The Continuous 3-on-3 Drill is a small-sided game that focuses on spacing, quick decision-making, and offensive/defensive transitions.
After each possession (score, miss, or turnover), new players enter or the ball is quickly inbounded to keep the rhythm going.
This drill replicates game-like situations while improving communication, reaction speed, and game flow.
Objectives
- Trained to play equalities numerical having made the balance defensive the whole of the defensive team, or a part of the same.
- Having continuity in the practice of the 3×3.
Contents
- Boat
- Step Zero
- Stops
- Outputs
- Shot
- Entrance to basket
- Changes of hand
- Change of pace
- Direct Blocking
- Lock Indirect
- Feints
- The defense of player with ball
- Defense of the player without the ball
Recommended age
- From 10 years onwards (Minibasket: category alevín).
Number of players
- Ideal with 9 players.
- As of 7 players on.
- It can be performed even with 13 players (with rotations ‘simple’).
Recommended time
- Recommended time: 6-8 minutes.
Equipment and facilities
- 1 ball available.
- A pitch as a whole.
Initial layout and description
To start this exercise, it is essential to know how many players we have to be able to explain the rotations:
- in the case of 9 players, 3 teams of 3 players.
- in the case of 8 players, 2 teams of 3 players and 1 team of 2 players (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- in the case of 7 players, 1 team of 3 players and 2 other 2 players (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- in the case of 10 players, 3 teams of 3 players and 1 player in the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- in the case of 11 players, 3 teams of 3 players and 1 player on each side of the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- in the case of 12 players, 3 teams of 3 players, 2 players on one side of the half court and another on the other side (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- in the case of 13 players, 3 teams of 3 players, 2 players on each side of the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
A team starts the attack to another computer that is waiting in the half court. Once the problem is solved (the attackers score or the defenders recover), the team with possession of the ball goes to the other half pitch for another 3×3 against the team that is waiting in the half court.
Note: To point out that in the 3×3 continuous is usually to ‘reward’ the attackers with another possession if marked. You can force the attackers out of the background and out of the half court, in this way we give them the defenders another way to recover the ball (arguably because they have not successfully defended the first time).
Rotation: Still 9 players, there are no complications and to maintain the 3 teams ‘closed’.
Being 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 or 13 players, you can also make 3×3 continuous. Now, the players should be used to the dynamics of rotations per guidelines. If you are not accustomed it would be very advisable to introduce in a gradual manner in the workouts as soon as the occasion arises (an absence without warning, an injury, or any other setback to the coaches we are more than used to).
- With 7 players, the players who will spend the other half pitch will be:
- that were attacking team that lost the ball attacking) you can choose several patterns:
- the last two attackers who touched the ball before the defenders the restore,
- the attackers nearest to you, or away from half court, or
- the attackers who name the name of the coach.
- of those who were defending team failed to defend), we can choose several guidelines:
- more defenders close to the two attackers who participated in the attack before score (he scored and gave assistance).
- more defenders close to or away from half court, or
- the defenders name the coach.
- that were attacking team that lost the ball attacking) you can choose several patterns:
- with 8 players, the player will spend the other half pitch will be:
- of the attackers (team that lost the ball attacking) you can choose several patterns:
- the last attacker who touched the ball before the defenders the restore,
- the attacker closer or away from half court, or
- the attacker who name the name of the coach.
- the defenders (team failed to defend), we can choose several guidelines:
- the defender closest to the attacker that you marked,
- the defender closer or away from half court, or
- the advocate to name the coach.
- of the attackers (team that lost the ball attacking) you can choose several patterns:
- With 9 players do 3 teams of ‘closed’.
- With 10 players, there will be a player ‘waiting’ in the half court, he will join the team that is left as a defender in the half court (see the team that did not resolve successfully the situation of the game). This way, if played on a 5×5 in the first half and once the problem is solved successfully to:
- the attackers, the 10th player to be changed by:
- the defender closest to the attacker that you marked,
- the defender closer or away from half court, or
- the advocate to name the coach.
- the defenders, the 10th player to be changed by:
- the last attacker who touched the ball before you lose it,
- the attacker closer or away from half court, or
- the attacker who name the name of the coach.
- the attackers, the 10th player to be changed by:
- With 11 players, there will be two players ‘waiting’ in the half court, these will be included by turns to the team that is left as an advocate in one of the middle field (note the team that did not resolve successfully the situation of the game). In a mid-court changes the player light green and the other half court to change the player to a dark green. In this way we have our 3×3 of 11 players without rotations too complex.
Can we perform 3×3 continuous with 12-13 players?
Yes, putting the same guidelines that we put with 13-14 players applied to the rotation of 12-13 players, see put in the ‘waiting in the half court’ to:- if you scored the attackers, the defenders of the player who gave assistance and the player who scored.- if recovered by the defenders, the last two attackers who touched the ball.- the two players closest or furthest away from the half-court.- the two players who name the name of the coach.
Can we perform 3×3 continuous with more than 13 players? At this point, perhaps it would be better to consider making a 3×3 in each half court (1 group of 7 in each half court -2 teams of 3, and a shift-, rotation-a player on each possession).
Note: The rotations must be clear before the start of the financial year for which the players are doing with this dynamic rotations that is a little unusual.
3×3 continuous with 10 players.
3×3 continuous with 11 players.
3×3 continuous with 12 players.
3×3 continuous with 13 players.
Variants
- Restriction number of boats for each player or team.
- Restriction number of passes per team.
- Solve in a certain duration.
- Are to be solved by performing a specific tactical concept.
- You have to solve by pulling from a specific position.
- Are to be solved by performing a certain gesture technician.
- 1×1 continuous, 2×2 continuous, 4×4 continuous and 5×5 continuous.
Note: all variants are combinable.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
