Shell Drill: Scramble

The scramble version of the shell drill serves a different purpose than other variations. In other variations, the defense is evenly matched (5on5) and is set, while scramble puts the defense at a numbers disadvantage. This helps teach players the most important defensive priorities – covering up the basketball and preventing the layup.

Procedure: Scramble works the same way as other versions of the shell – with the offense swinging the ball around the perimeter. The three defenders must hustle and communicate in order to contest the shot and take away the easy basket. The message is that these team priorities outweigh individual match ups – If there is an offensive player standing unguarded with the ball and I am the closest defender, my job is to defend that player, not to give up the easy shot and then say, “that wasn’t my man!”.

The numbers disadvantage facing the defense also emulates the following game situations:

1. Transition Defense

2. The advantage that the offense hold when it is able to reverse the ball out of a defensive trap – the three defenders who were not involved in the trap are forced – if only for a few seconds – to defend 4 offensive players.

By teaching players to cover up the ball, contest the shot, and prevent the easy layup,. Scramble can prepare your de3fense well for these situations.

Filed Under: Basketball Defense Drills

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