defensive skills
➤➤ Four-Player
Run and Trap
Goal To learn to trap the dribbler.
Description Start with one defensive player guarding one offensive player at the
baseline; a second offensive player and his defender are positioned on the ball side
of the rim. The offensive player dribbles to the sideline, and his defender slides to
cut the dribbler off. At this point, the second defender leaves his own opponent to
trap the dribbler. The offensive player pivots and attempts to break the trap by passing to his teammate, who is a step behind the passer at this point. After the ball is
passed, the new ball handler dribbles hard to the opposite sideline at a 45-degree
angle. The defenders turn and sprint to get in front of and trap this new dribbler
at the opposite sideline. At this point, the new dribbler passes back to the original
dribbler, who is on the ball side of the rim and one step behind the dribbler. The
drill continues with the same defenders for four sideline traps. Each player should
have a turn on defense to work on the trap.
Variations
• Work on the trap in a two-on-one situation with two defenders trapping one
offensive player on the sideline.
• Once the ball has crossed the half-court line, have the two offensive players
try to score against the two defensive players.
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.6/429647/TammyP/R3-alw
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defensive skills
➤➤ Champions
Goal To learn to close out on the shooter from the help position.
Description One defensive player starts in good help-side position at the elbow
(the gap) with an offensive player on the wing. The coach has the ball at the top of
the key. The coach passes to the wing, and the defensive player closes out. The wing
passes the ball back to the coach, and the defensive player reacts by jumping back
to the gap at the elbow (a). The coach then dribbles to the wing as the offensive
player cuts to the block. The defensive player denies and then fronts the offensive
player when the ball is on the wing. The coach then reverses the ball to a new player
who has stepped in at the top of the key. As the ball is reversed, the defensive player
jumps out and up to deny it to the post (b). The offense should make these passes
from the top of the key to the wing, and so on, a couple of times until the coach slaps
the ball; then the offensive player on the block sprints to the opposite wing as the
player at the top of the key steps back out of the drill. The defensive player stays on
the help side until the coach skips the ball to the opposite wing. At this point, the
defensive player closes out on the player who receives the ball (c). The coach and
the opposite wing pass back and forth a couple times as the defender adjusts until
the coach slaps the ball once more; then the offensive player on the wing cuts to
the middle of the lane and up to the top of the key. The defensive player denies the
offensive player cutting (d). When the coach throws the ball to the offensive player
at the top of the key, the drill becomes a live one-on-one. The defensive player must
close out on the opponent and work to contain and contest the shot.
Variations
• Perform this drill in segments before putting all the defensive techniques
together.
• Make this a live drill throughout.
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defensive skills
C
C
a
b
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.7a/429650/TammyP/R1
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C
C
c
d
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defensive tactics
➤➤ Three-on-Three
Goal To work with two other defenders in a three-on-three situation to stop the
offense from scoring.
Description The coach starts with the ball under the basket. Three offensive players
set up around the perimeter (two at the wings and one at the top of the key). Three
defensive players begin in the lane. On the coach’s pass out to the offense, one
defender closes out on the ball, and the other two go to their help-side positioning
(a). From here, the defense practices reacting to the following:
1.Weak-side interchange. From the top of the key, the ball is passed to the wing.
The offensive players at the top of the key and the wing opposite the ball will
interchange (switch positions), and the two defensive players must rotate to
their help positions (b).
2.Paint touches. From the top of the key, the ball is passed to the wing. The
offensive players then try to break down the defense by cutting into the lane
(c) or by driving the ball baseline past the defenders. The defense must adjust
to all passes, drives, and cuts accordingly.
3.Baseline rotations. From the top of the key, the ball is passed to the wing.
The offensive player on the wing catches the ball, sweeping it from one side
to the other. The weak-side defender must rotate outside of the lane and cut
the dribble off as the defender at the top of the key drops to the hole (d). On
a skip pass from the dribbler out to the offensive player on the opposite side
of the court, the player who rotated over will stay with the ball. The player in
the hole defends the first pass out, and the defender who was guarding the
ball rotates to the next available offensive player.
4.Baseline rotations with weak-side interchange. From the top of the key, the
ball is passed to the wing. The two offensive players on the weak side (away
from the ball) exchange positions. The defenders must be in position to stay
with their offensive players as they exchange places but must also be in position to stop the baseline drive that may occur on the ball side of the floor (e).
Variations
• Teach one part of the drill to the players before adding the other parts.
• Add this rule to the drill: When the coach says “Live,” the offensive players
can make any moves to try to score against the defenders in a three-on-three
situation.
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defensive tactics
C
a
b
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.8a/434653/TammyP/R1
c
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.8b/429652/TammyP/R1
d
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.8c/433876/TammyP/R1
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.8d/433877/TammyP/R2-alw
e
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defensive tactics
➤➤ Four-on-Four
Goal To learn defensive rotation in a four-on-four situation.
Description This drill involves the same action as the three-on-three drill. The coach
starts with the ball under the basket. Four defenders start in the lane. Four offensive
players, two guards and two wings, set up around the perimeter. The coach passes
the ball to one of the four offensive players. One defender closes out on the ball
while the other three defenders move to help-side positioning (a). From here, the
defense practices reacting to the following:
1.Weak-side interchange. When the ball goes from guard to forward, the
offensive weak-side guard and weak-side forward will interchange. On that
interchange, the defensive players must move to their respective weak-side
help positions (b).
2.Defend the basket cut. When the
ball goes from guard to forward,
the guard making the pass cuts to
the basket. The weak-side guard
and weak-side forward rotate to the
empty spots. The defensive players
then move to their respective helpside positions (c).
C
Variations
• Teach one part of the drill to the players before adding the other parts.
• Add this rule to the drill: At any
point during the drill, if the coach
says “Live,” the offensive players
may make any moves to try to score
against the defenders.
a
E5585/ASEP/fig 9.9a/434654/TammyP/R1
b
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c