 29 shots. The shots should be taken in the order that the spots are diagrammed at the left.

For variety, the numbers can be mirrored on the floor so that the right side is where the first shots are taken from. If there is a rebounder, the shooter shoots and then jogs to the next spot. If there is no rebounder, the shooter can jog to get his/her rebound and proceed to the next spot.

Shots 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19-32 are 1 point

Shots 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17 are worth 2 points

Shots 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 are worth 3 points

You must choose your level before the 20 game workout starts. To win you must tie or beat the score for your chosen level:

Middle School: 30

Junior Varsity 32

Varsity: 33

Championship Varsity: 36

D1: 39

Basketball Workouts Perimeter Players

By Brian Williams on April 5, 2013

This basketball workout with skill development drills for perimeter players is from a Xavier Men’s Basketball Newsletter. You can see the archives of the newsletter by clicking the blue link above.

40 minute workout
(Shoot free throws in between drills for the total of 40 minutes)

1. 6MIN: SIDELINE TOUCHES (Warm-up)
2. 5MIN: TRIANGLE SHOOTING
3. 5MIN: 50 SERIES
4. 1OMIN: FULL. COURT PITINO
5. 1OMIN: VEGAS CLOSEOUTS

Sideline Touches: Player starts in corner facing halfcourt with a ball, passes the ball to the elbow to a coach, sprints wide/sideline and touches halfcourt. Player turns and sprints wide sideline to coaches box and angles toward the block receiving a return pass from the coach.

He executes the following and can be repeated in the opposite corner:

• 1 Dribble powerlay up
• 2 or 3 dribbles, baby hook (lay up on opposite side of the basket)
• 2or3 dribbles pull up bank shot
• 2 or 3 dribbles, stride stop step thru
• Catch at Half Court, speed dribble, reach out lay up (Steve Nash)
• Catch at Half Court, drive to block, back defender down (perimeter to post

Triangle Shooting: Triangle Shooting is a drill that gets players a lot of shots in a short period of time as well as working on their conditioning. We teach al of our guys to use a “one, two step” (Left/Right) on every shot. This consistency in their footwork ultimately leads to more consistent results. The repetition of Triangle Shooting alows players to really focus on improving their footwork.

• Shooter has to start at the top of the key
• After each shot the shooter must touch the top of the key
• Shots are taken from the elbows
• One, two step into every shot (left/right shoot)
• 2:00 shooting, passer is under the basket

50 Series: 50 Series is a quick drill that really works on a players ability to control the basketball. The use of a heavy ball (If available) during the first set makes the regular ball seem much lighter during the second set. This contrast allows plays players to pound the ball quicker, faster, and harder, which ultimately results in improved ball control.

• Two Sets of 50 (1st set use Heavy BalI, 2nd set use regular ball)
• 10 V dribbles In front with left hand (right to left In front of body)
• 10 V dribbles in front with right hand
• 10 Push/Pull dribbles with left hand (back/forth dribbles on side of body)
• 10 Push/Pull dribbles with right hand
• 10 Behind back dribbles

Full Court Pitino: Players begin in the corner at the full court level.

They execute the following movements and repeat these movements from the opposite corner, then returning.

A dummy defender is at the 25 ft. marker from each basket.

Movements: Begin with three dribbles in place, then a hard stutter at the coach’s box, dribbling with the hand closest to the sideline.

• Inside out, power lay up
• Inside out, cross over baby hook (lay up on opposite side of the basket)
• Hesitation, stride stop, step through
• Through the legs, runner or floater
• Euro Step
• Speed dribble into Bank Shot (last dribble must be pounded into floor then pull up)
• Speed dribble into 3 pt shot (same as above)

Vegas Close Outs: Vegas Close Outs is a great drill to simulate the perfect close out technique. The player starts with his head under the rim. A coach/manager will be positioned on the wing just behind the 3 pt line. The play tosses the ball out to the coach to begin the drill. All the teaching points should be explained prior to the first close out. You can place coaches at various positions around the 3 pt line which will allow multiple reps to take place at the same time.

• Run 1st, then short, choppy steps
• High hands, bent elbows, butt down, head back
• Yell “shot”/Play drive
• Touching distance in stance (defender should be able to touch the ball)
• Take shooter out of rhythm

Building a Player the (Jay) Wright Way

By Brian Williams on April 3, 2013

I received these notes from Coach Steve Smiley from a clinic given by Jay Wright. If you would like to download all of the notes, click here: Basketball Workout

At Villanova, spring and summer are committed to individual development.

These are the five areas for individual development: Shooting, passing, dribbling, footwork, defense.

Fall and winter are about team development:

“You have to believe that the work we do with you is going to make you the best player you can be.”

45 minutes of technique shooting every morning at 7:00

After a Saturday game, the next day, the 5 guys who played the most do a technique shooting workout. The other 8 players do an off-season skills workout.

Try to get technique as close to perfect as possible

Rhythm
Game Speed

Chart Makes and Misses in live shooting drills

Diagrams created with FastDraw

The closer you are to the rim, the higher you shoot the ball

Get 50 Drill

Set Lifts (form shooting)
Mikan
Reverse Mikan
Bradleys–work around the rim at spots 1-5
(Bradleys are hop jumpers)
Ball over head
Elbows under ball
Lift Ball

The video below shows the “Get 50 Drill”

The clip is from the DVD “Jay Wright: Perfecting Your Team’s Basketball Skills” (Click the link for more information)

1-2 steps from 3 point arc

Objective is perfect technique

5 Spot Shooting Drill

Technique Shooting

Focus on 1-2 step with left and right

Wack Out Drill

Coach passes to wing

• Defender closes out
• Offense is low, ready to catch, and shoot
• If the offense cannot get a shot off in rhythm, they fake dribble shoot
• Weak side offense and defense go for rebound

Click the arrow to see the video.

