The Maintain team shape drill is as useful as it is simple. Players must move at the same time, synchronously , and be aware of the player with the ball, with the ultimate objective of maintaining a geometric shape that has been designated by the coach.
It is a practical way of working the occupation of spaces (‘spacing’).
Objectives
- Practice the fundamentals and/or the input to the basket.
- Integrate physical preparation in court (Resistance)
Recommended age
- From 10 years onwards (Minibasket: category alevín).
Number of players
- From 3 players forward.
Recommended time
- Recommended time: 4-6 minutes.
Equipment and facilities
- 1 ball available for each group.
- Can be performed in an open space or in court.
- You can place cones or rings or paint on the ground with chalk so that the players have some reference in the early stages of learning (aims to acquire the concept of the right to occupy spaces instead of locations). In this way connect better to the pattern which league game without a ball with occupation of the ball.
Initial layout and description
1 player from each group with a ball. The entire group will have identified what type of geometric shape have to maintain and/or adopt.
- If the group is of 3 people, they will make a triangle.
- If the group is 4 people, will make a square.
- If the group is of 5 people, make a pentagon.
- If the group is 6 people, will be a hexagon, and so on.
The player with the ball starts a movement towards a partner. That partner should react by releasing the space and having to find another couple to the whole group keeps the shape intact. It is ideal for working out also the notion of teamwork and cohesion.
Variants
- The coach, or a partner who is outside, give a signal and changes only the direction of the displacement.
Notes:
- You can start with a pilla-pilla. Then put a few cones (by drawing a geometric shape, and saying that the interior of this form cannot be stepping on/through. Finally, you can link with this exercise removing the pilla-pilla.
- It can also perform first game of the 4 corners and then bind with the exercise of ways intact.
- You can make a progression passing this year to mid-court and transforming it to the exercise Circle cuts.
- This exercise is a great way to start to introduce how to play 5 open so characteristic of mini-basket.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
