Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes

Ben Howland – Former UCLA,
PITT, NAU

“Simple Drills and Defensive
Concepts”

Simple Drills to Take Back to Practice
3 Basic Passing Drills

Drill # 1 – Double Down and Close Out Drill | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
Defense and Passing Drill
Offensive Rules
o Ball cannot be put above your head
o Post entry pass work, Post Kick out work
o Go for about 15 seconds then rotate
o No dribble at the beginning
o Progress into one dribble, two dribble later
o Quick passes and decision making
o Ball can start in post or on wing

Defensive Rules | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
o Try to get deflections
o Count deflections and steals
o Defender goes in and out
o Butt always to baseline when opening up
o Vision is key when opening and doubling
o Work on Close outs
o High hands always
o Harass both wing and post
o Take away vision
o Never slap down

Drill #2 Double Team and Rotate Drill | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
3 offensive players and 3 defensive players
Small space passing drill and rotation drill
No dribbles by offense
On ball defender follows the ball on pass
Trapping concepts and play 2 anticipation drill
Great drill to be quick in decisions and effective passing
Defenders read pivots and shoulders
Ball is moved for about 15 seconds or 5 passes
Or moved until coach is satisfied
Score it, be creative
How does this fit into your defensive schemes
How does this work into your defensive style

Drill #3 Dribble Drive and Pass Drill | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
Start from half court with dribble
Dribbler jump stop at FT Line in front of 2 defenders
Double team is waiting
Pass to offensive man under the basket
Fundamentals: No jump in the air passes!!!!
All passes made quick but under control
Fake and Make passes
Work on guard making good decisions
Also work on defense taking away vision

Drill #4 Close Out Drill | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
3 lines on the baseline to start
No Offense in the beginning just have players close out with any offense
Progress to offensive man at 3 spots
Work on high side close, high hands, etc
Take away vision and post entry
Under control but hard close outs
Progress to live one on one and live 3 on 3
Incorporate help and screening later

Drill #5 – 2 on 1 Close Outs (with a Coach Drill) | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
Coach starts with the ball up top1 defender under
Coach can pass to either side
Defender closes out to the ball and play live
Limit offense to 2 dribbles
Get a stop go to offense
Score it, be creative
Always have winners and losers with running

Drill #6 – 1 on 1 Denial Drill | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
Offensive player tries to create a lead
Defender denial
Catch on wing play live
Get a stop go on offense
Score it and be creative
How does this fit into your scheme?

Drill #7 – Box Out Drills | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
3 on 3 Box Out drill
3 lines of offensive players up top
Coach shoots the ball
If offense gets it play live
Defense needs 2 or 3 in a row to get out

Transition Defensive Ideas | Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes
If you take away the other team’s transition offense and you’re any good, you have a shot at
winning every night even if you struggle to score
1 and 2 are back every time or on the release.
1 jams the ball, 2 all the way back to the paint, if 1 shoots the switch positions
These 2 never crash the glass while the other 3 guys must crash hard
Jamming the ball means to stop it ASAP in the back court
When the defense gets the rebound everyone sprints back
You can have as many back as the situation warrants

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes:

Ben Howland Blueprint Basketball Clinic Notes