Shell Drill

How to run it

4v4 with the attackers outside the 3-point line. The defence moves on every pass – on ball, deny one pass away, help two passes away – stops the drive, closes out after the kick-out and the skip pass, and boxes out.

Set-up

One basket. Four attackers: two at the top (right and left), two on the wings. Four defenders. The coach is welcome to freeze play to check positions.

Instructions

1. 1Ball at the right slot. On-ball defence, denial on the nearest pass, help on the weak side.
2. 2Pass to the right wing: everyone moves – on ball, deny, help in the middle and low help.
3. 3Back to the top. The defence moves back while the ball is in the air.
4. 4Ball reversed to the left slot. Now the right side is the weak side.
5. 5Pass to the left wing. The weak-side defenders have a foot in the lane.
6. 6Baseline drive: the defender cuts off the baseline and the low help steps in.
7. 7Kick-out to the left slot. Closeout, and everyone recovers to their position.
8. 8Skip pass across to the right wing. The help makes a long closeout, the others move towards the ball.
9. 9Drive middle. The defender slides, the nearest help stunts at the ball.
10. 10Pass to the right slot. The help closes out back to their player.
11. 11Shot from the top.
12. 12Box out: everyone finds their player, makes contact and the defence secures the rebound.

Coaching points

• Talk all the time: "ball!", "help!", "skip!". A quiet defence is a bad defence.
• Move on the pass, not after it. The defence should be set when the ball lands.
• See both the ball and your player – point at both.
• Help stands in the ball–player triangle, close enough to help and to recover.
• Start without drives (passes only), then add drives and finally play live to a score.

Variations