Transition defense in a vital part of any defensive scheme, this drill helps instill this.
You need two balls for this drill.
Have a manager/coach stand at half cour with one basketball.
Two teams of 5 scrimmage until the head coach yells 'change' or blows his whistle.
The player with the basketball immediately puts the ball on the floor.
The team that was on defense is now in a fast break situation going the other way.
The team that was on offense is now on defense and must stop the basketball.
The ball not being used should be retrieved by a coach, player, or manager and reset to the coach/manager at halfcourt.
The 'change' aspect may be repeated as much as desired.
5 on 5
Emphaize that when the change occurs that the ball must be stopped at all costs to prevent an easy basket.
Both the offense and defense must go all out so that both aspects of the transition game are worked on.
This is an excellant conditioning drill when repeated several times.
Empahize taking charges in this scenario.
You can set rewards/permissions for stoping the fast break.
Sprints and pushups may be assigned for failing to stop the break.
Going from offense to defense
This basketball drill is copyright © 2026 Championship Productions, Inc.
