Structures, Strategies
and Compositions
Lesson 7
Today we will learn…
 How to use Half Court Man-to-Man
defence as a defensive strategy.
 The 3 main positions involved in playing
Half Court Man-to-Man.
 The strengths and weaknesses of the
strategy.
Half Court Man-to-Man
 Choose one player to mark.
 Choose player based on height, speed,
strength etc.
 Pick this player up as they cross the half way
line.
 Follow the player around everywhere they go in
your half.
 Stay between player and basket at all times.
Main Roles in
Half Court Man-to-Man
 On the ball
 Deny
 Helpside
When do you play these
positions?
 Take a look at the man-to-man
animation on coaches clipboard. Go to...
 www.coachesclipboard.net
 Animations
 Defence – Man-to-Man
When do you play...
 On the ball?
 Deny?
 Helpside?
On the ball...
 Take up position when defending player
with the ball.
 Rush towards player.
 Low defensive stance.
 Don’t lunge in.
 Hands out to stop shot or pass.
 Stay between the player and the basket.
Deny…
 Take up position when defending a
player who is one pass away from ball
handler.
 Stay between the ball and the player
your marking.
 Have your hand in the passing lane.
 If the ball handler stops dribbling then
you go to ‘full denial’.
Helpside...
 Take up this position when defending
against a player two passes away from
the ball handler.
 Aim is to help out your team mates
against the ball penetrating the key.
 Move away from your man and towards
the ball.
 Always keep sight of your player.
Task sheet
 Look at the following diagrams.
 Place a letter beside each attacker to
indicate what position their defender
would be playing in a half court man-toman defence.



On the ball = B
Deny = D
Helpside = H
Homework
 Due …
 Give a detailed description of Half Court
Man-to-Man defence.
 Give a detailed description of playing ‘On
the Ball’.
Homework
 Due …
 Give a detailed description of Half Court
Man-to-Man defence.
 Give a detailed description of playing ‘On
the Ball’.