Backdoor Bandits
Defenders deny every pass, so the only way to score is to cut behind them.
What this drill teaches
Reading denial and punishing it. With perimeter catches banned and defenders in full denial, the backdoor cut stops being a set play and becomes the obvious answer — walk the defender up, watch for the head turn, go.
In games: Denial defence beats young teams because they keep fighting to catch where they're being denied. After this, hard denial reads as an invitation to cut behind for a layup.
- Cutters walking their defender up before breaking backdoor
- Cuts triggered off the defender's head turning away
- Passes delivered to the rim side of the cutter, away from the trailing hand
U12: cuts will be telegraphed and passes late — reward the completed pass even when the shot misses. U14–U16: expect sold cuts off real cues, finishing through a help defender.
Equipment
1 ball, half court
Setup
Three attackers on the perimeter, three defenders in full denial. A coach or extra player up top with the ball.
Steps
- 1Defenders must play full denial — hand in the passing lane, on the line and up the line.
- 2Attackers may not catch a perimeter pass at all; the ball only enters on a cut.
- 3A layup off a backdoor cut is worth two; any other basket counts for nothing.
- 4Defence gets a point for a deflection or a five-second stall. Rotate after every score.
Coaching points
- Walk your defender up before you cut — sell it, don't sprint straight to the backdoor.
- Look for the defender's head turning away; that is the cue.
- Passer: throw it to the front rim side of the cutter, away from the trailing hand.
- Defenders: deny hard but keep your eyes on the ball, or you will get burned every time.
Why kids love it
Denial defence beats young teams because they keep trying to catch where they are being denied. One session of this and players learn that hard denial is an invitation.
Variations
Two attackers against two defenders, and allow a perimeter catch after a failed cut.
Add a help defender in the paint who can take the charge or block the layup.
Reward the pass more than the finish — a completed backdoor pass scores even if the shot misses.
After the backdoor catch, play the whole thing out three-on-three.