FIBAEUROPE
FECC
class 2007-2009
Andrea Menozzi
(Italy)
Under 16 - Individual technical and tactical development by
the man to man defense, with special reference to
positioning
Table of content
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3
Our man to man defense.............................................................................................. 6
Defensive transition................................................................................................... 6
One vs. One on the ball – perimeter players ............................................................. 7
One vs. One on the ball – inside players................................................................... 8
Defense positioning: One vs. One against the man without the ball ......................... 9
Team defense: help against dribbling penetration and defensive rotation .............. 14
High and low post defense ...................................................................................... 19
Defending the screens ............................................................................................ 20
Defending the pick and roll...................................................................................... 22
Didactics notes ........................................................................................................ 24
Alternative defense ................................................................................................. 24
Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 25
Abbreviation list .......................................................................................................... 26
References list............................................................................................................ 26
“I, Menozzi Andrea, hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the
best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written
by another person.”
2
Introduction
Foreword
Our guideline in the working on young players is to focus that the priority target is their
individual development. Every improvement for the quality and the level of our team’s
game should be the directly product by the individual advance of each single player.
This is the only way to jump to the next level of the game without using counterproductive shortcuts
It’s helpful to define our planning the awareness that a real individual improvement of
the player is founded on to three different fundamental spheres:
• technical
• physical
• psychological
Of course the previous break down it’s important in theory, but no real. In fact the three
factor are strongly mixed or integrated and they have to be present concurrently in the
projecting and planning the day by day activities finalized to the rise of young players.
Teaching defense is a perfect example of the precedent concept: good defense requires
a very smart individual defense technique, requires a good shape, an intelligent mastery
of the different tactical situation too, but, above all, requires moral quality.
Why man to man defense?
By my experience, in this range of age, the physical and psychological grow of the boys
allow to combine individual skills (technical and tactical) together with the first concept
of team defense. In the same way of teaching offense we want develop the individual
offense skills within of game concepts.
• allows us to encourage important qualities as: proud, responsibility and team
spirit.
• it’s preparatory also for the zone defense, since inside of the responsibilities
areas the players have to defense by the same fundamental skill of the individual
defense.
3
Idea
(Trying to combine the following set of ideas)
Personal responsibility – initiative – collaboration
It’s important to promote the spirit of enterprise in the young players and this in both
sides of the game: offense and defense.
All the more so if we believe the defense has not to be hand-off or loose, but it have
strive for to get the control of the game in order to take out it from the attack.
The players have to develop a constant sense of responsibility, both for their
instructions and for the consequences that can result by the own personal initiatives.
Aggressiveness – Balance
If in the previous years we have encouraged the instinct to come in possession of the
ball, now is the correct time to introduce the first ideas of balance to avoid that surplus
of aggressiveness can generate counter-productive outcomes (useless fouls – easy
baskets allowed) and this idea is applicable both of individual point of view and of team.
Spacing – timing – play “while”
Defense has to get all the technical/tactical gears, which allow to stop the timing of the
attack and to deny better offensive spacing.
For an effective defense the players have to be able to take off initiatives to the attack,
adapting their self in the right way “while” the offense is moving (and not re-acting
“after” the offense movement).
Technical anticipation ability
The “motor anticipation ability” (the ability to predict ball or player movement, or
situation) has to be increased by physical and mental quickness drills. In addiction, we
can stimulate this skill by some drills where it will possible to get more experience in real
game situations, and mainly, to recognize the most important indicators which can early
give useful information about what it will happen on the court. **** I prefer to call it
“technical anticipation ability”. ****
In European scientific literature is possible to find a lot of documents about this skills, for
my this paper I refer to the studies of professor Luigino Sepulcri, strength and
4
conditioning coach of Italian Basketball NT and coordinator of the education for strength
and conditioning coaches of Italian Basketball Academy. (Sepulcri L., La gestione
dell'equilibrio - Principi e attualità operative. Giganti del Basket n.6 2006, p. 56 – 60)
Special players: tall kids
If in one group of Under 16 players we have one o more player firmly taller than the
average, this is of course a benediction for our work in the long period, but probably in
the short time this aspect will establish some little problems to go over.
The tall kids at this age can be penalized by a lack of motor skills compared with their
peer group, together with a resulting decrease of self-esteem. In this case we have to
protect the tall player and if necessary support him by suitable tactical devices. We have
to follow this solution until he will be able to be a “presence” by the technical and
physical work. A presence appreciate by himself and by his teammates.
5
Our man to man defense
In this my paper I will try to argue the defense idea about the different game situations,
trying to have consistency in every technical and tactical choices. In particular I will try
to develop also by practical examples the relative work about the defensive positioning,
that I regard the main factor for a didactic program for the Under 16 teams.
In my mind the one against one (1 vs. 1) it’s a key factor for players younger than Under
16, whereas with teams more mature we will introduce day by day more team tactical
aspects.
Defensive transition
This aspect of the game is like a small emergency, which we have to stop by the
following idea:
D. 1 - 4 vs. 4 vertical positioning
Concept
Ball line: is the imaginary parallel line to the
baseline, positioned at the level of the ball.
