Drive and Kick: Attack the Help and Find the Shooter

The ball handler drives to draw a help defender and, when the help arrives, kicks the ball out to the teammate left open on the perimeter. The drill builds from 2-on-1 to 3-on-2 and 4-on-3 so the read gets more complex each time.

How to play

1. Explain the idea: drive to draw the defense; if no one helps, finish; if help comes, pass to the player whose defender left, waiting in the corner or on the wing with hands ready (4 min).
2. 2-on-1: driver from the top and shooter in the corner against one defender in the lane who decides whether to help or stay with the shooter (6 min).
3. 3-on-2: two drivers on the wings and a shooter in the corner against two defenders; the players without the ball move into the gap when a teammate drives (7 min).
4. 4-on-3 in the half court: the defense is a player short and has to help; the offense gets 2 points for a basket after a kick-out and 1 for any other; rotate after each possession (8 min).

Rules

• The driver has to reach at least the edge of the lane before kicking out.
• Defenders guard without putting hands on the driver's body.
• The kick-out pass goes to the chest, firm, with one or two hands.
• After each possession, the defenders go to offense and a new group comes in to defend.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: plays the corner shooter, where catching and shooting is the key role.
• Low fitness level: is the fixed shooter in the 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 phases and joins the 4-on-3 every other rotation.
• Mild visual impairment: high-contrast pinnies and a brightly colored ball.

Learning goals

• Drive with the aim of drawing a help defender.
• Read the help and kick the ball out to the open teammate.
• Fill open spots on the perimeter when a teammate drives.

Equipment for a class of 25

• basketballs: 6
• cones: 12
• pinnies: 14

Teacher tip

The most common mistake is deciding before the drive: ask the driver to keep their eyes on the rim until the last moment. If the defense never helps, remind them the easy basket is the first option.

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