Call the Coverage (Live 5v5)
Before each live possession, the on-ball and screener's defenders must verbally call their ball-screen coverage to the whole team, then execute it, building the habit of communicating reads before contact.
- Duration
- 12 min
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Ages
- Ages 16+
- Equipment
- ball, hoop

min
Coaching focus: Basketball IQ & Reads
IQ and decision-making drills put players in live, small-sided situations where they have to read a defender and choose correctly — the muscle memory of good decisions, not just good mechanics.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you run the Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) drill?
- Before each live possession, the on-ball and screener's defenders must verbally call their ball-screen coverage to the whole team, then execute it, building the habit of communicating reads before contact. Run it for about 12 minutes with ball and hoop.
- What age group is the Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) drill for?
- Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) works well for players in Ages 16+, and can be scaled up or down in speed and complexity for other age groups.
- How long should the Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) run?
- Run Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) for about 12 minutes as part of a broader practice or individual workout — enough reps to build the habit without losing quality.
- What equipment do I need for Call the Coverage (Live 5v5)?
- You'll need: ball, hoop.
Coaching Call the Coverage (Live 5v5)?
Swap notes with coaches running this drill in the free community, or build Call the Coverage (Live 5v5) into a timed practice plan, assign it to your roster, and track who's completed it in the app.
The community is free and always will be. No card needed for either.