> > > Xavier Competitive Toughness Drills

Basketball Drills - Xavier Competitive Toughness Drills

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
"Helping coaches coach better..."
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means that Coach's Clipboard receives a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.

These highly competitive, tough drills are from former Xavier Head Coach Chris Mack and help players become tough "gamers". See his DVD "Drills to Build the Pack Line Defense".

Former Xavier Head Coach Chris Mack

24 Second Drill

This is a very competitive, tough drill that you can run at the end of practice.

This is a 5-on-5 half-court drill (black vs white).
Put 24 seconds on the clock. Have an assistant or manager run the clock.
White is on offense; black is on defense.
The offense has 24 seconds to score, as black tries to stop them.
If white shoots and misses and black rebounds with 12 seconds left, the ball goes back to white with just 12 seconds left. If black gets another stop at 4 seconds, white gets the ball back with just 4 seconds to score, until the full 24 seconds are gone.
If white gets an offensive rebound, the clock is reset to 24 seconds and black stays on defense.
If white scores, they go on defense.

"2 in 1" 4-on-4 Shell Drill

This is the defensive shell drill with special competitive rules.

Use 4-on-4 teams.
To win a team must make a stop, a score and a stop in three consecutive possessions.
If the defense gets a stop, then:
- They go on offense and if they score, then...
- They go on defense and must get a stop to win.
If the offense scores, they go on defense and must get a stop, score, and a stop to win.
Thus there is a change of possession after each play.
Losers run or do pushups.

Cut Throat Drill

Make three teams. Depending on how many players you have, you may go 3-on-3 or 4-on-4.
On any foul, that team loses the possession on defense.

Defensively:

Defense must get three consecutive stops.
If the offense scores they go on defense, the defense is out, and the sideline team is now on offense.
With each possession, the ball always comes back to the coach, and the coach can give it to the offense at any time.
The offense should be moving when the coach has the ball.
Can only win when on defense.

Offensively:

The winner is the first team to score a prescribed number of times (pick 3 - 5 scores depending on time).
If the offense scores they stay on offense, the defense is out, and the sideline team is now on defense.
With each possession, the ball always comes back to the coach, and the coach can give it to the offense at any time.
The offense should be moving when the coach has the ball.
Can only win on offense.

Thus a team can win by either (1) getting three defensive stops in a row, or (2) being the first team to get 5 scores (or whatever number you choose) on offense.
Losers run or do pushups.

Perfection Cut Throat Drill

This is the same as the Cut Throat drill above except the coach calls out a specific defensive play that must be executed by the defense during that possession in order to get a stop.

For example, if the coach calls for "jump to the ball", each defender during that possession must jump to the ball on each pass. If any defender(s) fail to do this, the defense is out.

Full-Court Cut Throat Drill

This full-court drill is excellent for conditioning, transition offense and transition defense. You can use 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 teams.

To win, the defense must get three consecutive stops.
If the defense gets a stop, they must sprint back and defend the basket at the opposite end. The team that is out, takes the ball out and attacks offensively. The team that was on offense and failed to score, goes out and sprints down to the opposite basket so they are ready to go in on the next possession.
If the offense scores, they run back on defense. The team that is out, takes the ball and attacks on offense. The team that was on defense and gave up the score, sprints back to the opposite basket and gets ready to come back in.
On any foul (defensive or offensive), that team goes out.
Losers run or do pushups.

Gut Check Drill

This drill is also great for conditioning, transition offense and transition defense. Use three teams of 3 or 4 players. Two teams play while the third team is off and shoots around on a side basket.

Put 12 minutes on the clock.
The defense gets a point for each stop.
On any foul (defensive or offensive), that team goes out.
The first two teams play for 4 minutes. The third team comes in at the 4-minute mark for one of the teams.
When the offense scores, the defense sprints down and touches the opposite foul-line and sprints back. The ball is given back to the coach, and he gives it to the team that just sprinted down and back. Only 20 seconds are allowed for each possession, so the team must sprint down and back as quickly as they can so they will have enough time left to score.
If the defense gets a stop, the offense sprints down and back. The coach passes the ball back to the offense as they are sprinting back up the court, and they are on offense again.
After 12 minutes, the team with the most stops is the winner. Each of the three teams should get two 4-minute games. Losers run or do pushups.

No Man's Land Drill

This drill is a great drill for stopping dribble-penetration (on defense) and encouraging dribble-penetration (on offense).

The defense cannot allow the offense to get two foot into the lane in a position to make an offensive play or score. It does not count if the offense is below the basket.
If the offense gets into the lane, the defense loses.
If the offense scores, the defense loses.
The defense must get three consecutive stops to win.
Each possession lasts only 20 seconds.
Losers run or do pushups.