Open Practice with Ben Jacobson

with Ben Jacobson,
Utah State University Head Coach;
University of Northern Iowa University Head Coach from 2006 to 2026;
2026 MVC Tournament Champions;
5x Missouri Valley Coach of the Year (2009, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2022);
4x Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions (2009, 2010, 2020, 2022),
5x Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champions;
University of Northern Iowa University Assistant Coach from 2001 to 2006;
North Dakota State Assistant Coach from 2000 to 2001;
University of North Dakota Assistant Coach from 1993 to 2001;
as a player, was North Dakota Mr. Basketball in 1989;
played collegiately at University of North Dakota;
ended his career as the school's all-time assist leader

Longtime UNI head coach Ben Jacobson shares in-depth skills and drills to build your on- and off-ball defense.

Coach Jacobson shares the ways he has modified in his unique program of practice organization and drill instruction to get better results in live-game action. Each drill has a few primary coaching points and Coach Jacobson shows goals for each that keeps the team efficiently working to achieve those goals.

Warm-up
In the warm-up segment, Coach Jacobson and his staff demonstrate several drills for improving footwork, balance and closing out. Two key fundamentals are emphasized here; closing out to contest the shot and keeping hands wide to defend the dribble. Players learn balance, proper footwork and closing out on the ball.

The drills gradually progress to longer closeouts that stretch the defender's range. These drills require players to be quick and take short steps as they closeout to remain in contact with the floor. In the 3-on-3, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 drills, Coach Jacobson emphasizes being light on the feet, ready to move and getting the head on a swivel to avoid getting caught staring at the basketball.

Transition
Games are won and lost in transition. Teams must be able to score when they have the advantage on offense and get stops when they are at a disadvantage on defense. Coach Jacobson shares a transition drill that works on advantages on offense and disadvantages on the defensive end.

Half Court Defense
Teams need to get stops in the half-court defensively and have the ability to execute and convert offensively when opposing defenses are set. Coach Jacobson ends his presentation with two half-court drills - the "Butler Drill" and the "Shutout Drill.' The Butler Drill starts as a disadvantage 4-on-3 drill to work communication, covering for each other and rotation. The emphasis is guarding the basketball one-on-one to reduce the number of required defensive rotations.

The Shutout Drill is a 5-on-5 drill that trains the defense to make stops until the 35-second shot clock runs out. If the offense scores, is fouled or gets an offensive rebound, the 35-second shot clock is reset. Teaching defensive intensity is important because many times the defense has to stop the offense three times in order for the clock to tick to zero.

Raise the level of your team defense this season. Coach Jacobson shows you how to organize practices in order to transition proven fundamentals into positive live game improvements. This will help you get the most out of your valuable practice time.

Produced at the 2014 IBCA Clinic.

72 minutes. 2015.