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OFF-ball DefenceAREASOFEMPHASISGUIDELINES FOR COACHES• All principles are designed to help theOFF-Ball defender understand their roleand help their team, however there willcontinue to be an evolution of theseprinciples and techniques specific towhat is occurring with specific offence.• For British Basketball to be successfulwe must be consistent in approachthrough firstly understanding the basicsof these what’s and how’s and thencoach the when and why of OFF-Balldefence. British Basketball coachesshould build from these key concepts,principles and techniques as theplatform to improve OFF-Ball defence.Build Teamwork and A PositiveAttitude Into Off-ball Defence• Attitude by players must be positive todefence. We must be proactive ascoaches and clubs. Use your teamdefensive system (including OFF-Ballpressure) to dictate terms to the offence,force the ball towards thesideline/baseline, pressure the ball andthe line of the pass and bump cutters &screeners. Generally be disruptive offthe ball, stopping or disrupting theoffence from doing what it plans.• Get the ball: defence finishes when wehave the ball. Defence finishes withblocking out, securing the rebound andadvancing the ball in transition (if notbefore). All training sessions shouldensure this is a competitive outcome.• Team Talk – players off the ball willconstantly inform their teammates oftheir position and ability to help withpenetration and screens. We willalways communicate more than theoffense!• Defensive teams are always workingand rebuilding collectively after anyforced rotation, the defence needs to“rebuild” itself. This means that evenwith cross match ups players must getback into a strong team defensiveformation. A big player may be nowasked to guard a small player and hasto have the ability to contain thepenetration even if it is for a smallperiod of time. Likewise a smallerplayer has to be able to fight a big manboth in the post and on a flash cut.All Junior Players ShouldUnderstand Off-ball DefenceKey Concepts• Vision: see the ball and your man –when in help position, each defendermaintains split vision of both the balland their specific attacker. Prioritiseseeing the ball over seeing your man.The ball is what matters most.• Move when the ball moves - all playersmust react to the ball by moving as theball moves. Jumping to the ball andback to the player staying ball-side andbasket-side of their attacker.• Help (rotation) is only given whenpenetration has occurred (i.e. ON-Balldefence has been beaten).• Rotating to another player requirescommunication, timing, and closingout techniques.134