KYBHp

ON-Ball DefenceAREASOFEMPHASISGUIDELINES FOR COACHES• Contesting a shot is often a part of theclose out and involves active hands topressure the shot. For ON-Ball defence“Carrying a hand” against shootersbecomes an additional key toindividual defence success. Committingto get a piece of the ball as in adeflection is ultimately required tobecome effective.• When defending the pick and roll thegeneral rule is for the ON-Ball defenderto firstly disrupt and push dribblerhigher and then go OVER the screen,with the screen defender being activeand disruptive against the screener andthe dribbler.• Ultimately we want our British playersON-Ball to be most familiar with thefight to get over individually withouthaving to rely upon help or goingunder.• Emphasising a low defensive stanceand slide with a “big bigger” step or“push off the inside of the foot”. Thecue for a low stance and feetpositioning is “feet between feet’.• Our ON-Ball positioning is two steps(or two arms length) off the offensiveplayer when defending the initial drivethreat. After establishing this positionthe defender will then close the gap toone step off (an arm and half away)from the offensive player or vice versato achieve containment.• When defending the baseline dribbledrive (along the baseline) closing outshould end in a ‘square’ stance (butwith one high foot staggered slightly),limiting the ability for easy baselinepenetration. This is done throughshading the player to the baseline butbeing ready to cut the baseline drive offonce the offence commits, rather thanallowing middle penetration.• In defending the “side penetration”drive (through the side of the keyway)establish stance with high footstaggered up (or foot closest the middleof the court) but square shoulders orchest facing the ball (i.e. parallel tosideline) and tactically influencing theball towards sideline and baseline.• In defending the middle penetration(through the free throw line) adopt thenormal defensive stance and use lateralmovement to angle and influencepenetration towards sideline, awayfrom the free throw area, resulting inforcing the dribbler wider and lessdirectly to the middle. Playing middlefoot higher to influence; cutting thedribbler off and sending back to theiroriginating side.• Playing or scrimmaging from threequarter court rather than quarter courtto specifically place the ON-Balldefender in a position where they canapply more pressure on the guardsdribble, and repeated more regularly.• More full court drilling 1 versus 1, fullcourt, three quarter court, half courtand quarter court to emphasisepositioning and movement when drillingON-Ball defence.57