The Continuous 4-on-4 Drill is a dynamic full-court exercise designed to improve transition play, spacing, and conditioning. Two teams play with no stoppage—every change of possession leads to an immediate counterattack or defensive reaction. This drill encourages fast decision-making and game-like rhythm on both ends of the floor.
In this proposal you can perform the exercise counting from 10 players to 16 players.
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 4×4.
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 12 players.
- Minimum of 10 players.
- It can be performed even with 16 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 10 players, 1 team of 4 players, 1 team of 4 players and another team of 2 players in the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- In the case of 11 players, 1 team of 4 players, 1 team of 4 players and 1 team of 3 players (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- In the case of 12 players, 3 teams ‘closed’ to 4 players.
- In the case of 13 players, 3 teams of 4 players and 1 player in the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- In the case of 14 players, 3 teams of 4 players and 1 player on each side of the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- In the case of 15 players, 3 teams of 4 players, 1 player on one side of the half court and 2 other players on the other side of the half court (there will be a pattern of rotation).
- In the case of 16 players, 3 teams of 4 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 4×4 against the team that is waiting in the half court.
Note: To point out that in the 4×4 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: with 12 players, there are no complications and to maintain the 3 teams ‘closed’.
Being 10, 11, 13, 14 or 15 players, you can also do 4×4 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 10 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 11 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 12 players, we do 3 teams of ‘closed’.
- With 13 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 13th 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 13th 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 13th player to be changed by:
- With 14 players, there will be two players are ‘waiting’ on each side of the half court, these will be included by turns to the team that is left waiting in one of the half courts (see 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 4×4 of 14 players without rotations too complex.
What we could do 4×4 with continuous 15-16 players?
Yes, putting the same guidelines that we put 10 players applied to the rotation of 15-16 players.
- With 15 players
- Dark green goes to the team that is hoping to finally attacker who touched the ball before recovery of the defending team or enters last defender
- tapped the shot,
- I was further away from the ball,
- or the name of the coach.
- Green light enter the team is waiting for:
- In the event that there has been a recovery of the defending team:
- last attacker who touched it and the one who gave the pass before recovery of the defending team.
- In the event that there has been a basket:
- Enter the last defender, he tapped and the defender did not give the pass of assistance.
- Enter the last defender, he tapped and the defender did not give the pass of assistance.
- In the event that there has been a recovery of the defending team:
- Dark green goes to the team that is hoping to finally attacker who touched the ball before recovery of the defending team or enters last defender
- With 16 players
- Bright green and dark green come in turns at the computer that is still ‘waiting for you’ by:
- In the event that there has been a recovery of the defending team:
- last attacker who touched it and the one who gave the pass before recovery of the defending team.
- In the event that there has been a basket:
- Enter the last defender, he tapped and the defender did not give the pass of assistance.
- In the event that there has been a recovery of the defending team:
- Bright green and dark green come in turns at the computer that is still ‘waiting for you’ by:
What we could do 4×4 continuous with more than 16 players? At this point, perhaps it would be better to:
- consider making two teams of 8 to compete and all minutes.
- consider to make 4 teams of 4 players and play in each half court.
Note: The rotation should be very clear before you start the exercise so that the players do not hate this type of rotations.
4×4 continuous with 13 players.
4×4 continuous with 14 players.
4×4 continuous with 15 players.
4×4 continuous with 16 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, 3×3 continuous and 5×5 continuous.
Note: all variants are combinable.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
