Newsletter #139

Today's Theme... Chris Mack's Competitive Toughness Drills
These highly competitive, tough drills are from Louisville Head Coach Chris Mack (former Xavier head coach) and help players become tough "gamers".

24 Second Drill.   This is a very competitive, tough drill that you can run at the end of practice.

1. This is a 5-on-5 half-court drill (black vs white).
2. Put 24 seconds on the clock. Have an assistant or manager run the clock.
3. White is on offense; black is on defense.
4. The offense has 24 seconds to score, as black tries to stop them.
5. If white shoots and misses and black rebounds with 12 seconds left, the ball goes back to white with just 12 seconds left. If black gets another stop at 4 seconds, white gets the ball back with just 4 seconds to score, until the full 24 seconds are gone.
6. If white gets an offensive rebound, the clock is reset to 24 seconds and black stays on defense.
7. If white scores, they go on defense.

"2 in 1" 4-on-4 Shell Drill.  This is the defensive shell drill with special competitive rules.

1. Use 4-on-4 teams.

2. To win a team must make a stop, a score and a stop in three consecutive possessions.

3. If the defense gets a stop, then:

   • They go on offense and if they score, then...

   • They go on defense and must get a stop to win.

4. If the offense scores, they go on defense and must get a stop, score, and a stop to win.

5. Thus there is a change of possession after each play.

6. Losers run or do pushups.

Cut Throat Drill.  Make three teams. Depending on how many players you have, you may go 3-on-3 or 4-on-4. On any foul, that team loses the possession on defense.

Defensively:

1. Defense must get three consecutive stops.

2. If the offense scores they go on defense, the defense is out, and the sideline team is now on offense.

3. With each possession, the ball always comes back to the coach, and the coach can give it to the offense at any time.

4. The offense should be moving when the coach has the ball.

5. Can only win when on defense.

Offensively:

1. The winner is the first team to score a prescribed number of times (pick 3 - 5 scores depending on time).

2. If the offense scores they stay on offense, the defense is out, and the sideline team is now on defense.

3. With each possession, the ball always comes back to the coach, and the coach can give it to the offense at any time.

4. The offense should be moving when the coach has the ball.

5. Can only win on offense.

Thus a team can win by either (1) getting three defensive stops in a row, or (2) being the first team to get 5 scores (or whatever number you choose) on offense.  Losers run or do pushups.

For more of these drills, see:  Xavier Competitive Toughness Drills