Court Command: Drills to Build Power
Court Command: Drills to Build Power
We need to create practice environments where the only way to succeed is through confident, assertive action.
1. The Power-Finish Drill
This drill teaches the player to initiate and thrive through contact at the rim.
Setup: Player starts on the wing. A coach or teammate stands inside the paint holding a protective pad (a blocking shield or even a large pillow/pool noodle works).
Action: The player drives hard toward the basket. The coach/teammate uses the pad to deliver firm, but controlled and safe, body contact as the player takes their final steps for the layup.
Goal: The player must complete a strong power lay-up or jump-hook and shout "AND ONE!" every time, regardless of whether they make the shot or get the contact.
Coaching Focus: Praise the player's body control and refusal to fade away from the contact. Emphasize using the off-arm as a shield (like a running back's stiff arm).
2. Loose Ball & Rebounding Scramble
Rebounding is pure, assertive effort. These drills turn it into a high-stakes, competitive event.
Loose Ball Scramble (1v1): Two players start on opposite baselines. The coach rolls the ball hard toward mid-court. On the whistle, they sprint. The first player to secure the ball is offense, the second is defense, and they immediately go 1v1 to the opposite basket.
The Paint Drill (Box-Out): Five offense players (outside the arc) are paired against five defense players (inside the arc). A coach shoots a purposeful miss. The defense must box out and secure the rebound, or the offense must fight for the rebound and get a power put-back. Losers of the drill have a brief consequence (e.g., five pushups), making the competition fierce and fun.
Coaching Focus: Reinforce that the box-out is the first act of aggression and securing the ball is the second.
3. The "Attack Mode" Full-Court Dribble
Confidence starts with the ball in their hands.
Action: The player must dribble full-court at game-speed pace, focusing on keeping their head up and using their shoulder/hip to shield the ball.
Goal: Tell the player: "Your job is to look like you are going to knock over the defender with your shoulder." They must finish with a strong, aggressive layup at the other end.
Constraint: Give the player a challenge: "You must lose the ball once every four trips down the court." This encourages them to push their speed and intensity to the edge, rather than playing safely in the middle.
Mindset Hacks: Reward the Power Play
Assign Specific, Assertive Tasks
Instead of the vague instruction, "Be more aggressive," assign clear, measurable, assertive goals:
"This quarter, your goal is to drive into the paint three times."
"You must get a hand on two offensive rebounds."
"You will call out 'BALL!' on defense every single time your opponent has the ball."
The Hustle Point System
Use a practice scrimmage scoring system that explicitly rewards instrumental aggression:
+2 Points: Offensive Rebound.
+1 Point: Diving on the floor for a loose ball.
+1 Point: Forcing a jump ball.
+1 Point: Getting fouled on a shot attempt.
By attaching concrete, positive points to these actions, you powerfully rewire their brain to associate assertiveness with success and contribution.
The secret is simple: You get what you reward and what you rehearse!
You can see a video on developing an aggressive mindset for basketball here:
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