Setup and Organization

This competitive one-on-one drill focuses on transition defense and learning to contain the ball at full speed. Set up with one offensive player at the top of the key inside the three-point line and one defensive player under the basket with a ball. Place one cone at the left foul line extended (inside the three-point line) and a second cone near half court on the right side. On the coach’s signal, the defender (under the basket) passes the ball to the offensive player at the top of the key and immediately becomes live by sprinting around the foul-line cone. The offensive player simultaneously dribbles at full speed around the half-court cone and attacks downhill. From there, it becomes a live one-on-one possession in transition. The defensive goal: contain, angle, and funnel the drive without fouling. The offensive goal: attack the elbow, finish strong, and create contact when possible.

Step-by-Step Progression

1. The defender starts under the basket with a ball; the offensive player starts at the top of the key.
2. On the coach’s cue, the defender passes to the offensive player and sprints around the foul-line cone.
3. The offensive player catches, dribbles full speed around the half-court cone, and attacks the rim.
4. The defender recovers from behind and must pick up the dribble, contain the drive, or take a charge.
5. The possession becomes live upon the offensive player’s first dribble into the frontcourt.
6. After each rep, rotate the next players in quickly for continuous, high-tempo reps.

Scoring

Each defensive stop = 1 point; a charge drawn = 2 points. A foul resets the defensive team’s score to zero. Offensive rebounds deduct 1 point from the defensive score. Only defensive plays count toward scoring. Run each round for three minutes, then switch offense and defense. The defensive group with the highest cumulative score at the end wins.

Coaching Points

Defenders must sprint out of the pass, get low early, and establish position outside the paint. Emphasize staying square, using quick adjustment steps, and cutting off angles without reaching. Offensively, teach attacking under control at full speed and reading the defender’s recovery angle. This drill builds toughness, conditioning, and the discipline needed to stop transition drives without fouling.

Variations

Run the drill from both sides of the floor to train angle coverage on either hand. You can extend it to 2-on-1 or 2-on-2 transition containment by adding a trailing offensive player and secondary defender. For advanced groups, add a second cone to force the offensive player to change direction mid-drive. To increase urgency, reduce the recovery distance for the defender or shorten the shot window for the offense (e.g., one dribble after crossing the foul line).