High school players are constantly looking for ways to improve their basketball rebounder game. There is always room for improvement, whether shooting, dribbling, or defending. But it can be challenging to know where to start. We have put together a list of drills that will help your players improve their skills to become better basketball players. Read on.
1. The Mikan Drill
One of the most essential drills for any player is learning to finish at the rim, and that’s why the Mikan drill is effective. This drill can be done in a driveway or an empty gym, but it always starts with setting up five cones on one end line and three cones into the paint on the other end line.
After that, put four players standing behind each cone around a stationary ballplayer who has placed his feet slightly inside the playing position directly under the basket protector. There should be a defender guarding him at this designated spot where he stands closest to the lane openings between cones 1 and 2, which are 8′ wide.
2. The “Hero” Drill
This intense drill can really help improve your player’s footwork and agility. Set up four players around a stationary ballplayer just inside the free-throw line, extending in each corner of the radius. The defenders should set up where they are at cone 5, but no closer than 2 feet away to allow enough room for all 3 layup attempts before going into “recall sprint.”
Another option would be to set one defender directly across from their zone (1), with another one on either side outside their defending area. This type of defensive layout allows for more space between cones.
In the partner shooting drill, two players execute layup shots without stopping after the step back. They’ll move their feet to simulate a defender closing in on them with each shot attempt to make things more challenging.
3. Partner Shooting
In this drill, you need two basketballs and four players: one ball handler (ex-point guard) and three defenders at different angles around the perimeter floor, like a half-court or 3-point line. All four defenders must end up at cone 4 before choosing whether to challenge or not while moving off-line cutters until they finish inside the rim protector.
4. 3 on 2, 2 on 1 Basketball drill
This is a 3-on-2 drill that can teach your players how to hustle the ball up the court, between cones, or even using the basketball hoop rebounder—wherever you determine is appropriate. The initial play begins at cone 1 in either corner of an imaginary 4-court area (right) and 20 feet from each sideline.
To get this drill started, all four defenders spread out into their respective zones, with both of them about 32 inches away from a stationary basket protector inside the 5-foot-tall perimeter fence line. The ball handler pumps his right fist over his head as he moves toward three cones.
5. The Zig-Zag Drill
Another one of the more physical drills, this drill does require a partner and a basketball. This is a 4-on-1 drill that plays like some form of deer in headlight until it is completed successfully. -The breakaway fast breaks with most players pushing through to an open spot or laying up along the baseline.
The game continues with such things as having two ball handlers huddled down low, who then run side by side back to their starting point out high relative to cone 3 (center).
6. The Circle Box Out Drill
This simple drill is one of the simplest ways to teach players to box out without taking bad shots. It can also be used to introduce defense drills before moving on to more advanced drills later on during training. It could also be enough for new players looking to improve their own skills from Day 1.
7. The Drive, Cut, Attack Drill
This is a “drive the basket with pride” drill. Here, players play one-on-one with an opponent at different spots around the triangle offense line and each baseline after going through their initial footwork pattern.
Points are awarded for how long these players can hold contact before breaking them out by cutting statically towards their respective scoring areas. Then they can call for fast-break action. Defenders may use several techniques to block shots or stiff-arms. However, they must also swing their legs into contact, maintaining defensive balance.
Conclusion
Involving your players in a competitive drill can be one of the most effective ways to improve their game and inspire everyone to get better. At the same time, doing an exercise that no one enjoys or is familiar with really limits its potential. As such we always advise coaches to incorporate a basketball shooting machine into their training regimen.