You will be taken to the Coaching Toolbox Shop to see Jay Wright demonstrating how he teaches pivoting on the perimeter.

Basketball Workouts Chill Drill

By Brian Williams on April 2, 2013

This drill was originally designed by Coach Ed Schilling.

This drill can be used either in season for several players at once or as an out of season skill development drill..

Under Coach Schilling Park Tudor High School (Indianapolis, Indiana) won the 2011 and 2012 Indiana 2A State Championships.

He has been the Head Coach at Division I Wright State, has served as an assistant coach for John Calipari at UMass, with the New Jersey Nets, and at Memphis. Ed serves as a Head Coach for the Adidas Nations Program.

Ed operated Champions Academy in Indianapolis–a skills training academy for players of all ages and skill levels prior to joining the staff at UCLA.

The highest profile players who work out with Coach Schilling are NBA and pre NBA draft prospects. At least one first round draft choice in each of the past 6 NBA drafts has worked out at Champions prior to the draft.

As a player, Ed was a four year starter at Miami (Ohio). He holds the Miami single game, single season, and career assist records. In addition, Ed’s 18 assists in one game still stands as the Mid American Conference record.

Points of Emphasis:
1. Keep your head up – see the court.
2. Low dribbling stance.
3. Explosive, quick moves.
4. Do it at game pace.
5. Low dribbles (especially on crossovers).

Players line up at corner of the court and follow the path shown in diagram below.

The following describes the desired path. Dribbler starts at corner with ball in right hand.

1. At points A and B execute an inside-out move (fake crossover).

2. At point C execute a reverse spin – now dribbling left hand.

3. Dribble to point D, then quickly retreat dribble back to point E.

4. At point E, execute a quick, low crossover dribble and dribble to point F – now dribbling right hand.

5. At point F execute a 180 degree half spin (fake reverse)

6. At point G execute a behind-the-back as you change direction.

7. At point H execute a hesitation, stutter-step dribble and
explode to the basket for a lay-up.

Variations:

Go around the opposite direction (start at bottom left corner).

The other variations you can make to this drill are limited only by your imagination.

Two Minute Drill

By Brian Williams on March 15, 2013

The Two Minute Drill is one of our favorite basketball shooting drills and develops:

Ability to shoot free throws under pressure
Conditioning
Footwork coming off of a screen or cut
Three-point shooting
Mental Toughness/Competitiveness
Making shots under pressure

Basketball players are highly competitive people by nature; therefore it is beneficial to design baketball drills that provide an opportunity for players to compete against other players or against themselves. The competition increases the player’s enthusiasm for the basketball shooting drill and results in better intensity during the training session. The Two Minute Drill requires only one player. The players compete against themselves for their best score. However, it is extremely helpful to have someone timing the drill.

Many players practice free throws by shooting 100, 200 or possibly more in each practice session. While volume shooting is an important part of developing confidence and rhythm on free throws, this type of practice does not subject the player to the same conditions that exist while attempting free throws during a game. Pressure and fatigue are just two factors that may affect free throw percentage. To be a successful free throw shooter in games, players must be able to step to the line a make two in a row while fatigued and under pressure.

The Two Minute Drill is designed for player to do just that. Players must step to the free throw line and make two pressure free throws while fatigued.

The objective of the Two Minute Drill Game is for the player to move from level one to the highest level possible. In order to advance from one level to another, the player must make a power lay-up, a spin-and-catch intermediate shot and a three point shot.

The player must shoot until he/she has made each shot, even if s/he misses each one four times, the level is not completed until each of the three shots goes in.

After making the three-point shot the player immediately (with no rest!) steps to the free throw line to shoot a one-and-one free throw. If the player makes both free throws he/she advances to the next “level” and must again make a short shot, a midrange, and a three point shot. If the player misses a free throw he/she must remain on that level.

Once the player makes all 3 shots and validates it with a one and one, they get that “level” in the bank. The number of times they do that is the number of levels that they achieve for the drill.

The drill is timed for two minutes. The stopwatch only runs while the player is shooting shots from the field, like a game. It does not run during free throws. If there is no one to time the player can wear a sport watch to time him/herself. The timing of the drill is very significant to its effectiveness because the clock pushes the player to run hard after rebounds and to shoot shots that are more game-like. However, if no timer is available, the player must push him/herself to go hard. To make it competitive, the shooter can be limited to a total number of misses or to commit that the first missed free throw will end the game.

Players compete each practice session against the highest level they have ever achieved. They may also compete against other players by seeing which player reaches the highest level in a given amount of time.

The game may be altered to more benefit to post players. Post players may choose to substitute the three-point shots or the intermediate shots with jump hooks or other post moves. It is easy to come up with several other variations to keep the drill from becoming monotonous.

In the video, the player is shooting a stationary layup. This drill would be better served by having the layups be more gamelike. Have the player start from 10 feet away and make a dribble. Require that they shoot with their off hand. Or, require a revese layup, a Rondo move, or another finsh that you teach. If you teach floaters or runners, make that be the first shot.

Find a way to make it work for what you are wanting to accomplish.

The idea is to find a way to make the drill competitive to motivate your players to go at a gamepace.