Drills play
Drill: 4-on-4 Transition With Trailer
- Court
- Full court
- Length
- 6 steps
About this play
Transition defense when the numbers are wrong, which is when it actually gets tested. Why it works: two defenders have to touch the end line before they recover, so the two who are back must stop the ball and protect the rim with real communication, and the trailers learn to sprint to the farthest attacker instead of the nearest. Setup: four on offense along the end line, four defenders across the free-throw line extended facing them, the coach with the ball at the free-throw line. The coach calls two defenders' names and passes to an offensive player; the named two sprint to touch the end line and sprint back while the offense attacks 4-on-2 becoming 4-on-4. On a score, rebound, or steal the defense pushes the other way; after the second possession the ball goes back to the coach and the teams switch. Keep score to a number; losers run. Common mistakes: trailers picking up the nearest man, the two back defenders not talking, and the offense slowing down to set up. Progression: call one name for a 4-on-3, or more names to deepen the hole. High school. I picked this up from Coach's Clipboard's 4-on-4 transition page and Teach Hoops' four-person transition video; give them a look for the scoring.
