Equipment Needed
- Balls
- Pinnies
- Half field
Setup
- One attacker starts an isolation dodge from up top against their matched defender; two more defenders set up in help/slide positions.
- Two attacking teammates space the floor as outlets for the pass out of the dodge.
Instructions
- The attacker initiates a dodge (split, roll, or face) against their on-ball defender, attacking downhill toward the goal.
- If the on-ball defender is beaten, a help defender slides to stop the ball, leaving their own man open.
- The dodger reads the slide and makes the extra pass to the now-open teammate rather than forcing a shot into help.
- The receiving teammate catches in rhythm and finishes; reset and rotate the dodging attacker every 2–3 reps.
Coaching Points
- The dodge itself should be purposeful and downhill — a dodge that goes sideways doesn't actually threaten the defense enough to draw a slide.
- Reading the slide happens in the split second right after beating the first defender; hesitation lets the defense recover.
- The extra pass needs to be crisp and on time — a late pass gives the second slide defender time to recover too.
- This drill is a tactical decision-making tool as much as a dodging drill — praise the right read even when the shot doesn't go in.
Variation
Add a second slide package (a full team-defense rotation) to force a second extra pass, or turn it into a 3-on-3 live possession that always starts with an isolation dodge.