Building Your Defense with the Shell Drill

Teams that give maximum effort on the defensive end are the most successful!

Greg Lansing demonstrates various versions of the defensive shell drill that he has picked up throughout his coaching career. These drills teach fundamental concepts that are crucial for man and zone defenses. They focus on ball pressure and also position your players for help defense, which is key to disrupting dribble drive offenses that attack the paint.

Coach Lansing opens with the basic Shell Drill alignment via a 4 v 4 defensive set. Constant, loud communication is heavily stressed, as is jumping to the ball in a 2-step help position. Demonstrations take on a sequential approach as Lansing continues to add offensive options in order to force the defense into uncomfortable, scramble-like situations. Lansing also discusses his preference for how to defend dominant low post players in a shell situation.

Several variations of the Shell Drill are demonstrated. The No Paint Drill requires the defense to deny the ball handler from having both feet set in the lane. The Perfect Possession Drill calls for the defense to execute as a unit for an entire 35 second shot clock while never allowing straight line dribble drives, baseline drives, or second chance points off of offensive rebounds. The Scramble Drill puts the defense at a disadvantage as the offense is allowed an extra player (but cannot dribble) as they spread out in a 4 v 3 set. The drill emphasizes defensive communication and proper close-out technique. Lansing also displays two 1 v 1 defensive drills that push the defender to maintain balance and foot speed while closing out or traveling over the top of several screens.

Under Coach Lansing's tutelage, Indiana State's defensive field goal percentage has fallen from 8th in the Missouri Valley Conference to 1st this past season (2012). Lansing discusses the importance of defensive shell drills as a top priority in sharpening the awareness and technique of his teams.

42 minutes. 2012.