Aurora's daily: Fast-Break jumper drill. (Basket Ball).

SINCE EVERY BASKETBALL team runs some kind of fast break that includes running, passing, catching, layups, and shooting. Aurora Central High School has evolved a Fast-Break Jumper Drill that is begun on the first day of practice with lead-up three-line passing and catching drills and repeated each day thereafter during warm-ups.

Eventually, it can become a timed competitive drill. Our coaches stress communication by calling out the name of the pass receiver and the need to keep the hands up as a target for the passer.

The players running the outside lanes must stay wide to spread the floor and break at the free-throw line extended for the layup.

Diags. 1-4 show the three-line drills we use to teach the concepts leading to the Fast-Break Jumper Drill

Diag. 1, three-lane passing with the outlet to the right:

The players set up in three lines along the end line, with each player in the middle (1) having a ball.

The drill is initiated with an outlet pass from 1 to 2 and all three players filling their lanes and running the floor, with 1 and 2 passing the ball back and forth.

Player 3 fills his lane until he reaches the free-throw line extended, where he cuts in for the basket.

Player 1, upon taking the pass from 2 at about the foul line, jump-stops and feeds the ball to 3 for a left-handed layup.

After 3 shoots the layup, all three players can step off the court and wait for the other groups or they may run back on the outside of the court and fall in at the end of their respective lines.

Other options: Players 2 and 3 can also cross and come back (with player 1 in the middle) to repeat the drill in the other direction, or 2 and 3 can go back 2-on-1 against 1.

Diag. 2, three-lane passing with the outlet pass of the left:

The same drill repeated to the left.

Players 1 and 3 pass the ball back and forth, with 1 eventually hitting 2 for the right-handed layup.

These drills are run at game speed with the coach stressing communication, extending the hands as a target for the passer, and the making of the layup.

Diag. 3, three-lane passing in both directions and the outlet pass to the right.

Player 1 outlets to 2 and the ball then moves from 2 to 1 to 3 and then back to 1 at about the foul line, who hits 2 for the right-hand layup.

Teaching points: When 1 throws the outlet to the right, 2 will shoot a right-hand layup. When 1 outlets to the left, 3 will shoot a left-handed layup.

Diag. 4, three-lane passing in both directions with the outlet pass to the left.

Player 1 outlets to 3 and the ball then moves from 3 to 1 to 2 to 1 and then over to the cutter (3) for the left-hand layup.

Diag. 5, The Fast-Break Jumper Drill:

Begins with four lines, one at each corner with one player (#1) under the basket at the starting end of the floor. Players 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 have a ball, and 2 and 3 are the outside wings.

Player 1 shoots a layup, recovers the ball, and outlets to 3 on the left. The ball is then passed from 3 to 1 to 2 to 1, who feeds it to 3 for the left-hand layup. #1 then moves to his left (in position for a pass from 4 in the next phase of the drill).

Diag. 6, The Fast-Break Jumper Drill (continued):

Player 2 spots up for a pass from 5, then shoots a jump shot from the right. Meanwhile, 1 spots up for a pass from 4 and a jump shot from the left-hand side.

Players 1 and 2 must follow their shots and finish with a layup, after which 2 will fall in at the end of the 5 line and 1 will fall in at the end of the 4 line.

Players 4 and 5 fill the outside lanes, while 3, after shooting his layup will recover the rebound and outlet the ball to 5 on the left-hand side. The ball will then be moved from 5 to 3 to 4 to 3, and then fed in to 5 coming in for the left-hand layup.

Player 3 then continues over to his left side in the continuation of the drill.

Diag. 7, The Fast-Break Jumper Drill (continued):

After players 6 and 7 pass to 3 and 4 for set shots, they fill the outside lanes. Player 5 takes a layup, then recovers the ball and outlets to 6 in the left lane, and the ball then moves from 6 to 5 to 7 to 5 down the middle. The latter then hits 6 for the left-hand layup.

The drill will then be continued as shown at the top of Diag. 6, with 1 and 2 passing in to 5 and 7 for jump shots (not shown), with 6 underneath the hoop.

Player 6 will then outlet the ball to 2 filling the outside line, and the drill will continue until the players reach their goal or the coach stops the drill.

During the Fast-Break Jumper Drill, the players must concentrate on their passes and layups, otherwise they will have a hard time executing their assignments.

Once the players understand the drill, they will begin showing a lot of improvement. At the beginning of the season, our goal was to make 30 shots in two-and-a-half minutes. By playoff time, our goal was 45-50 shots in the same time span.

We can also run the drill for five minutes while changing the outlet direction halfway through. In these five minutes, we expect to make 60 shots at the beginning of the season and 90-100 shots by the end of the year.

Once we begin running the drill for five minutes, it becomes a fun-conditioning drill. With advanced players, we are also able to incorporate a three-line weave into the drill.