Agility for Defense

Coach Mike Krzyzewski presents the agility and conditioning drills Duke uses to build a base for playing outstanding defense. He discusses multiple topics including general agility drills, cone reaction drills, close out drills and screen defense drills.

Quotes

• “Turn drills into contests to keep players interested and enthusiastic.”
• “Practice technique and form drills often, at least every other day, to make moves natural and instinctual.”

Winning Thought

• In these notes, legendary Coach Mike Krzyzewski presents the agility and conditioning drills Duke uses to build a base for playing outstanding defense. He discusses multiple topics including general agility drills, cone reaction drills, close out drills and screen defense drills. 

Identify Emphasis Tags

• Defense
• Agility
• Conditioning

Knowledge for Coaches

• Emphasize perfect technique constantly: stay low and stay wide.
• Great defense starts by building a wide base and strengthening the hips/groins.
• Don’t anticipate the whistle, react to the whistle.
• Speed skaters develop muscles for improving lateral explosiveness.
• Many gamelike defensive reaction drills, such as helping and recovering, can be practiced without a basketball. 
• Keep players moving by utilizing multiple stations – eliminate standing around.
• Players must move as the ball moves – it is a coordinated effort, almost like dancing.
• Lateral wall sits and regular wall sits are simple exercises that are effective for building muscle.