Three Spot Individual Offense Drill

The Three Spot Individual Offense Drill is a solid drill for introducing one on one offensive principles to players. This drill is primary focused around the junior ranks of player development, but there are some variations that make the drill more beneficial for older players. The Three Spot Individual Offense Drill is easy for a coach to manage and is great for having a number of players involved in activity with a high degree of player movement.

The Three Spot Individual Offense Drill focuses around the development of a players individual offensive skills. Technical skills such as Triple Threat Stance, Jab Step, Pass Fake, Shot Fake, and various dribbling movements can all easily be covered within the drills activities. The key for a coach when using the Three Spot Individual Offense Drill is to start off very basic and then gradually build up the range of skills focused upon and the linking of these together to imbed more and more challenge for the players as they progress.

Suggested starting techniques for instance might be:

From Wing Position

• One dribble to the middle of the floor, jump-stop, and pull-up jump shot
• One dribble to the baseline, pick the ball up, two steps and lay-up
• One dribble to the baseline, jump-stop, and pull-up jump shot

From Point Position

• One dribble to the left-hand elbow, jump-stop, and pull-up jump shot
• One dribble to the right-hand elbow, jump-stop, and pull-up jump shot
• One dribble to the left of the cone, pick the ball up, two steps and left hand lay-up
• One dribble to the right of the cone, pick the ball up, two steps and right hand lay-up

To these combinations of techniques jabs and fakes can be integrated to allow players to practice the movement.

As a point of emphasis however a coach should always be explaining to players the need for them to have a primary move and counter move from each position. They will then be able to utilise these skills against defence. The skill and mental awareness of being able to make a read of the defence and then still conclude the interaction with a good scoring option is vital to be installed into players even at a young age.

The Three Spot Individual Offense Drill has an easy set-up. Three cones are set-up as defenders around the perimeter of the three-point line.

Players line up behind these markers and perform a variety of individual offensive moves and attack the basket.

If the timing is right then all three lines will be able to perform the various skills without colliding. A coach can eve instruct players to make a read off the other players and if they are about to collide then perform a pull-jump jump shot just like in a game when they must read what the defence is doing.

Variation:

The next stage of progression is for the cones to be replaced with mock defence. These defenders are to be instructed to react or not react to the offensive movement of the player. The defence is not “live” and cannot move outside of the initial fake allowing the offensive player the opportunity to fine tune their reads of the defence and perform the right skill to score.

For example, an offensive player will perform a jab step. The defender will either move simulating them falling for the fake or not move allowing the offensive player to extend their step and continue with their attack on that side of the basket. If the defender simulated falling for the jab and moving into the players driving lane the offensive player rips the ball and attacks the inside hip of the defender with their offensive move to the basket.

The next step in the Three Spot Individual Offense Drill’s progression is for the defenders to go live and then the drill becomes fully one on one. It is suggested in this scenario that only one spot is allowed to have the full one on one situation at play. The other two spots are still to remain focused around technique and mastering of the fundamental movement.

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