Help & Recover
Help a beaten teammate, then recover to your own player.
What this drill teaches
Two defenders covering for each other — the moment individual defence becomes team defence. The rep forces the timing: help early enough to be set in the driver's path, then sprint back out when the ball is kicked.
In games: Stops the layup parade when one defender gets beaten, and cuts the blocking fouls that come from arriving late and moving — the helper who is set early takes the charge instead.
- The helper set in the path early, not arriving with the driver
- 'Help!' and 'Recover!' actually heard from the sideline
- Closeouts on the kick-out arriving under control, not flying past
U12: half-speed dribbling from the coach, and late rotations are normal. U14–U16: expect help-recover-help on two swings and the talk-or-restart standard.
Equipment
1 ball
Setup
Two offensive players (ball + one away), two defenders.
Steps
- 1On-ball defender lets the dribbler drive middle.
- 2Help defender slides over early and gets both feet set in the driver's path before they leave the floor.
- 3On the kick-out pass, help defender closes out to their player.
- 4On-ball defender recovers. Reset and repeat.
Coaching points
- Help early, on the drive — not late.
- Close out under control on the recovery.
- Talk: 'Help!' then 'Recover!'
- Beat them there — two feet set and chest square before contact. Late and moving is a blocking foul and a collision.
Why kids love it
The heartbeat of team defence — two players covering for each other.
Variations
Coach dribbles at half speed to teach timing.
Let the offence swing the ball twice so the helper has to help, recover, then help again.
If you don't hear 'Help!' and 'Recover!' out loud, the rep doesn't count.