This is one of the best ways to teach 2-woman concepts.

The drill helps attackers learn how to read the defense and answer an important question on every possession:

Is the defense switching or staying with the 2-woman game?

Setup

  • Play on only one side of the 8m, split in half down the middle of the goal.

  • Start with 2 attackers and 1 defender.

  • The picker starts with the ball.

  • The picker makes a pass down and then sets a pick down to start the drill.

  • One attacker is the ball carrier. This player is allowed to score.

  • The other attacker is the picker. The picker cannot receive a pass or score. Their only job is to set picks.

  • The defender's job is to avoid getting picked.

The defender should work hard to prevent easy shots. The drill will not help the offense learn to read the defense if the defender is not doing everything possible to stop the pick.

The Basic Reads

1. If the Defender Goes Under the Pick

If the defender goes under the pick, the ball carrier has two options:

Shoot if you are within range.

Or, hesitate in the pocket created by the defender going under the pick. This gives the picker time to reset the pick closer to the net.

Do not put your head down and run full speed.

If you run directly into the space without reading the defense, you can end up being met by the defender on the other side.

Instead, use the space the defender has given you and make the next read.

2. If the Defender Goes Over the Pick

If the defender goes over the pick, invite her over the top using your "face up" posture.

Turn the corner around the pick just enough to put the defender in a trailing position.

The goal is to use the pick to create an advantage rather than simply running through it.

The Goal of the Drill

The main purpose of this drill is to teach attackers to read the defender.

Don't run the same action regardless of what the defense does. Pay attention to how the defender plays the pick and make the appropriate decision.

The better you become at recognizing whether the defender goes under or over, the better you can use 2-woman concepts to create an attacking opportunity.