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Post defense and dig-down

Bigs establish the team's post position; guards time digs without surrendering rhythm threes. Finish with a rebound or deflection recovery. 6 to 18 players, 1 basket, about 12 minutes.

Add it to a practice plan
Post defense and dig-down drawn on a half court in 3 steps. 1. Earn the post catch before the dig: O1 enters to O5 only after O5 shows a legal target. X5 establishes the called post position, X1 pressures the wing, and X2 stays connected to the opposite corner. 2. Dig on the first power dribble: O5 takes the required power dribble. X2 leaves the corner on that dribble, attacks the ball with the inside hand, and stops short of the post player's body. 3. Recover as the kick-out travels: O5 passes to O2. X2 leaves the dig on the flight and closes to the corner on a separate path, arriving under control with high hands.
1. Earn the post catch before the dig: O1 enters to O5 only after O5 shows a legal target. X5 establishes the called post position, X1 pressures the wing, and X2 stays connected to the opposite corner. 2. Dig on the first power dribble: O5 takes the required power dribble. X2 leaves the corner on that dribble, attacks the ball with the inside hand, and stops short of the post player's body. 3. Recover as the kick-out travels: O5 passes to O2. X2 leaves the dig on the flight and closes to the corner on a separate path, arriving under control with high hands.Credit: Drawn by Ball Coach

What it needs

Players
6 to 18 players
Baskets
1 basket
Court
Needs a half court
Time
About 12 minutes
Equipment
basketballs, two colors of pinnies, scoreboard or score sheet
Type
Team work, intermediate

Set it up

Play 3-on-3 at one basket with an offensive post on the block, an entry passer on the wing, and a shooter in the opposite corner. Match a post defender, on-ball defender, and dig defender. Extra groups wait behind the baseline and rotate in after two possessions. The coach identifies whether the post defender should play three-quarter high side, three-quarter low side, or full front before the round begins.

Run it

The wing enters the ball only when the post has a legal target and the post defender establishes the called position before the catch. After the catch, the post player must take one power dribble before scoring or passing. The dig defender leaves the shooter on the first dribble, attacks the ball with the inside hand while keeping the body out of the post player's landing space, and immediately recovers on a pickup or kick-out. The on-ball defender pressures the return pass and sinks toward the elbow when the ball is in the post. The post defender holds ground without reaching, contests vertically, and finishes the possession by making first contact, pursuing the rebound, and securing the outlet.

What to coach

Bigs establish the team's post position; guards time digs without surrendering rhythm threes. Finish with a rebound or deflection recovery.

Score it

The defense earns one point for forcing a poor or extended post catch, one for a legal dig that causes a pickup, deflection, or pass-out, and one for a stop completed with a rebound. The offense earns two points for a post score or uncontested kick-out three and one for drawing a late, reckless, or non-recovering dig. A dig that gives up a direct rhythm three scores zero for the defense. Play to 12.

Make it harder

Begin with a guided entry and mandatory power dribble so the dig timing is predictable. Let the post choose whether to score or kick out, then make the possession live. Change the post catch from block to short corner or elbow and add a second weak-side shooter once the three defenders can dig and recover without losing the rebound.

Use it in practice

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Where this drill comes from

Ball Coach wrote this drill for its practice planner's drill library. The curricula below shaped how the library organizes practice; no text or diagram is copied from them. The diagram is drawn by Ball Coach.