Coach ,

A key focus when we are teaching our players how to defend is to make sure our players know the importance of communication, have a special awareness of the ball and their man, and know how to properly close out.

Today we are going to break down 3 drills that Division 2 Head Coach Mark Downey uses almost every day in practice throughout the whole season to teach defensive cohesiveness. 

Duke Perfection 

This drill is perfect to begin the season along with the Shell Drills. The offense is not allowed to cut from corners and can only face cut from the top and can only score if they score from the inside of the paint. Only defense gets points for stops.

When offense scores, they can go to defense. We focus on perfect closeouts, communication, and sprinting to the help with high hands. This drill is designed to focus on fundamentals.

Watch Coach Downey break down Duke Perfection drill: 

Duke Perfection

No Man’s Land

In this drill, Coach Downey puts 4 players out and one player on the post. 4 Defenders are rotating in the circle in the paint. Once the coach rolls the ball to the perimeter, two defenders need to close out on the strong side and two need to rotate and be ready to help. Once the ball is out, the game is live. Defense needs to get 3 stops in a row.

Watch Coach Downey break down No Man’s Land Drill:

No Man’s Land

Shell Drill 

We like to use Shell Drill, in almost every practice. Coach Downey likes to use different variations of Shell Drill - start off in different actions (flare screen, pin down, wide screen, etc.) and likes to change it every day. He likes to have a coach in the corner and once the ball gets to the corner, he drives to the rim and now the defense has to rotate. This forces the defense to rotate and now they need to communicate and help.

Watch Coach Downey break down his version of Shell Drill:

Shell Drill

These 3 drills can be used every single practice throughout the whole season. Every single practice, we need to make sure we are putting emphasis on defensive fundamentals and communication. We gotta emphasize our close-out techniques and keep drilling the fundamentals, no matter how far in season we are. 

Always keep improving, 

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