Cutthroat (3 Teams)
Keep the court by getting stops and scoring — three teams rotating.
What this drill teaches
Making every possession cost something. With three teams and only one way to stay on the floor, there's no next-possession-doesn't-matter — offence must convert, defence must earn the ball, and effort becomes the currency of the game.
In games: Fixes the coasting possessions that lose close games — kids who've learned that one lazy possession sends them to the baseline value every game-day trip down the floor.
- Full intensity from the first second a team steps on
- Defence celebrated as loudly as scoring
- Careful, deliberate offence — nobody wasting the possession
U12: loose whistle and simple make-it-stay rules to keep rotation fast. U16: expect the three-pass rule and defences hunting stops for the bonus.
Equipment
1 ball, half court
Setup
Three teams of 3. Two play; one waits on the baseline.
Steps
- 1Offence must score to stay on; defence must get a stop to earn offence.
- 2Score → you stay on offence, waiting team comes on to defend.
- 3Get a stop → you become offence, other team goes off.
- 4Keep a running tally of possessions won.
Coaching points
- Value every possession — mistakes cost you the court.
- Get stops to earn offence.
- Bring energy the moment you step on.
Why kids love it
The 'earn your spot' format keeps every player locked in on both ends — no coasting.
Variations
Make-it-stay only, coach reads the whistle loosely.
Award the possession only on a made basket off at least three passes.
A defensive stop earns the ball plus a bonus point, so the stop is worth chasing.