Drill: Offence Hit Defender Handle

Video Credits: The athlete in this video is the awesome Cameryn Booher. Follow Cameryn on Instagram: @Cameryn_13_Booher & TikTok: @Baller13_Cam

Coaching Objective

Skill Level: Advanced, Skill Development: Handles & Footwork. This is a fantastic drill for all players especially guards who want to improve their ability to shift & create separation between themselves and defenders and also help create new passing and driving lanes. When you have a defender pressing up at you at arms length then this drill will help teach you to initiate the first contact to the defender. If you initiate and unexpectedly create the first contact with the defender then it can catch them off guard helping with the creation of separation. In this drill Cameryn has used a chair which replicates the defender. You can use any object which won’t fall when you make firm contact with your hands. To master this drill, vary the speeds of your cross overs and cross throughs.

Drill Instruction

  1. Start in a Triple Threat position facing the chair.
  2. Get low and pound the ball once with your left hand and then cross the ball through your legs.
  3. At the same time, control the ball with your right hand bringing the ball around to the front of you and touch the chair with your left hand.
  4. Crossover the ball from right to left and when you have control of the ball with your left hand, touch the chair with your right hand.
  5. Float the ball high with your left hand, pivot forward from your left foot and bring your right foot forward around 90 degrees so the chair is behind you to your side over your right shoulder and then cross the ball through your legs.
  6. Control the ball with your right hand floating the ball high and pivot back from your left foot bringing your right foot back 90 degrees so you are directly facing the chair again.
  7. With control, float the ball up high with your right hand and stretch/lean into your right side with your right knee bent forward and your left leg stretched while keeping your left foot partly grounded.
  8. Crossover the ball from right to left and bring yourself more upright.
  9. Control the ball with your left hand and then quickly cross the ball through your legs to your right hand and when you have control of the ball, lean in and touch the chair with your left hand with your right knee bent and your left leg stretched while keeping your left foot partly grounded.
  10. Continue to repeat instructions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Coaching Messages

  1. This drill needs to be done in the same dribbling action.
  2. Vary the speed of the cross throughs and cross overs.
  3. The instructions above are a guide only to help you master the drill. Once you have mastered this drill, be creative and introduce some freestyle handles where the chair touches can be difficult for the defender to predict.
  4. Shift your defender, create lanes and Be Awesome!

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