press
Research did not establish a consistently defined complete press under this exact name. Following a dribbler, safely tipping an exposed dribble from behind, and returning toward the basket are documented skills. Treating those skills as the coach's intended complete defense would be an inference.
This shows five defenders getting back after a broken play. Trail recovery alone does not name a confirmed full press or its starting spots. Do not reach from behind to tip the ball.
1–5 are players on offense. X1–X5 are defenders. Each number stays with the same player in every step; it does not lock that player into a position.
Diagram 1 of 5
One defender is behind the ball
1 moves upcourt with X1 behind. X2 is ahead and can slow 1. X3, X4 and X5 watch the other players and protect the near basket. These are recovery spots after a broken play.
Diagram key
Use Previous and Next beside the court, or choose a numbered step. Arrows on the court show where players or the ball move. CoachAssist drew this example; it does not show every way to run the scheme.
Important limit: trail recovery is a defensive skill here, not a verified complete five-player press. The two diagrams are original broken-play examples. They do not establish a proprietary starting formation, trap trigger or full-court system.
Gels’ public defensive Z-drill teaches sprinting to regain position after being beaten, then resuming controlled defensive movement. That supports a recovery skill, not a complete press named Trail Recovery. Our five-player geometry and assignment choices are original examples.
Source-backed summary; versions may differ.
Pause the broken play and identify the ball handler, trailing defender, nearest legal helper and deepest attacker. Ask which defender can stop the next catch, not which defender started with that player. Then choose a repair the group can actually complete. Keep the offense free to pass early once the walk-through is safe. A recovery that only works when the ball handler waits is a demonstration condition, not evidence of a reliable game response.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
When: Our base example lets X2 contain 1 while X1 takes a clear outside recovery route.
Do this: X1 calls readiness only after getting back in front; X2 then returns to 2.
Then: The hold gives this particular exchange time. Do not assume every live possession supplies it.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
When: The second example presents an early pass and a different set of reachable assignments.
Do this: Pause the teaching rep, identify the new ball defender and call the exchange.
Then: This is a selected original repair, not an automatic rule for every moving five-player situation.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
Problem: The recovery becomes a reaching foul or unsafe collision.
Try this correction: Reduce speed and give the defender a clear outside route. Restart only when the player can regain position without entering the attacker’s back.
Check: Reward controlled recovery rather than an unlikely tip.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
Problem: The ball is still past the recovering defender when help disappears.
Try this correction: Let the handler continue at a guided pace and ask an observer to judge whether the recovering defender is actually in front.
Check: The release depends on position, not a hopeful call.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
Changes: continuation.
When to use it: Our return and early-pass exchange are original examples; a full press requires separately verified rules.
Written variant · this option does not have its own walkthrough here.
Source-backed summary; versions may differ.
Choose the level that matches what your players can do now. These steps work for boys and girls. Start simpler if players need more practice.
Set it up: An adult guides one attacker and one defender over a short, uncrowded distance.
Add more when: The route stays safe and the stop is controlled.
CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.
CoachAssist wrote these teaching steps. They are not an exact copy of any coach’s practice plan.
We have not confirmed a specific coach or team using this version. Teams may use the same name for different plays.
The level selector changes the teaching steps above. It does not change these drills. Check the number of players, equipment and difficulty before using a drill.
Builds a skill used in this scheme: Only the documented pursuit/back-tip skill is linked. Research did not establish a complete press under this name; clarify the intended role and abandon collision-risk tips.
Practice safely tipping an exposed dribble from behind, then returning to a legal defensive position.
2–6 players · 5–12 minutes · basketballs
Practice safely tipping an exposed dribble from behind, then returning to a legal defensive position.
Two players, one ball and a clear lane with a marked stop before the basket/landing area. Begin walking: passer feeds the runner, then follows at a controlled distance. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
The sources support the system guide. CoachAssist created the practice steps and checks; they are suggestions, not tested programs or a coach’s full playbook. The linked drills practice parts of the system.
We found limited information about this scheme. Check the source notes before using it. These sources do not cover every possible version.
Brian Williams, summarizing Andy Bronkema · Coaching Toolbox · 2026-07-07
Public written drill summaries only, not paid full clinic.
James A. Gels · Coach's Clipboard · publication date not listed
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
Don Sicko · Hoop Coach · 2026-06-15
Displayed page date; original publication date unverified. Supports help decisions, not a canonical never-help system.
James A. Gels · Coach's Clipboard · publication date not listed
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
