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ON-Ball DefenceAREASOFEMPHASISGUIDELINES FOR COACHESFor the national system the defensivestance and the power step remainsconsistent as does the ball and basketpositioning. As the offensive player turnsside on or partly side on to dribble thedefender must maintain the same lowstance and check their positioning as eithernose to chest (for front on) or nose toshoulder for side on positioning by theoffence and with the correct spacing(normally 1.5 to 2 steps) that allows thedefender to create pressure.Creating Effective “Hand Pressure”ON-Ball defenders should be competent atdefending the shot, dribble / drive to thebasket and the pass. Defending the shotand or the pass is the next sequence ofprogression for ON-Ball defencemovement. When the defensive stance isthe hands should be carried as an aid formovement and also to get to the ball. Thehand placement on balance is with a “dighand” versus dribble, or the “outside hand”in passing lane and “inside hand up”. Thekey objective is to “attack the ball’ with ourhands in order to pressure the offence. Thearm bar is also a technique which shouldbe understood and used by the defender incertain situations.The National system will carry the insidehand (to the split line).The inside hand willalternate between being the dig hand forcrossover dribbles to the middle and alsoto raise and pressure the shot, The outsidehand will apply pressure and contest thepassing lane. The defenders Left handcovers the offensive players right hand andvice versa. As the offensive player movesthe ball when being ball quick from hip tohip the defenders hands will trace andindeed follow the path of the ball. There isa secondary or opportunistic use of thehands which are specific to what theoffensive player presents. This is theessence of hand pressure.On dead ball situations the hands aregathered together so the outside handquickly joins the inside carried hand andtogether they will trace the ball. Bodyposition and space changes as the gapbetween the defender and the offensiveplayer will close from UP to IN but thestance must be retained to cover theoffences attack foot.Contesting a shot is often a part of theclose out and involves active hands topressure the shot. The close out is coveredin the OFF-BALL section of the Areas ofEmphasis. Trying to worry the shooter byputting a hand in their face is onetechnique. Depending on the close out andspeed for balance (long or short) a handshould be carried and once the shooter isin their action the defender should becommitting to get a piece of the ball as in adeflection but block out as part of there onball responsibility.55