Coach-

Every day when a coach enters the gym to practice with their team as well as at the end of the day, we all ask ourselves the same questions?

“How can I help my team get better today?” and “Did my team get better today?”

It’s a constant source of frustration and keeps us continuously looking for the best ideas and drills from other coaches. We also look at other sports to see what they do to help their players gain skill mastery and understanding.

When you dig deep down to the micro level, coaches are trying to accomplish the following three things on offense:

1. Help my players with their decision-making (When do I shoot? When do I pass? Who do I pass to? When do I drive?)
2. Help my players be able to finish around the basket against defenders
3. Help my players take and make open 3-point shots

One of the best ways to work on these three areas is with Small Sided Games. Borrowed from the world of soccer, SSG’s allow coaches to teach and refine skills with a smaller number of players involved, allowing more opportunities for learning.

A good definition of SSG’s is “A live constrained competitive situation in a smaller space or with a smaller number of participants then regular live play/competition to target the development of a particular skill, concept, or tactic.” (Thanks @CoachDayejr for this!!)

Here are 4 drills within small-sided games:

#1 - Tony Miller - Cone Handoff

The cone handoff drill is a change of direction drill that works on multiple actions.

The best part about this drill is it puts the defense in a disadvantage. Therefore, players have to hustle to cut off the basketball to get into a defensive position. 

This is a fantastic drill for the offense to work on finishing. 

Link: Cone Handoff Drill

#2 - Mike De Kraker - Battleship - Small-Sided Games

Battleship are multiple small-sided games that work on different actions within your offense.

A coach can call out the action for each small-sided game. 

For example, one segment of the drill you can have your team only work on flipping a screen.

Link: Battleship

#3 - Coach Z - 2 vs 2 Games - Small-Sided Games

The 2 vs 2 games drills purpose is to strengthen the advantage. 

A coach can set up rules about the number of dribbles or a shot clock if needed.

The design of initiation for the drill is to move to different areas of your offense.

A coach can start the defense wherever they choose - to have them behind the ball to create an advantage or the opposite. 

Link: 2 vs 2 Games

#4 - Aaron Fernandez - Ultimate 1 vs 1 - Small Sided Games

Ultimate 1 vs 1 is a designed drill to work at different areas of the court. 

The goal of the drill is to hit each area - then the games are finished with free-throws. 

This drill will be super competitive as the game goes on - the winner of the most areas of the court is the King of the Court. 

This drill is great for spring workouts or individual workouts.

Link: Ultimate 1 vs 1

There is not a better time of the year to focus on small-sided games.

Never get out-coached,

– The Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches Helping Coaches

P.S. Here are some of our favorite resources from amazing coaches in our community on SSG’s if you’d like to study up!

Small-Sided Games Approach by Coach Kirby Schepp

Small Sided games to teach elite offensive decision-making PLUS more drills to teach `Position Pressure` individual defence by Coach Liam Flynn

Teaching with Small-Sided Games (SSGs) by Tony Miller

Developing SSG for Youth Development by Mike De Kraker

SSGs for Player Development and Team Defense by Tony Miller

SSGs for Ball Screen Offense by Tony Miller

Teaching (shot-drive-pass) decision making: a progression of SSGs by Michael Zeillmann

Small-Sided Games for Player Development by Aaron Fernandez

79 Basketball Drills and Small-Sided Games by Mason Waters

35 Small-Sided Games Playbook for Player Development by Tony Miller