Expert: Mark Berrier - 2/10/2004

Question
i am having trouble teaching 4th and 5th grade kids on how to break a press.  i am not sure that i even know how to do it because its been many years ago that i even played basketball.  please help.....we need it badly.   thank you

Answer
Hello Mario Picciotti!

There are several fundamentals that need to be addressed in breaking a press.

1)Always meet the pass. That is, don't stop running until you receive the ball, then jump stop and square up to your basket. Then either pass or dribble. Preferably- Pass!

2)Attack a press, thus creating a disparity of players in favor of your team. In other words, if they double team you anywhere, once you've beaten the double team, you've now created an opportunity with 4 on 3, or 3 on 2, or 2 on 1.

3)They have to score in order to press. Play better defense and don't allow them that opportunity. Either "D" them up man to man, or press them. Most teams who press don't like to get pressed.

4)Use drills that get folks open. Have a trap drill and then meet the pass. Then pass it back like a give and go. Get the kids understanding that they should not be afraid of a press. Always look up court. Always meet the pass. Always attack the week points of a press. Stay away from the sidelines because you only help a press with the out of bounds. Attack the middle, thus giving more options to the offense.

5)Force a foul. That is, when guys are running at you, either blow by them or run into them. If they are excellent players, then they will be able to breakdown before they foul you. If they aren't, they will either foul you or run past.

6)Spread the court. Court balance is the key in making a press defend you at all points and creates more opportunities in order to attack it. Out number your opponent once they trap and then attack.

7)Beat the press by passing, not dribbling. Show your kids by taking the fastest player you have and putting him on the baseline. Then take three guys and spread them the length of the floor. Then say go and have you fastest guy run the floor while the passers beat him with a couple passes to the baseline. Dribbling will only bring a trap and if you don't have a very good ball handler, they will make too many mistakes.

I hope these ideas have helped. Good luck.

Mark Berrier