Game version
Mirror slides: a partner walks side to side and you stay in front in a defensive stance, with no contact. Swap often.
Guarding a Ball Screen
Talk with a teammate and choose how to guard a screen: go over the top or switch.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Set a screen with a teammate or a chair at the top of the key.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of steady slides.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 14 min
- Players
- 3 players
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Basketball, cone or chair, 3 players
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Defense
The steps
How it works
- Set a screen with a teammate or a chair at the top of the key.
- The screen defender calls "screen left" or "screen right".
- Go over the top of the screen or switch on the call, then recover.
- Do 15 reps at walking pace first.
Coaching point
Talk early, stay attached.
Safety: For ages 14 and up. Go at walking pace first. Any body-to-body contact is only with a coach watching and a partner your size.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of steady slides.
Story
You are a shadow that sticks to its owner.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own run of steady slides. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
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