Ice the Ball Screen
On a side ball screen, the on-ball defender forces the handler baseline away from the screen while the screener's defender walls off the middle, funneling the drive into help.
Defense
- Duration
- 12 min
- Intensity
- High
- Ages
- Ages 13–15, Ages 16+
- Equipment
- ball
min
Coaching focus: Individual Defense
Individual defense is built on stance, footwork, and effort before scheme. Drill the fundamentals — stance, slides, closeouts — until they hold up at full speed and under fatigue.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Q1How do you run the Ice the Ball Screen drill?
On a side ball screen, the on-ball defender forces the handler baseline away from the screen while the screener's defender walls off the middle, funneling the drive into help. Run it for about 12 minutes with ball.
Q2What age group is the Ice the Ball Screen drill for?
Ice the Ball Screen works well for players in Ages 13–15, Ages 16+, and can be scaled up or down in speed and complexity for other age groups.
Q3How long should the Ice the Ball Screen run?
Run Ice the Ball Screen for about 12 minutes as part of a broader practice or individual workout — enough reps to build the habit without losing quality.
Q4What equipment do I need for Ice the Ball Screen?
You'll need: ball.
Coaching Ice the Ball Screen?
Swap notes with coaches running this drill in the free community, or build Ice the Ball Screen 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.
Keep going
Related defense drills
Defensive Stance & Slides
Lane slides in a low stance, chest up, no crossing feet. Emphasize the first-step push.
Closeout & Contain
Sprint-to-closeout with a chopped-step, then contain one direction. No fly-bys.
1-on-1 from the Wing
Live wing defense — force baseline, wall up, contest without fouling. Score by stops.