Basketball
Defending
Help Defence Rotations
Basketball drill for defending training sessions
Builds the habit of helping on drives and rotating to cover the pass out.
What This Drill Improves
This basketball drill is best for advanced players who need focused work on defending. It works well with 10 players and can be adjusted by changing the space, pressure, or scoring rules.
Setup
5v5 half court. Offense in 5-out. Defence in man.
Instructions
- Offense is instructed to drive baseline or middle.
- Help defender rotates to stop penetration.
- Original defender recovers.
- Kick-out rotation — nearest perimeter defender closes out.
- Repeat from all positions.
Coaching Points
✓ Help comes from the weak side — 1 pass away.
✓ Rotation must be vocal — call help and I got ball.
✓ Don't over-rotate — leave shooters.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Defenders diving in instead of delaying and controlling space.
- Teammates pressing individually rather than moving as a unit.
- Poor communication before the ball arrives.
Progressions: Make It Harder
→ Live 5v5.
→ Offense must score off the kick-out, not the drive.
→ Timed possession — D gets a point for each possession held.
Regressions: Make It Easier
Reduce the number of defenders or make pressure passive for the first few rounds.
Increase the playing space so players have more time to make decisions.
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