Read and Man-to-Man Full Court Presses

with Eric Flannery,
St. Edward's (OH) High School Head Boys Basketball Coach;
400 career wins; 2x Ohio Division I State Champions;
3x Cleveland Plain Dealer Coach of the Year and 2007 Associated Press Ohio Coach of the Year;
2013-14 USA Men's U17 Developmental National Team Assistant Coach (FIBA World Championship Gold Medal);
2010 USA Youth Olympic Games Team Head Coach; 2010 McDonald's All American Game Head Coach (West Team)

With the purpose of disrupting even the best offenses, a pressing team works to change the flow of the game. Eric Flannery demonstrates two pressing defenses that will help your team control the pace, and in turn, control the game.

The Read Press

In the Read press, your players will make the opposing offense think. By applying ball pressure, the initial look is to cause deflections. Once the ball has been entered, players look to swarm the ball, but not allow the same second pass twice. As the ball is reversed, the press changes its look from a diamond press to a 2-2-1 press, creating confusion for opponents. After the initial read, your team can throw multiple options at your opponent: Trap, Stay, or Squeeze.

Flannery give you the rules for the Read press, as well as where to position your team based on your personnel. Your best rotation may not work against long wing players or skilled big guys. The Read press gives you the flexibility to adjust the press rotations. This will allow you to mix and match the defense to put players into areas that can benefit your team.

L Cut

Coach Flannery shows how to use the L cut as a better way to trap on the first pass. Oftentimes in a full court press, you'll see the first trap coming at an angle from the inbound pass. Flannery has his players go up the floor and come in from the side, which cuts off the dribble to the middle of the floor. This is a great adjustment to prevent the ball from going to the middle and letting the offense use either side of the floor.

Man-to-Man Press

In the man-to-man press, your team applies the same ball pressure, with trapping options, but in a man-to-man setting. Flannery guides you through rotations to make your man-to-man press look like a zone, or even trap press. He takes you through any initial set-up that the offense will try to use against your the press.

Breakdown Drills

To cap his detailed look at a disrupting defense, Flannery breaks down the press into full court drills. Each drill builds a havoc mindset by focusing on forcing sideline and containing your opponents' best ball handlers.

A variation of the defensive zig zag drills, the Sprint and Turn drill helps teach players to turn and sprint and take an angle to cut off the offensive player. This drill is effective when teaching a press since too many players chase the basketball. This drill progresses into 2-on-2, forcing your defensive players to communicate to cut off the basketball with the trap coming from the backside.

If your team likes to get up and down the floor, this press from Coach Flannery would be great for you to utilize. It creates confusion and makes your opponents think, causing them to slow their pace of play. Your team is sure to love this style of play that gets everyone involved!

88 minutes. 2017.