Defense 101 - On-the-Ball Defensive Techniques
Follow the outline below to learn the essentials and how-to's of playing great on-the-ball defense. Learn the necessary fundamentals to great team defense!
I. On-the-Ball Defense Techniques
A. Stance1. Feet approximately shoulder-width apart2. One foot slightly ahead of the other -- a straight line drawn from the front of back foot should intercept the arch of the front foot3. Weight evenly distributed on balls of feet -- heels should not leave ground4. Knees flexed5. Butt down so that chin is directly above the knees (stay low)6. Head up7. Elbows slightly flexed with arms just outside the body line8. Hands positioned with palms upa. Hands are used to harass player with ball but head should stay up and not dip forwardb. Hands should move in upward direction when harassing (officials are more apt to call a foul if 'slapping down' action is used)B. Foot Movement1. Feet never touch2. Feet never cross3. Lateral movement -- defensive shufflea. Step with foot in the direction in which you are going (if you are shuffling right, step with the right foot)b. Opposite foot is used to push off, kept close to the ground, and moved no closer than 12 inches toward the other foot1. Do not drag foot2. Do not pick feet up in the air4. Retreat Stepa. Pivot on back footb. Swing front leg behind the pivot foot while still facing forward (never turn back to the ball)5. Diagonal Stepa. Pivot on foot opposite of the direction the offensive player goes (offensive player goes to the left, pivot on the right footb. Swing other foot 60 to 90 degrees by opening up (still facing offensive player)c. Execute defensive shuffle until offensive player changes direction againC. Position on Player with Ball1. Half-player ahead concepta. Try to force offensive player to go in one directionb. The up foot in the defensive stance should be outside the foot of the offensive person, which is the direction the defensive player is trying to take away (Example: if taking away an offensive player's right, then the up foot should be outside the offensive player's right foot)c. Offensive player's foot should point directly between the defensive person's feetd. Shoulder of offensive player should point directly in the middle of the defensive person's body (if taking away right, then right shoulder of offensive player intersects middle of defender's body)e. Offensive player can go in two directions:1. If going to the side defender is overplaying, then defense swings the up foot in the stance back and shuffles to get body in front of offensive player2. If going to the side that the defender is not overplaying, then defense must shuffle quickly in order to place body in front of offensive player2. Straight up concepta. Defensive player is positioned in a defensive stance to be head- to-head with offensive playerb. Defensive player must be prepared to shuffle in either direction in order to maintain position on offensive playerD. Dictate to player with the ball; be aggressiveE. Defensive player should be one arm's length away from offensive person with the ballF. When offensive player picks up the dribble1. Defensive person should get up as close as possible to offensive person without fouling2. Use hands to harass offensive player by following the ball3. If offensive player takes ball above the head, then the defender brings arms up and crosses them in front of opponent's faceG. Defense against the shot1. Outside jumpera. May use one of two methods:1. Crowd the offensive player by taking a step toward offensive person and extending arms straight up in the air; do not leave floor2. Jump straight up and extend one arm to contest the shot - do not leave floor until offensive player leaves the floorb. When contesting a lay-up go after the block with inside arm (Example: If lay-up is from the right side, then go after the block with left hand)H. Concentration point must always be on the mid-section of the offensive playerPart I: On-the-Ball Defense / Part II: Off-the-Ball Defense
Go To: Part I: On-the-Ball Defense
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