Drop Coverage
Defend the ball screen by dropping the big to protect the rim while the guard chases over.
What this drill teaches
The patient ball-screen defence. In drop, the screener's defender sits back near the paint to contain the drive and protect the rim while the guard chases over the top — players learn to concede the tough mid-range shot and take away everything better.
In games: Stops pick-and-roll teams getting layups on game day — and teaches kids the grown-up idea that good defence is about which shots you allow, not stopping everything.
- Big back in the gap, positioned between ball and rim
- Guard fighting over the screen and chasing, not dying on it
- Drives met by a wall, with the roller's lane denied
U14: walk it with no shot until the big learns how deep to sit. U16: play it live with a corner shooter so the big juggles rim, roller and kick-outs.
Equipment
1 ball, half court
Setup
Ball screen at the top: ball-handler, screener, two defenders.
Steps
- 1The big drops back toward the paint, giving space but protecting the rim.
- 2On-ball defender fights over the screen and chases the ball.
- 3The big walls up on any drive, then recovers to the roller.
- 4Force the mid-range shot; contest without fouling.
Coaching points
- Big: stay back, break up the pass to the roller, protect the rim.
- On-ball defender must not die on the screen — chase over.
- Concede the tough mid-range, take away the rim and the three.
Why kids love it
The most common modern ball-screen coverage — teaches discipline and rim protection.
Variations
Add a corner shooter so the big must also stunt at kick-outs.
Walk the coverage with no shot until the big knows how deep to drop.
Give the offence one point for a pull-up and three for a rim finish so dropping pays off.