Kevin Boyle: 20 High Energy Drills for Pressure Defense

with Kevin Boyle,
Montverde Academy (FL) Head Boys Basketball Coach;
2022 High School National Champions;
has won the High School National Championship 6x (2022, 2020, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013);
only high school coach ever to win three Consecutive National Championships;
8x National High School Coach of the Year (USA Today, Naismith and ESPN/Rise);
MaxPrep's High School Coach of the Decade (2010 - 2020);
In 2017, USA TODAY named Montverde Academy the "Team of the Decade" in High School Basketball;
2020 & 2018 Naismith High School Boy's Coach of the Year (also won the Naismith award in 2011);
2018 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Basketball National Coach of the Year;
In 2017, USA TODAY named Montverde Academy the "Team of the Decade" in High School Basketball in the U.S.;
St. Patrick's High School (NJ) Head Coach from 1988 to 2011;
Head Coach for the USA Junior National team at the 2012 USA Nike Hoop Summit;
4x Jordan Brand Classic Head Coach;
In the 2011-15 NBA Drafts Boyle had coached five players selected in the top 3 overall picks - the first time any college or high school has ever accomplished;
Boyle-coached players have included: D'Angelo Russell, R.J. Barrett, Cade Cunningham, Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd Gilchrist and Joel Embiid

Kevin Boyle is one of the country's premier high school basketball coaches and his teams are widely known for their in-your-face pressure defense.

This on-court presentation is jam-packed with high intensity drills that will turn your defense into a competitive advantage for your team. The drills are progressive and will improve both individual and team defensive skills. Each drill in this step-by-step model is physically demanding, easy to implement, game speed and provides built-in conditioning.

Warm Up
The presentation starts with seven warm-up drills that have offensive and defensive elements to challenge the skills of both. The drills include passing, cutting and shooting action. The flip pass action is described in even more detail than some of the other drills and can be extremely valuable to any coach. Because Coach Boyle uses warm-up drills that simulate their offense, players get two benefits from these drills and the coach gets more time in practice to work on other important concepts.

Half Court Defense
Throughout the presentation, Boyle shows how each drill is run and corrects the players when they make common mistakes. Drills include:

• Tracing the Ball - Effective ball pressure must be quick and smart. Although this is a simple drill, it is essential for creating the kind of ball pressure that will help every other aspect of your defense.
• Denying the Passing Lane - The best way to stop an offense in its tracks is to take away passing options. Coach Boyle teaches proper spacing, angles and movement to deny passing lanes.
• Guarding a Cutter - When you aggressively deny passes, a good offense will resort to face cuts and backdoor cuts. After learning to deny a perimeter pass, this drill teaches defenders to stop and redirect cutters.
• Help and Recover - When a teammate gets beat off the dribble, the help defender must learn to step in without giving up an easy shot from his own man. Quick reaction, timing, and a quick closeout are key elements in this drill.
• Closeout Drill Series - With more and more players shooting and driving, closeouts have become a key element of a successful defense. This collection of short drills will quickly improve this skill set.
• Slide Drill Series - Staying in front and slowing down the ball handler is of utmost importance. Coach Boyle improves the age-old zigzag drill by making it more realistic. Your players will improve their defensive slide, learn to cut off angles and transition quicker from slide to sprint in a full court setting.
• Defending Drives from the Wing Series - In this collection of four drills, players first learn to cut off wing penetration and then they learn how to defend a spin move that results from the cut-off.
• Guarding Duck-ins and Post-ups - Duck-ins put the offensive player right into the heart of your defense. In this drill, players learn how to keep the post player out of the paint and how to deny passes to the post. Your players will improve their toughness and their footwork.

Full Court Defense
While defending in the half court is essential to a team's success, picking up in the full court can also present some major issues for teams. Coach Boyle teaches a full-court pressure defense that stresses some of the same concepts he covers in the half court. He shows you what to do after you get split when trapping in full court. He then shows how players must get below the ball in order to be in a great help defensive position. Coach Boyle shares five great trapping drills to train players on how to keep chasing the ball and how to continue hounding the ball handler full court.

Quick Hitters
Coach Boyle ends the session with a couple of his favorite quick hitter plays that can assist your team with scoring easy baskets and get the ball to your best player in good scoring position.

This inside look into Coach Boyle's system is a tremendous way for any coach to help his or her team improve on the defensive end of the court. If you want to build a championship-caliber defense, these drills are sure to help.

Produced at the 2014 Philadelphia (PA) clinic.

70 minutes. 2015.