2-on-2
Play with a partner — screen, cut, and help on defence.
What this drill teaches
Two-player basketball conversations: the screen, the cut, and the help. With only four on the floor there's nowhere to hide and constant touches, so cooperation gets learned by necessity rather than by lecture.
In games: Bridges the gap between skills and team play — the give-and-go, the screen, and the 'help!' call practised here are the exact building blocks of every 5-on-5 possession.
- Passers moving immediately — cutting or screening, never standing
- Screens actually set with a stop, not drive-by fakes
- Defenders talking — 'ball', 'help', 'screen' out loud
U10: give-and-go only — screens come later and that's fine. U14–U16: expect real screens used properly and defenders helping and recovering.
Equipment
1 ball, half court
Setup
Two vs two, half court, winner stays on.
Steps
- 1Play live 2-on-2; use a pass and a cut before shooting.
- 2Try a simple give-and-go or on-ball screen.
- 3On defence, talk and help each other.
- 4Games to 3 baskets, then rotate.
Coaching points
- Move after you pass.
- Set and use a real screen.
- Defence: 'ball!' and 'help!' — talk.
Why kids love it
Small-sided means everyone touches it a lot, and two-player teamwork clicks fast.
Variations
Must use a screen before a shot counts.
Take the screens out and score only off a give-and-go for the first few possessions.
Every possession must include either an on-ball screen or a hard basket cut before a shot counts.