How to Scrimmage in Practice

Scrimmaging is one of the most popular parts of practice for players.  They love the idea of forgoing drills and just playing.  This drill makes a coach very popular with the players but is it beneficial in preparing your team for games?  The answer to that question is yes if used correctly.  There are different ways to run a scrimmage and all of the ways that will be described below are designed to help your team become more of a team.

Types of Scrimmaging:

  1. Let them run - I like to use this type of scrimmage at the beginning of the season.  With let them run the whole idea is to split the team up and let them go up and down the court.  There are no fouls called, and the ball is pushed up the floor even after makes.  What I'm looking for with this drill is how the participants play with each other.  Do they play well together or is there a lot of "I'm getting mine" out there. The up and down action also allows for conditioning to take place in an environment that the kids don't mind.  It also helps me see how the defense responds with the constant pushing of the ball up the floor.
  2. 4v5 with chaser - This drill is great for defensive transition.  It forces the kids to identify the ball and stop it.  It shows them that in a man to man you may be assigned to someone but you are not tied to them.  Help your team when needed.  I like to run this type of scrimmage at least once a week.  It helps with the fast break on offense as well.
  3. Game situations - This is a must throughout the year.  I will split the guys up and run them through end of game situations.  
  4. Deal with pressure-There are times where I will want to challenge my team and will do so by having the defense play with more players.  I will go 5v7 most of the time and have the team break a press.  I like to have the 7 player team always be on defense and to sub freely so everyone plays offense.
  5. No dribbling-This version of scrimmaging helps promote passing and supporting teammates.  If done correctly this rule promotes receiving the pass and looking up for an open player as opposed to catching and dribbling.
  6. Run our stuff-This is something that we do throughout the year.  As we put wrinkles into our offense and defense we keep reinforcing it in game like situations.

I like to use all of the above scrimmages during the season.  I like to scrimmage during every practice.  I really think the best way to build team chemistry is by having them playing together.  It should also be noted that it is important that everyone runs with everyone.  Don't separate your team into starters and non starters.  Live game situations cannot be predicted and it is always a good idea to have all of your players be familiar with everyone on the team. 

One more thing, do we stop play during scrimmages to correct?  I don't like to.  I try to pass on instruction as they're playing just like we would in a game.  Again it's about making it as game like as possible.  However, if there is a bad habit forming during a scrimmage then you need to bring it up to the team at the end of practice and then reinforce it during the next practice.

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