Basketball Drills - Pick (Screen) Drills

It is important that your players know how to set correct screens. The first drill is a pass and "screen away" drill that helps stress all the ingredients of setting good screens, and teaches the pick and roll move. The second drill is a screen set for the ball-handler, with execution of the pick and roll move. For the important basics of setting screens, see "Setting Screens".

Drill #1. Pass and Screen-Away. Create three lines out along the 3-point arc corresponding to a point guard, and both wing positions (see diagram). Have an assistant or manager be the token defender on the left wing. The point guard starts by passing to the right wing. He/she then "screens away" for the left wing, setting the pick on the defender. The wing player cuts around the screen and gets the pass from the right wing, and takes it to the hoop. The screener should "roll" off the pick after cutter comes around. See "Setting Screens" for correct screening techniques, and the pick and roll technique. Have the players rotate right wing, to point, to left wing.

Make sure that the screeners make contact, get wide and strong and stationary with arms in, and make sure they have the correct angle on the screen. Make sure the player cutting around the screen waits for the screen to develop, and "rubs off" the screen correctly. Make sure the pivot on the roll move is toward the cutter, not away... a player should not turn his back to his teammate.

Make sure as always that players hustle, and the passes are sharp. Once you feel that your team is making good screens, "go live". Break up into groups of three, and put a defender on each offensive player. Tell the defenders to allow the first pass to the right wing, but then play tough "D". You can now also teach your defense how to fight through, and slide behind a screen, and how to call a "switch" on defense. You can also start with a pass to the left wing, and screen right, or let the point guard go either way.

Look at the diagrams below for common screening errors.

Drill #2. On-Ball Front Screen with Pick and Roll.

Now see Diagram C for the next option. If the defenders switch the screen, O2 (after screening and pinning the defender) should "roll" to the hoop, and expect the bounce pass from O1.

Helpful DVDs-Videos

The Complete Guide to Ball Screening with Ben Braun, former University of California Head Coach; 1997 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2003 Naismith National Coach of the Year award finalist, 1999 NIT Champions. This outstanding video takes one of the oldest, and least understood, arts in basketball and displays in-depth coverage of the multiple plays and options that can be run off of ball screens and the pick & roll at any level of play. These drills highlight the perfect moments to take advantage of the defense when they are most vulnerable by creating confusion and forcing mismatches to improve scoring opportunities. Multiple screenplays will force defenses to react into help situations, which will create 3 on 2 and 2 on 1 situations. Coach Braun instructs players through game speed drills of the pick & roll including the down screen, the down series with a ball screen, the ball screen flare screen, screening the screener, and many more. Braun's keys to offense include ball control, taking advantage of mismatches, and keeping defenders on their heels by countering to their defensive schemes, which can all be accomplished using creative, effective ball screens... (more info) Price: $39.99

Creating Mismatches: Pick-and-Roll and Screening with Dave Smart, Carleton University Head Coach; Canada's National Men's Basketball Assistant Coach. This unique DVD on screening introduces the concept of "selling opposite" as a big part of screening success. Coach Smart discusses screening terminology, different types of screens and benefits of this offensive tool in this presentation. The advantage in screening goes to the offense by implementing the down screen, back screen and on ball screen. The back screen gives the cutter an opportunity to basket cut, back cut or flare. Cutters are taught to cut "shoulder to hip" when accepting a screen and driving the elbow into the back of his teammate. Creating good match-ups for the offense is a main focus of a good screening team. The goal is to put each player in positive situations on the floor based on their specific role. Against switching defenses, Smart demonstrates the slip technique and the ability to gain match-up advantages. Smart demonstrates five ways the defense may attempt to guard the ball screen, and how the offense can benefit in each situation. The screen has become an offensive tool for coaches who emphasize it and incorporate it into their style. This DVD will give coaches multiple options for using screens to break down the defense, create mismatches and score more baskets... (more info) Price: $39.99