Basketball Drill - Take The Charge Defensive Drill

Defensive player under the basket in helpside against the yellow coach. Blue line is offense. Place a floor mat under the basket to cushion the fall for the defender.

The Drill: First player in the blue line dribbles to the hoop for the lay-up. Stress that the offensive player must take it all the way to the hoop and make contact with the defender. The defender steps into the offensive player's lane, plants his/her feet with a wide stance and braces for the contact. Teach the defender that when the contact occurs, avoid injury by just "sitting down" on the mat, with the butt making initial contact with the floor, not the back or shoulders. Immediately after the contact, the defensive player pops back up quickly, the offensive player moves to back of the line, and the next blue player drives for the next contact. Have each player, defend 5 or 6 in a row.

Pointers:

2. Make sure the feet are planted, and that the defender does not move, turn the hips or shoulders, etc. The only movement should be the backward fall when contact is made. Any other movement may result in a blocking foul instead of a charge.

3. The defender should be vocal and yell when the contact occurs ("OH!!!")... and make an academy award "flop" back onto the mat! You've got to sometimes sell it to the ref.

4. Use an extra manager or assistant under the basket to help catch the offensive player after contact is made, to avoid injury.

5. Advise your players that since the officials do not always call the charging foul, it is best not to take the charge if you are in foul-trouble. It's a judgement call and you are at the mercy of the officials.

Also see "Charge/Loose-ball Drill"

Helpful DVD-Video

Five-Star Basketball: Defensive Philosophy & Drills for Successful Team Basketball with Lewis Howard, Five-Star Basketball Coach/Instructor; Largo HS (MD) Head Boys Basketball Coach. The high scoring offense at Largo High School is based on defensive pressure and forcing turnovers. Coach Howard opens with the half court shell drill. Elements included are jumping to the ball, help side, strong side, rotation and trapping the corner. Another drill that helps build team defense is the head on the ball drill. As the dribbler works up the floor, the defender stays in front of the ball, making the dribbler change directions. The drill ends with one-on-one play from half court. One of his signature trapping defenses is 25, which is a full court strategy when you let your man catch the ball in front and uses trapping. A straight man-to-man defensive system in the half court, 22, adds trapping in the half court. The two-on-one trap drill is a key drill for this system of play. Other drills address recovery, loose balls, taking the charge, and deflections... (more info) Price: $39.99