Points for playing defense

#1 STOP THE BASKETBALL

This is the overriding principle of good defense. Stop the ball every time.

#2 HAND ON THE BALL

Pressuring the basketball in the proper manner allows the overplaying of the passing lane and the extending of  help. Constantly influence the basketball away from the basket. When it is up top,  influence it to the sideline. When it is on the sideline, influence it to the corner or back towards the jump circle. You ALWAYS want a hand on the ball. Regardless of whether it is before the dribble, during the dribble, or after the dribble has been picked up. If the ball is passed, we want a hand on the ball. If the ball is shot, we want a hand on the ball.

►If the ball handler has the ball but has not used her dribble, we want to be down in our stance with one hand “mirroring” the basketball at all times.

►If the ball handler is dribbling, we want to be down in our stance with our outside hand pressuring the basketball.

►If the ball handler picks up her dribble, we want to get as close to her without fouling as possible and have both hands aggressively “mirroring” the basketball.

►If the ball handler is attempting to pass, we want to have our outside hand extended in the passing lane, attempting to alter the pass or deflect it.

►If the ball handler attempts to shoot, we want to get a hand up on the ball in an attempt to block or alter the shot. This is an aggressive maneuver, but we want to challenge every shot taken by an opponent. We do not believe that a hand in the face will effect a good shooter — we want to make her change her shot.

#3 JUMP TO THE BASKETBALL
Anytime the ball is passed, all five players jump to the ball. More importantly, they must be jumping on the airtime of the pass. Begin your movement the instant the ball leaves the passers hand. Too often, a defensive player or team, moves after the receiver has caught the ball — that’s not quick enough.

#4 CONTESTING THE LOW POST
When the ball is above the free throw line extended, we want to 3/4 the low post with our lead foot in the passing lane. When the ball is below the free throw line extended, we want to front the low post. Don’t allow any low post touches.

#5 CONTESTING THE HIGH POST
This is simply the most dangerous place on the court for the basketball to be. Not only is it in the middle of the court where we cannot establish helpside and ballside principles, but it is close enough to the basket to be shot or driven. Defensively we must be able to anticipate the post flash and contest the pass to the high post.

#6 HELPSIDE POSITIONING

The key to helpside is to take away offensive spacing for our opponent. Our opponent should constantly be looking at 3 (offensive players) vs. 5 (defensive players) situation if we are stationed properly. If the ball is above the motion line, we want the helpside defensive player to have 1 foot in the paint forming a triangle with herself, the ball, and the player she is defending. If the ball is below the motion line, we want the helpside defensive player to have 2 feet in the paint, again forming a triangle.

#7 EARLY HELP

Anticipate situations that need help. Help must come early. We don’t want to have to help once the ball is in the paint, rather before it gets to the paint. Recovery is just as important as help. Help and then return to your assignment.

#8 CLOSEOUT
Know who you are closing out on and defend accordingly. Contest every shot.

#9 BLOCKOUT

Make contact, maintain contact, find the basketball, and go rebound the basketball. A rebound represents a possession. Limit the other team  to one shot at the basket each time down the floor.

#10 DEFEND WITHOUT FOULING

There are three things that we don’t want to give up on defense. One is an open shot by a good shooter. We take this away by putting our hand on the ball when it is shot. The second is to not allow an uncontested lay-up (we will talk about this in #12). And finally, we don’t want to bail out the offense and let them get to the free throw line for easy points.

#11 TRANSITION DEFENSE

Sprint back, stop the ball before it makes it to the paint and take away easy opportunities from our opponent when they fast break. Stop the basketball first and make sure we don’t allow any open lay-ups. Then pick up you assignment.

#12 KNOW YOUR SCOUTING REPORT

Know what our point of emphasis is defensively and understand who they are defending individually.

#13 BE MOTIVATED TO DEFEND.

Defense is a daily event — with no days off.  Be excited about playing defense. Be difficult to score against.

#14 STAY IN STANCE

If you are going to be solid defensively, you must stay the proper stance and, more importantly, condition yourself to stay in that stance. The stance begins at the bottom where we want the feet a little wider than shoulders width. The body should be low, bent at the knees (not at the back) with the head up. Keep your elbows tucked and tight to the body with hands extended and palms up.