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ON-Ball DefenceAREASOFEMPHASISGUIDELINES FOR COACHES• Position between the ball and thebasket. The square stance is alwaysestablished between the ball and thebasket. Consequently it is important tocontain the dribble as it moves. The useand technique of the ON-Ball defencefootwork in containing and maintainingposition relative to the offence andspecifically the use of a dribble is basicto coaching basketball. All offensiveplayers will attempt to go around or tothe side of the defender. This lateralmovement is critical in stopping thedribble and heading off the forwardthreat of the offensive player.Historically this has been referred to asa slide and there have been a couple oftechniques associated with coachingsliding. The national system prefers a“power step” rather than the step-slideaction of pointing a toe in one directionand then sliding or shuffling the trail foot.• Lateral movement, stepping andpositioning. Whether facing the chestof the offensive player square on indefensive stance or facing the playersside (shoulder) when dribbling the balltowards a sideline or away from thedirect line to the basket. The lowerdefensive stance and footwork remainsthe same as does the position betweenball and basket. As the ball moves theON-Ball defender will be required tostep or slide to maintain their stance.For the national system the lowdefensive stance remains consistent asdoes the ball and basket positioning. Asthe offensive player turns side on orpart thereof to dribble the defendermust maintain the same low stance andcheck their positioning as either nose tochest (for front on) or nose to shoulderfor side on positioning by the offence.• ON-Ball defence is repetition ofstance, slide or step and runninginto stance. Technically and tacticallyON-Ball defence is containing andpressuring the offence into slowerexecution or stopping it directly orindirectly through this effectivecontainment pressure of footwork andpositioning. It involves positioning,stance, sliding or stepping and handpressure with effective talk from helpdefenders. Maintaining position is alsoimportant so if and when a defender isbeaten they will have to sprint recoverto the line of the ball. The ability toperform this task requires specific anddeliberate conditioning through drillslike “zig zag” conditioned defensivedrills which are meant to replicate themovement action of stance andrepositioning of stance.• ON-Ball defenders will be beatenso they must SPRINT recover andpersist. Knowing that once beaten theON-Ball defender has a greatresponsibility to recover and go againor “rebuild the defence”, is a key valueand requirement for the defender.Therefore once beaten, the ON-Balldefender must SPRINT (shoulder toshoulder) and recover to another ON-Ball position in front of the offence, oralternatively drop to the line of the ballto an OFF-BALL defensive positionshould the offence pass off once theybeat the defence. As players progressthrough the age groups this ON-Ballassignment becomes a specialisingposition in the full court, but nodefensive players can hide from theirposition responsibility and the need torepeat efforts consistently in defendingon the ball.47