Three Drills to Master Basketball's Pack Line Defense

• By Grant Young

Basketball's pack line defense is a strategic approach designed to protect the interior of the key while still contesting perimeter shots. 

However, implementing it successfully requires a coach to have the right pack line defense drills in place to teach the strategy effectively to their players. 

Players must understand the importance of their spacing and how to rotate effectively to cover both ball handlers and shooters. Coaches need to incorporate drills that emphasize defensive positioning, helping players learn to stay outside the three-point line while sagging into the lane when the ball is away. 

Another crucial aspect is teaching players how to close out on shooters effectively. The pack line defense bends but doesn't break, meaning defenders must be able to recover quickly and contest shots without overcommitting. Drills that simulate game situations, where players must switch from help defense to closing out on the ball, can develop these critical skills. 

The pack line also requires an understanding of how to defend screens and player movement. Drills that incorporate pick-and-roll scenarios can help players learn how to hedge, switch, or fight through screens while maintaining the integrity of the defensive structure. 

Finally, consistent practice and repetition in these drills enable players to internalize the pack line principles. When players understand their roles and responsibilities within the system, they can execute it more effectively during games. 

The pack line defense can be a formidable tool for a team, but it only shines when coaches have structured drills that reinforce the necessary skills and concepts. This combination of strategy and practice can lead to a significant improvement in a team’s overall defensive performance.

This is why we’ve taken three drills from high-level basketball coaches who have mastered the pack line defense with their teams and are sharing them for you to use at your leisure. 

Jim Boone - Zig-Zag Drill

Jim Boone is the head coach of the Greensboro College men’s basketball team. He’s the 5th active winningest coach among NCAA Division II coaches and is ranked in the top 30 all-time for overall wins. He has taken his teams to 12 NCAA tournaments, including six Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Final Fours. 

Coach Boone is known for his success with the Pack Line Defense and his ability to turn around programs to produce championship results. In his career, he has led four programs to the NCAA tournament.

In Coach Boone’s ‘Pack Line Defense Certification Course’, he details the Zig-Zag drill, which he believes is crucial for any coach looking to utilize the pack line defense. 

The simplicity of this drill is what makes it effective, as it starts with a ball handler at elbow extended with a defender guarding him with his hands grabbing his jersey so that he doesn’t reach for the ball. 

The ball handler then dribbles in a zig-zag formation to a few feet past the top of they key, then to the half-court sideline, then does two more zig-zags on the other end at about 75% speed while their defender is in front of them and yelling “ball” the entire time. 

Coaches should be making sure that their defenders are “swinging the gate” with their drop step each time the ball handler switches direction. 

In addition, the defender should never have less than a foot’s length of distance between their feet. Coach Boone says players should imagine having a ruler in between their feet. 

Bryan Bartley - 3 on 1 Post Defense Drill

Bryan Bartley is Friendship Collegiate Academy's Athletic Director and Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach. He’s a long-time member of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), was an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Auburn University for four years, and has coached at numerous NBA Skills Academies.

In the 2018-19 season, his team finished 17-10 and was the runner-up in the DC School Athletic Association and won the Public Charter School Boy's Basketball Championship. Before coming to Friendship, Bartley was the Head Coach at Montrose Christian School.

In Coach Barley’s ‘Pack-Line Defense’ course, he details a 3 on 1 post defense drill that he finds extremely effective. 

The drill begins with having a post player on a defender in the paint. When a coach gets a pass into that offensive player, the two closest guards will blitz down on that player and trap them with the ball. While they do so, the post defender can focus on not fouling, moving their feet, and protecting the rim if the post player tries to take a quick shot. 

This drill should be done with five defenders on the court because the other two defenders need to understand where the openings and holes they will need to cover because the defense essentially becomes a zone in this scenario. 

Scott Peterman - Change Transition Drill

Scott Peterman has coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. 

Coach Peterman’s ‘Encyclopedia of Pack Line Defense’ course discusses his transition Change Drill, which begins with a full 5 on 5 offense and defense in the half court. 

While the offense has the ball, the coach will yell “Change!”, which means the person with the ball drops it and the offense goes into transition. A player on defense will pick up the ball and initiate the fast break. 

Then both teams will act as if they’re on the transition break, with the team who started on offense trying to get a stop and possession back without fouling.

Coaches can also just pass the ball to a defender to start the transition, which will make it tougher on the offense.