Five on Two Block Out Drill

By: Coach David Smith

Provided by: WBCA

Purpose
To teach players to find someone to block out, go to that player and make contact, find the ball, release, and go get the ball.

Organization
Seven players, any combination of two coaches and/or managers, one ball, and one basket.

Procedure

1. Put five individual players around the three-point circle. Two defend¬ers will be in the middle of the free throw lane. They will be facing away from the basket. A coach will be under the basket, and another coach or manager will be on the perimeter with a basketball.
2. The coach under the basket will designate two players on the perimeter (by pointing at them).
3. When the coach has designated the offensive players, the coach or manager shoots the ball. The two designated offensive players go for the rebound, and the defense must locate the designated offensive players, move to them, and block them out. The defender holds her block out until she locates the ball, then releases and goes to get the rebound (see diagram 1).
4. Once the rebound has been secured either by the defense or offense, the ball is returned to the coach on the perimeter. The offensive players go back to their original positions, the defense returns to the middle of the lane, and the drill is repeated with the same or a different combination of offensive players being designated.

Coaching Points

• Emphasize that the initial defensive contact with the offensive players must be outside the lane.
• Emphasize proper block-out technique.
• When the defense knows where the ball is going to end up after a missed shot, they must release and go get the ball.
• The defense must communicate who they are going to block out so that both don't go to the same offensive player.
• When the coach is satisfied with the efforts of the defense, they will change positions with two of the offensive players on the perimeter.

Variations

If you are working with young players and just beginning to teach blocking out or you don't have someone to shoot the ball, you can make these adjustments to the drill:

• Have only one defender in the middle (diagram 2).
• Place a ball on the floor behind the defense.
• Designate only one offensive player to go for the ball and be blocked out.
• After designating the offensive player, the coach can blow his or her whistle for the drill to begin.
• Have defense hold the block out until the coachblows their whistle (three to five seconds after the initial contact).
• The number of players on the perimeter can be reduced to three or four.