Sample of drill: to explain the idea of ball line
(not specific for the transition defense)
4 vs. 4 + A (3/4C + FB) (D.1)
O1 by SLOB passes the ball to the Coach and
cuts inside the court to receive back the ball. The
Coach passes the ball to O3 or O4 while them
are cutting towards the center line. X1 e X2 have
to run below the ball line. The defensive players
on the help side, sagging towards the ball.
Tactical items
• assignment (during the offence moment) of the offensive rebound responsibilities
and relative defensive cover.
•
To sprint for protecting the paint area and however below the ball line.
Individual technical items
• To take the same speed of the dribbler and to force the ball to sideline (so to
reduce the offensive space), just the ball is stopped we can start with our
defense on the half court.
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One vs. One on the ball – perimeter players
Prerequisites
There are some elements and idea of base which we considers prerequisites:
we have to check if the players own them.
Individual techniques
• Fundamental stance
o bend knees
o shoulder forward than the hips
o balance
o sliding technique
lead foot: point the sliding direction
push foot: it’s the opposite foot of the lead foot
don’t cross the legs
concept
• driving line: the ideal line between the offensive player with the ball and the
basket
Specific program
We want, by a specific program with the Under 16, develop the skill to understand the
different game situations, to recognize the different acts of the offensive players and to
use the adequate counter fundamentals.
At the base of all we have the idea to defend keeping off the ball from the three point
area (without conditioning the ball towards one side of the court). In this way we want
stress at the maximum level the individual responsibility. And for this reason we chose
to stay low against the ball by a “wall” defense position, with the goal to keep the ball
one step outside the three point area. We can obtain this idea in the teaching of Ettore
Messina, especially for the didactic of the defense. This a key point in the Ettore
Messina defense system (Messina E., Basket 2nd edition, p.10-11).
Secondly we want explain how much and when increase the defensive pressure against
the ball, and give them some performance indicators which allow to test the quality of
the defensive action.
Perfomance indicators
• stay with the chest in front of the ball
• stay at the distance which allow to touch the ball for all the defensive action
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• keep an hand close to the ball
tactical elements
• recognize the offensive play’s attitude, which can change often during the same
offensive action:
o is he playing to pass the ball? We have to increase the defensive pressure
o is he going to play 1 vs. 1? We have to increase our balance and to keep
down the offensive player
o target: to avoid to the offensive player to control the game, to avoid him to
keep his head high, forcing him to protect the ball
developing individual technical elements:
switch from sliding to running and vice versa
for example in case of defense in open court D. 2 – 1 vs. 1
(D.2), the defender as soon as is late must stop
the sliding action and run to recover the correct
defensive position in front of the ball and be able
to re-start with an effective defensive action
against the ball.
charge
As direct outcome of the correct defensive position on the driving line, the defender he
must be able to force a charge by the offensive player.
One vs. One on the ball – inside players
To receive inside the ball is, normally, a great advantage for the offense, therefore the
defense have to avoid it. If in any case the ball is pass inside the defender on the ball
must:
• stay low between offensive player and basket
• bend the knees, to stay lower than the offensive player, widen his feet support
• keep the contact only by the forearm, to create a gap and to avoid easy
movements for the opponent. Usually the contact is a great advantage for the
offensive player.
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Defense positioning: One vs. One against the man without the ball
Target of our system defense against the offensive player without the ball is to prevent
him from timing and spacing advantages.
To reach this we have to explain some concepts and give some indications:
concepts:
• passing line: is the ideal line which joint the player without the ball and the one
with the ball
• a pass away, the defender must play on the passing line
• to avoid any contacts (to encourage footwork and don’t allow a easy offensive
advantage)
• to avoid for the offensive player to receive the ball in steady position
• to avoid directly passing line, up till one step beyond the three point line
• to see always ball and own offensive player
In theory this defensive attitude can be dangerous, for example it can be attacked by
backdoor cuts or by back screen, but our team has to count on a strong pressure on the
ball (this is the first and more important help against cuts and screens away from the
ball).
• At two passes away from the ball and/or on the help side, the defenders will stay
close to the passing line and sagged towards the center of the paint area, so to
form a very flat triangle between own
offensive player and the ball.
D. 3 – flat triangle
(I refer to the flat triangle which Coach Pesic
introduce in the lesson “Man to man defensive
concept” during the 2008 FECC Clinic in
Amaliada. The D.3 is drawn by the relative issue
– page 2).
This triangle could be more o less squeezed in
relation to the different situations which we are going to show.
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individual technique
To switch from the defensive position against D. 4 – positioning: vs. give&go
the ball to the deny position and vice versa.
For example:
defense against give and go and defense
against “V” cut
(D.4): jump towards the ball just the ball go
away the hand of the offensive player, the
defender have to move quickly on the passing line to avoid an easy front cut.
