Dribble-Drive & Kick

Scrimmage/finisher

Drive the gap and kick to the open shooter.

12 min 5+ Half court
Ball-handlingTeamworkU12U14U16

Read & react

5+ · 1 ball, half court

Get everyone ready

Spaced and matchedPerimeter players spread wide with defenders on them. 123X2X3X1

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Spaced perimeter players, defenders matched up.

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

Look for: Attack the gap with purpose.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Spaced perimeter players, defenders matched up.

  1. Driver attacks a gap hard toward the rim.
  2. Defence collapses to help.
  3. Driver kicks out to the open teammate.
  4. Shoot, or drive again and repeat.

Suggested reset

For a walkthrough, finish one action and stop. The shooter retrieves and returns the ball to the starting handler. Walk back outside the cutting lanes, then cycle the starting roles before repeating on the other side. Waiting groups replace the whole group between repetitions. When adding live defence, stop on a score, turnover, foul, ball out or controlled rebound; return the ball to the start and swap attack and defence.

Coaching cues

  • Attack the gap with purpose.
  • Keep spacing so kick-outs are open.
  • Make the simple pass to the open player.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: No finishing at the rim — just drive and kick for a shot.

Kick-out only: Ban the finish so the driver must always find the open shooter.

Harder: The shooter must relocate one spot along the arc before the kick-out arrives.

Two-drive rule: Every possession needs two drives and two kick-outs before anyone shoots.

What this drill teaches

The modern two-part attack: drive hard enough to make the defence collapse, then reward the shooter the collapse left open. The drive and the kick are one decision — players learn the pass is the point, not the bail-out.

In games: Builds drivers who pass out of help instead of charging into a crowd for the offensive foul or the wild miss — and teammates who stay spaced ready to shoot.

What good looks like
  • Drives attacking a gap with genuine intent to score
  • Kick-outs delivered as the help arrives, not after the pick-up
  • Perimeter players holding their spacing, hands ready

U12: use the kick-out-only rule so the pass becomes the habit. U14–U16: expect shooters relocating along the arc and full drive-kick-drive-kick possessions.

Equipment

1 ball, half court

Setup

Spaced perimeter players, defenders matched up.

Steps

  1. 1Driver attacks a gap hard toward the rim.
  2. 2Defence collapses to help.
  3. 3Driver kicks out to the open teammate.
  4. 4Shoot, or drive again and repeat.

Coaching points

  • Attack the gap with purpose.
  • Keep spacing so kick-outs are open.
  • Make the simple pass to the open player.

Why kids love it

Modern, spacing-based basketball that rewards driving and unselfish passing.

Variations

Easier

No finishing at the rim — just drive and kick for a shot.

Kick-out only

Ban the finish so the driver must always find the open shooter.

Harder

The shooter must relocate one spot along the arc before the kick-out arrives.

Two-drive rule

Every possession needs two drives and two kick-outs before anyone shoots.

Related drills