Equipment Needed
- One basketball
- Full court
Build out your practice kit
This press-break drill just needs a ball and a full court, but a basic coaching-aid kit keeps the rest of practice moving.
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- Five defenders set up in a full-court press; five offensive players line up to inbound the ball.
- Designate a primary inbounder and a release valve in the middle of the floor.
Instructions
- Defense applies full-court pressure the instant the ball is inbounded.
- Offense spaces the floor wide, using the middle release as a safety outlet if the sideline is denied.
- Advance the ball up the court with controlled passes, avoiding live-ball turnovers near midcourt.
- Play continues until a shot attempt; reset and rotate offense and defense.
Coaching Points
- Spacing wins presses — bunched-up offensive players give the defense multiple-deflection chances.
- The middle of the floor is the most dangerous outlet for the defense to leave open; use it.
- Advance the ball with a purpose on every pass; aimless dribbling into traffic is what presses are designed to force.
- Stay poised — rushed, panicked decisions cause far more turnovers than the press pressure itself.
Variation
Restrict the offense to a set number of passes to advance the ball, or have the defense trap specific spots on the floor to simulate a scouted opponent.