3-on-2: Recover and Match

Skill drill

Half-court transition: fill three lanes, exploit a brief advantage and organise the recovering third defender.

10 min 6+ Half court

PassingTeamworkDefenseU12U14U16

Read & react

6+ · 1 ball, 1 hoop, half court, 2 colours of bibs, 1 flat marker

Speed

Get everyone ready

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ballGreen C: coach

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

P1 has one ball in the middle near halfway, P2 and P3 fill wide lanes slightly ahead. P4 guards near the rim, P5 is the high defender and P6 trails P1 by about two metres inside halfway. Coach stands off the sideline; extra players wait outside it. Use six players in the illustration.

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

Look for: Move the defence with width, not with an extra dribble.

Playback options

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

Coach’s notes & group organisation

Coach signals the start. P1–P3 advance toward the same basket while P6 immediately sprints back from the trailing mark.
P5 slows the ball without giving up a straight drive; P4 protects the rim and reads the next pass. The attackers keep width and move the ball to the open lane. P6 calls the uncovered player and restores 3-on-3.
Attack for one shot within eight seconds; stop on a shot, turnover, foul or ball out. P4 retrieves a shot after players land, or the ball-holder returns a turnover to the coach. Reset every possession; no putbacks.
Rotate ball-handler → left lane → right lane → rim defender → high defender → trailer → ball-handler. Next repetition: P6 has the ball, P1 fills left, P2 fills right, P3 protects the rim, P4 is high and P5 trails. Coach supplies P6 after everyone is set.
For extra players add waiting positions between trailer and ball-handler, keeping six active. With fewer than six use 2-on-1: Beat the Recovery instead. Run six turns so all six roles are experienced.

Suggested reset

Rotate ball-handler → left lane → right lane → rim defender → high defender → trailer → ball-handler. Next repetition: P6 has the ball, P1 fills left, P2 fills right, P3 protects the rim, P4 is high and P5 trails. Coach supplies P6 after everyone is set. For extra players add waiting positions between trailer and ball-handler, keeping six active. With fewer than six use 2-on-1: Beat the Recovery instead. Run six turns so all six roles are experienced.

Coaching cues

Move the defence with width, not with an extra dribble.
Rim defender stays between the deepest attacker and the basket.
Recovering player names a matchup so two defenders do not take the ball.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Walk the defensive calls first; start the trailer farther back without crossing halfway.

Harder: Bring the trailer closer and reduce the attack to six seconds once decisions are controlled.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop, half court, 2 colours of bibs, 1 flat marker

Setup

Steps

1Coach signals the start. P1–P3 advance toward the same basket while P6 immediately sprints back from the trailing mark.
2P5 slows the ball without giving up a straight drive; P4 protects the rim and reads the next pass. The attackers keep width and move the ball to the open lane. P6 calls the uncovered player and restores 3-on-3.
3Attack for one shot within eight seconds; stop on a shot, turnover, foul or ball out. P4 retrieves a shot after players land, or the ball-holder returns a turnover to the coach. Reset every possession; no putbacks.
4Rotate ball-handler → left lane → right lane → rim defender → high defender → trailer → ball-handler. Next repetition: P6 has the ball, P1 fills left, P2 fills right, P3 protects the rim, P4 is high and P5 trails. Coach supplies P6 after everyone is set.
5For extra players add waiting positions between trailer and ball-handler, keeping six active. With fewer than six use 2-on-1: Beat the Recovery instead. Run six turns so all six roles are experienced.