Practice Drills to Ramp Up Defensive Pressure

with Rodney Terry,
Vanderbilt University Assistant Coach;
New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) Scout from 2025 to 2026;
University of Texas Head Coach from 2023 to 2025;
2023 Elite Eight;
2023 Big XII Tournament Champions;
2023 Sporting New Coach of the Year;
University of Texas Assistant Coach; in 2021 to 2022 and 2002 to 2011;
University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) Head Coach from 2018 to 2021;
Fresno State Head Coach from 2011 to 2018;
2016 Mountain West Conference (MWC) Tournament Champions;
2003 NCAA Final Four (at University of Texas; with Rick Barnes)

Coach Rodney Terry shares his experiences from rising up the coaching ladder; from a high school freshmen coach to rebuilding the program as the head coach at the University of Texas El Paso. In addition to insights and ideas for improving the foundation of your team's culture, you will get eight practice drills to sharpen your defensive execution. These drills will help your players extend their pressure into the full court, contain the dribbler with tough on-ball defense, and more.

Essential Program Elements

Learn the essential elements for building a successful basketball program through the experiences and reflections shared by Coach Terry. These anecdotes and insights provide ideas for strengthening player relationships, constructing a more cohesive coaching staff, and creating an identity that reinforces and places value on hard work and grit.

Core Drills

Improve your team's pressure in the full court with three drills that will develop the fundamentals necessary for any press defense. The "3-Man Transition" drill challenges your players to deter the opponent's fast break by slowing down the ball and taking away advance passes. The "2-on-2 Convert" drill will teach your athletes to quickly convert from offense to defense while also enhancing their on-ball defense and help support in the backcourt. The "Corral" drill tasks your defenders with controlling the dribbler in the open court. These exercises will help you create the type of ball pressure that forces opponents into giving up the ball.

Half Court Defense

You will also gain insight into Coach Terry's half-court defense with five breakdown drills that teach multiple phases of the game. "Three Line Closeouts" and "Continuous Closeouts" train players on the proper technique to contain dribble penetration in the half court. Terry also shows how to adjust your closeouts based on scouting reports to take away your opponent's strengths.

The "Jump to the Ball" drill progresses through several elements in a defensive possession such as on-ball defense, denying basket cuts, and help side defense. Learn how to support your teammates from the help side with the "Single Exchange" drill that teaches players how to deny weak side movement and help on baseline dribble penetration. You will also learn how to properly execute hard hedges and catches versus ball screens in the "Michigan State" drill. This drill is a great way to review how to defend ball screens from multiple locations on the court.

Build a strong defense, and gain valuable insight on improving your program's culture, with this insightful clinic from Rodney Terry!

66 minutes. 2019.