Why Traditional Basketball Drills Don't Work

The video below shows the positive intention of a team to work on playing off two feet, but here’s why a basketball drill like this completely fails to transfer like coaches think it does…

https://x.com/TheHoopHerald/status/1931773002758148328

JUMP STOPS AND SHOT FAKES You have to rep it, but at the high school and college level it’s a game changer Less turnovers + more free throws = Good Chance of Winning (Via @imjohnbrennan 🎥) pic.twitter.com/5nG5WIqDfy — Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) June 8, 2025

What players need to perceive

Turnovers happen in a game because players are not perceiving variables such as where the defense are located, where their teammates are spaced, as well as the locations that the defenders and teammates are moving into

It’s not only perception however. It could also be the inability of a player to self-organize into a functional movement solution for the situation they encounter. For example, imagine driving into traffic with two defenders in close proximity trying to steal the ball and bump the driver off their line. If a player has not worked enough on controlling and coordinating their body in such variable circumstances, there’s no way we can expect them to find good solutions in the game when confronted by complex conditions.

Why the drill does not transfer

And this is the whole problem with drills such as the above! Many coaches think players need something like this as a baseline before moving onto activities with defenders. But this is completely not the case and the research does not suggest this.

All drills like this are doing is really really wasting time. This is because the offense never has the time and comfort to drive against no defense while knowing exactly where to pass to before the repetition even starts.

Therefore while it’s tough to hear, it’s really just wasted repetitions. Even the movement solutions emerging here may be irrelevant and causing negative transfer. For example, stopping and passing by exposing the ball to a potential primary defender. Furthermore, heavily constraining the outcome to always playing off two is not the best idea. While this can be a great solution at the right time - such as when the passer is unsure who is open or has a physical defender on the hip - sometimes the game may require a one-footed jump pass.

When we understand the alternative, the question becomes one of why would we even waste a second doing something like this when the benefits of the alternative offer SO much more?

Two activities to try instead

An alternative activity idea is simple. A player drives with a small advantage (e.g. a ball on back start) in a 3-on-3+1 with two teammates positioned in random locations every time. One +1 defender permanently stays in the paint and the driver must get a paint touch before they pass. Off-ball teammates must find windows or cut, while the defense gets points for forcing turnovers, offense for scoring.

Alternatively if players need more touches, play 1-on-1+1 where the driver must touch the paint and throw a perfect pass to a teammate always standing or moving into a different spacing.

While it is absolutely important that players get reps, it’s not the type of reps that we’ve been accustomed to for decades as basketball coaches. Instead, it’s “repetition without repetition.” And if your players are practicing with highly similar repetitions, then they’re simply missing out on opportunities to streamline their development.