Basketball Drills: 3 on 3 Defensive Drills -

These 3 defensive drills are from Matt Monroe’s Hoops Roundtable site.

Modify these drills to fit what you need to use to teach and reinforce and your defensive rules, concepts, and principles.

3 on 3 Random Movement Drill

Scott Miller, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Glenbard East High School (IL):

• Coach sets the ball down anywhere on the floor
• Offensive players position themselves anywhere on the floor
• Defensive players get set in proper defensive position
• On “play!” by coach, offense runs motion offense while the defense adjusts accordingly
• On “freeze!” by the coach, offense stops and coaches check for proper defensive positioning

Notes:
• Can go 3 on 3 or 4 on 4
• Have coaches in practice coach a particular player on defense

3 on 3 Baseline Charge Drill

Matt Monroe

• #1 passes the ball to #2

• All three defenders jump to the ball

• #2 drives

• x3 helps on the baseline drive and takes a charge

• x1 covers down

• #2 kicks the ball out to #1

• #1 passes to #3

• The defenders rotate on the passes

• #3 drives to the baseline

• x2 helps on the drive and takes the charge

• x1 covers down

3 on 3 Closeout Drives

• Coach passes to one of the offensive players (O’s), who catches and drives.

• The defenders (X’s) all close out with proper technique to correct position.

• Play live to a score or a stop

Note: Add back cut if defense over plays when they closeout to a player who does not have the basketball or add a jump shot if the defender closing on the ball is late.

This final drill is obviously not a 3 on 3 drill, but one to think about adapting to how you defend the low post.