Building Game Speed with Transition Drills and Set Plays to Attack Any Defense

with Brady Sallee;
Ball State University Head Women's Coach;
2025 MAC Regular Season Champions;
2025 MAC Tournament Champions;
2025 MAC Coach of the Year;
2015 MAC West Division Champions;
Eastern Illinois Head Women's Coach from 2004 to 2012;
2010 OVC Regular Season Champions;
East Carolina Assistant Coach from 2002 to 2003;
Kent State Assistant Coach from 1996 to 2002;
Idaho State Assistant Coach from 1994 to 1995;
Played college baseball at Thomas More University

In this video, Ball State's Brady Sallee demonstrates how to use transition drills and set plays to build game speed while reinforcing fundamental concepts on both sides of the ball. When your players can push the ball, read the floor, and flow seamlessly into offense without hesitation, your team will be well positioned for consistent success.

The video begins with transition warm-up drills designed to stimulate the body while sharpening passing, finishing, and floor balance. Coach Sallee walks through several of his favorite two-minute drills that emphasize moving the ball quickly up the floor, finishing at the rim under control, and maintaining pace without sacrificing execution. These drills create conditioning with the ball while setting a competitive tone for practice.

Next, Sallee introduces Sideline Defense, a drill that teaches players how to nose the basketball and guard with physicality and discipline. By forcing the ball toward the sideline and eliminating paint touches, defenders learn how to apply pressure while staying in control. This segment reinforces the footwork, angles, and sustained effort required to guard effectively at game speed.

The video concludes with a look inside Coach Sallee's playbook as he breaks down two set plays designed to attack both man and zone defenses. Coaches see how the plays "Blue" and "Iceland" create scoring opportunities through movement, spacing, and timing. Each set includes multiple options, allowing teams to counter defensive adjustments without changing personnel or structure.

Throughout the video, Coach Sallee emphasizes designing drills that reflect how you want to play, using goals to keep drills competitive and fresh, and giving players ownership within the practice environment. This approach helps practices translate directly to game performance, especially in critical moments when pace and execution matter most.

This video provides coaches with practical drills, defensive teaching tools, and adaptable set plays that can be immediately implemented to increase tempo, sharpen decision making, and attack any defensive scheme with confidence.

53 minutes. 2026.