Shooting · U15 drill · ages 14–15

Sprint Pull-Up vs Retreating Defender

Defender backs off? Stop on a dime and pull up.

AgesU15+
Players2–6
Time10 min
Spacefull court
Equipment1 ball per pair, 1 basket
Levelintermediate
Court diagram of the Sprint Pull-Up vs Retreating Defender basketball drill: start positions and movement
Basket at the top. Orange circles: offense, X: defense, wavy line: dribble, dashed line: pass.

Setup

Ball handler starts at half court with a speed dribble; a defender starts at the three-point line facing him. The defender reacts as the dribbler arrives.

How it runs

  1. Dribbler attacks at full speed toward the defender.
  2. If the defender retreats, the dribbler stops on balance and pulls up for a jumper at the elbow.
  3. If the defender stays and cuts off the lane, the dribbler changes hands and drives to the middle of the lane.
  4. If the defender overplays the change of hands, the dribbler fakes it and finishes baseline.
  5. Players switch roles after each possession.

Coaching point

Slow slightly before the defender to see his choice, then explode.

In the U15 Drill Book, page 30

The full drill

  • 3 more coaching points
  • 3 common mistakes and how to fix them
  • 3 progressions to make it harder
  • a way to make it competitive

Plus 119 more drills for ages 14–15, one per page, with court diagrams.

More drills

All free U15 drills · All shooting drills · Drill videos on YouTube