A continuous shoot-off-the-break drill.

During the basketball season, we light up our "Horizon" in San Diego with a continuous fast-paced running and shooting drill on our fastbreak skills.

As shown in the diagram, we position eight players on the full court, with five of them (indicated by the solid circles) holding basketballs - the rebounder at the starting basket (A) and the four men stationed at each end of the free-throw line.

The two remaining players (B and C) set up in the outlet positions at the free-throw extended at the starting basket.

The extra players set up behind the baseline. They rotate into the court to replace the players finishing at the first basket. Each group will go up the floor and shoot at the far basket, become the passers, and then will come back down the floor to shoot at the starting basket before being replaced.

Player A starts the drill by outletting to B or C (in this instance, B). Player A then fills the lane behind his pass, while B dribble-drives down the middle of the floor as he would when leading a fast break.

Upon reaching the top of the key, B comes to a jump stop and passes to C, who has been running the lane to B's left. C can then finish the break with a shot or drive in for a lay-up.

Meanwhile, D and E (holding basketballs at the elbows of the foul line) pass to A and B and slide out to the sidelines as outlet men. A and B then shoot to finish off the break.

The rebounder at the second basket rebounds the first available ball, throws an outlet pass to E on the sideline, then fills the lane, while D fills the opposite lane, B becomes the rebounder under the second basket, and E dribble-drives the ball back up the middle to the first basket.

TEACHING POINTS

The drills can be made more fun, challenging, and team-oriented by:

1. Dividing the players into teams of three and seeing which team can make the most points in a set interval of time (or who can score a set number of baskets). The winners and losers can be rewarded (or penalized) in some fashion.

2. Count the baskets out loud and see how long it takes a team to reach 100. You may set a time limit to increase the intensity of the drill as well as the players' conditioning and concentration.

3. Each time all three players miss their shots, add a sprint at the end of the drill.

4. Each time all three players make their shots, subtract a sprint.

5. Have each player shoot the shot he would normally get off transition. For example, have your big men drive hard to the basket for a layup and have your guards shoot 3-pointers.

"Shoot Off the Break" has become one of our most popular drills. The players have fun, work hard, and get a lot of quality repetitions while learning fast-break principles and teamwork.