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3/4 Court Two Long Play

3-Man Weave Rebounding Drill

Jump to the Ball Drill

2-on-2 Competitive Give-and-Go Drill

2-on-2 Competitive Rebounding Drill

Reversal for 3

Defense 101 - Off-the-Ball Defensive Techniques

Follow this outline to learn the essentials and how-to's of playing great off-the-ball defense.  Learn the defensive fundamentals necessary to have great basketball team defense.

II.  Off-the-Ball Defense Techniques

A.  Deny Position

1. Body Position
   a.  Should be facing offensive player
   b.  Must be between the ball and the player being guarded
2. Position of Arms
   a.  Outside arm (arm nearest the passer) should be extended out into the passing lane with palm facing the basketball
   b.  Inside arm (arm nearest the person you are guarding) should be chest high with the elbow out so that the forearm is facing the offensive player
3. Head should be in a position so the defense can see both the ball and the player being guarded
4. Foot movement
   a.  Players must use defensive shuffle in order to maintain position
   b.  Two options to defend a backdoor cut:
   1.  On backdoor cut by offense, use forearm to slow down the cut by the offense and continue to maintain original position
   2.  Use forearm to slow down cut by offensive player, but open up to the ball
   (aa)  Pivot on foot closer to basket
   (bb)  Swing other foot in the direction of the ball until it is past the inside foot in order to open up fully
   (cc)  If offense comes back out to receive the ball, pivot on same foot and swing other back to get into the original deny position

B.  Always be prepared to help out teammates

1. The further the defense is from the ball, the further the defensive player may be away from the person being guarded
2. Always maintain ball-you-man principle
3. Be able to see both the ball and the player being guarded at all times; form a triangle (ball-you-man)
4. When guarding a person without the ball, as soon as defense sees an offensive player attempt a dribble penetration, defense moves in the direction of the dribbler

C.  Front all cutters to the basket

1. If guarding person with ball, as soon as pass is made, move in the direction of the pass (jump towards the ball in order to make an offensive player cut behind you) and make contact
2. If guarding a player two or mare passes away from the ball, defense must step into cutting lane in order to front the cutter

D.  Front the low post players

1. Be active with feet
2. Attack the offensive player depending upon the position in the low post
   a.  If low post is below the box on the foul lane, try to attack for fronting position from the foul-line side
   b.  If low post is above the box on the foul lane, try to attack for fronting position from the baseline side
3. Maintain contact with offense when fronting in low post

E.  Defending against the pick

1. Switching technique
   a.  Defensive player on person setting the screen picks up offensive player using the screen
   b.  Defensive player on person using the screen picks up offensive player setting the screen
   c.  Either defensive person may call "Switch"
2. Check-and-Recover technique
   a.  Defensive player guarding the person setting the screen
   1.  When offensive player comes off the screen, step out to make offense go wide
   2.  Lock other foot with player setting screen
   3.  Recover as quickly as possible to guard person setting screen
   b.  Defensive player guarding the person using the screen
   1.  Fight over top of screen; step over top
   2.  Be physical
   3.  Continue to play offensive player using the pick
   c.  Defensive player on person setting screen gives help to teammate in order to give person time to fight over top

F.  Communication with teammates

1. Call out all picks
2. Also call out "help", "shot", etc.

G.  Taking a charge

1. Make sure feet are planted in offensive player's path
2. Get body in position
   a.  Knees flexed in basketball position
   b.  Arms up at chest level with elbows out
3. When contact is made by offensive player
   a.  Fall backward to prevent taking full brunt of charge
   b.  Extent of backward fall will depend on amount of contact and momentum of offensive player
   c.  Throw arms back on contact after giving a slight push to offensive player to protect from excessive contact
   d.  Make moaning sound when hit (sell it to the officials)
4. When hitting the floor try to land on buttocks and slide on the floor

John Wooden: Thinking Like a Champion
John Wooden's 'Thinking Like a Champion' has just been reissued on DVD. In this Q & A with former UCLA great Keith Erickson recorded in 1994, Coach Wooden discusses his philosophies on life and athletics.