Backdoor Bandits

Fun game

Defenders deny every pass, so the only way to score is to cut behind them.

10 min groups of 6 Half court

FootworkTeamworkPassingU12U14U16

Game guide

groups of 6 · 1 ball, half court

Speed

Get everyone ready

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ballGreen C: coach

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Three attackers on the perimeter, three defenders in full denial. A coach or extra player up top with the ball.

A coached example. In live play, players make their own decisions; the outcome can change.

Look for: Walk your defender up before you cut — sell it, don't sprint straight to the backdoor.

Playback options

Pause between chaptersIllustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Coach’s notes & group organisation

Three attackers on the perimeter, three defenders in full denial. A coach or extra player up top with the ball.

Defenders must play full denial — hand in the passing lane, on the line and up the line.
Attackers may not catch a perimeter pass at all; the ball only enters on a cut.
A layup off a backdoor cut is worth two; any other basket counts for nothing.
Defence gets a point for a deflection or a five-second stall. Rotate after every score.

Suggested reset

After the score or defensive point, retrieve and return the ball to the starting passer. Swap attack and defence within each pair, reset perimeter positions and begin the next possession once the cutting lane is clear.

Coaching cues

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.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Two attackers against two defenders, and allow a perimeter catch after a failed cut.

Harder: Add a help defender in the paint who can take the charge or block the layup.

Switch it: Reward the pass more than the finish — a completed backdoor pass scores even if the shot misses.

Live it out: After the backdoor catch, play the whole thing out three-on-three.

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.

What good looks like

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.