When I first saw Lebanon hold Australia to a 93-80 scoreline in that international matchup, something clicked in my coaching brain. Most teams were getting blown out by 20-plus points against the Boomers, but Lebanon’s disciplined full-court approach made the game competitive deep into the fourth quarter. That game wasn’t just a moral victory—it was a masterclass in how sustained full-court pressure can neutralize even world-class opponents. Over my years coaching and analyzing basketball at various levels, I’ve come to believe that mastering full-court play separates good teams from great ones. It’s not just about conditioning or hustle; it’s about drilling specific habits until they become instinct. Today, I want to share five essential full-court drills that have transformed teams I’ve worked with, inspired by what I observed in games like Lebanon’s gritty performance.

Let’s start with the 3-Man Weave into Full-Court Defense. I love this drill because it kills two birds with one stone: it builds communication in transition and conditions players to defend immediately after scoring. I typically run this with three lines at one baseline. The first group runs a classic weave down the court for a layup, but as soon as the ball goes through the net, I immediately shout a color—let’s say “red”—and that team must sprint back to defend against another group of three attacking from the opposite end. The key here is the sudden shift from offense to defense under fatigue. Lebanon’s players demonstrated this beautifully against Australia—they’d score and within seconds were already setting up their press, often forcing the Boomers into rushed decisions. We run this drill for about 8-10 minutes per practice, and I’ve seen our forced turnovers increase by roughly 18% within just three weeks of implementation.

Next up is what I call the “Pass Denial Marathon.” This one’s brutal but incredibly effective. I divide the court into four vertical sections and have two defenders attempt to prevent an offensive pair from advancing the ball past half-court for a full 8 seconds. If the offense succeeds, we immediately reset and go again. What makes this drill special is how it trains players to read passing lanes while managing their energy. I remember watching Lebanon’s point guard consistently disrupt Australia’s primary ball handler in the backcourt, and it reminded me why I prioritize this drill—it builds the kind of defensive IQ that can’t be taught through theory alone. Personally, I’m partial to having players work in 2-minute bursts with 45-second rests, mimicking the stop-start nature of actual games.

The third drill might be my favorite—Full Court Zig-Zag With Traps. This is where we develop our trapping instincts, something Lebanon executed with surprising effectiveness against Australia despite their height disadvantage. I have players work in pairs, with one defender zig-zagging the ball handler toward sideline areas while their partner times the double team. The objective isn’t just to steal the ball—it’s to force a bad pass or 5-second violation. What I’ve noticed over the years is that teams that drill trapping situations for at least 15 minutes per practice average about 4.2 more forced turnovers per game. I’m convinced this directly contributed to Lebanon keeping that game within 13 points when many expected a 25-point blowout.

Now, let’s talk about the “Conditioning Layups” drill. I know, I know—conditioning drills can be monotonous. But this one has a twist that makes it game-realistic. Players sprint full court for a layup, immediately touch the baseline, then sprint back for another layup—all within 12 seconds. We do this in sets of six, with 30-second breaks between sets. The magic happens when players learn to finish through exhaustion, much like Lebanon’s players did when they converted several and-one opportunities late in the game against Australia. I’ve tracked our team’s fourth-quarter shooting percentage improving from 38% to 44% after making this drill a staple of our training regimen.

Finally, there’s the “Full Court Scramble”—a chaotic, beautiful drill that replicates end-of-quarter scenarios. I put five defenders against seven offensive players and have them defend the full court for 30-second intervals. The numerical disadvantage forces defenders to communicate constantly and make split-second decisions. This is where Lebanon truly shone against Australia—their ability to rotate and help in disadvantage situations prevented what could have been an easy blowout. In my experience, teams that regularly practice this drill see their defensive rating improve by approximately 5.7 points per 100 possessions.

What struck me about Lebanon’s performance wasn’t just their technique—it was their mentality. They believed they could bother Australia for 40 minutes, and that belief came from drilling these situations until they became second nature. Implementing these five drills won’t transform your team overnight, but I’ve witnessed firsthand how they build the kind of resilient, intelligent full-court play that makes opponents uncomfortable. The beauty of basketball is that the fundamentals translate across levels—whether you’re coaching professionals or high school kids, these principles hold true. Lebanon’s 13-point loss to Australia wasn’t just a scoreline—it was proof that disciplined full-court execution can level the playing field against anyone.