(D.5) the defender has to move while the ball is
D. 5 – positioning: from deny to against
the ball
flying: as the offense attempt to reverse the ball,
the defender firstly ha to force the offensive
player to receiver as far as possible from the
basket, secondly during the time of the pass
place himself in the “wall” position against the
ball.
switch from deny position to help position D. 6 – positioning: from help pos. to deny
and vice versa
In the D.6 the defender ha to adjust his position
in relation to the ball: it’s a nodal point that the
defender move himself contemporary to the ball
movement.
Defense against cuts
(and help against cuts)
D. 7 – positioning: help vs. cut
To explain our concepts of positioning and
defense against cuts we can use different drills.
2 vs. 2 + Support – Help against cuts
In the situation as D.7 we want stress the idea
that the help from X2 on the cut of O1 has to be
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carry towards the ball and not towards the basket to close the space for the offense,
reducing the distance on the own offensive player who is moving to replace the
teammate.
tactical elements
If the help against the cut should be carry towards the basket, this action should open
great space for the open offensive player.
“PENTA drill”. The next drill is addressed to Coach Elio Pentassuglia a very important
Italian coach of 70’s/80’s (he won the 1980 Korac CUP with Rieti) and you can find this
drill in a book by Coach Ettore Messina too. (Messina E., Basket 2nd edition, p.17-19)
D. 8 – “PENTA” drill: setup
D. 9 – “PENTA” drill: swing
We use three offensive players and three defensive players and one Coach as support
all arranged as diagram D.8. When the ball is reversed the offensive player who has
passed it, immediately cuts towards the opposite corner in the strong side. The
offensive player in the corner on the weak side will cut (flash) to the ball, then will
replace the teammate in wing position to be open and get the ball.
The defender has to maintain the correct positioning between man and ball (a pass
away from the ball), denying direct passes and allowing only lob passes or passes
towards the midline (this to allow the continuity of the drill)
The defender on the man in the corner should line up following the rule of the flat
triangle firstly, and to come up to deny the direct passing line secondly, when his
offensive player will move to the ball. It’s very important that the support is a Coach for
the following reasons:
• the Coach will give the correct time for the drill, to allow the defense to keep a
correct positioning
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• the Coach could keep the ball on his hip (on a side) so to simulate the presence
of a strong defender to reproduce a real game situation
we want accustom the defenders to catch the eye and the bearing of the player with the
ball.
tactical elements
the direction of the look of the offensive player (also when he is in the point area) with
the ball give useful information to the other defenders to adjust their defensive position
as they are deciding the strong and weak side: on the side in “vision” it’s possible to
increase the defensive aggressiveness while on the other side, the blind one, it’s
possible to be a little bit sagged.
individual techniques
• stay on the passing lines
• see man and ball
• move while the ball is moving
• prevent front cuts
• change defensive guard when it’s necessary, turning towards the offensive player
losing sight of the ball for a while.
We can change the previous drill in this way D. 9 – help vs. backdoor
(D.9): we force the defense to deny with decision
the reverse of the ball so to create the possibility
of backdoor cut for the offense. Also in this case
it’s possible to incite the defender on the corner
to recognize the intentions of the passer and to
be ready to help on the cut towards the basket
(motor anticipation); at same way the defender in wing position has to recognize the
situation and he will be ready to adequate his position on the court and, eventually,
rotate.
Obviously, in a real game framework, all these actions are based on the fundamental
rule to put a very strong pressure on the ball, so as to prevent the offensive player with
the ball to maintain a easy check of all the attack front.
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3 vs. 3 + support (HC+FB) positioning and box out
O1 pass the ball the support, all the offensive
players cut as in D.10. The Coach can pass the
D. 10 – positioning + boxout
ball to one of the tree offensive players to check
the correct positioning of the defenders or, more
often, shoot. The three defenders have to meet
the contact with own offensive player, box out,
get the rebound and run the fast break. The drill
is useful also for the offensive players, firstly
(according to the coach assignments) to get the offensive rebound and cover the
offensive transaction, secondly playing their defensive transaction.
4 vs. 4 “SHELL” (HC+FB) placing as in D.11
D. 11 – 4 vs. 4 SHELL
We use this variant of the well know drill to work
on global way on the defensive positioning,
therefore in this phase we inhibit the offense to
dribble (finally we can allow one or two dribbles).
The offensive players can move themselves and
cut to get open.
The paint area must be protect at any time of our defensive action. We want the
defender further from the ball to have at least a foot inside the area (D.11).
We have always to remind to our player our defensive goals:
• pressure on the ball and deny the offensive players a pass away from the ball
and slow down the rapid reverse of the ball
• prevent the offense to put the ball in wish spots (for example: in the paint area or
near the three point line) to twist the angle of the more effective passages
the two precedent point allow the defense to get time to occupy in correct way the
space on the weak side (or in any case away from the ball) necessary condition to apply
our concepts of defensive help, which we are going to introduce.
As ever, as soon as recovered the ball, the defensive team will run the fast-break.
13
Low post
Now we can try to decline the previous placing defensive concept introducing a
particular three vs. three situation with one offensive player in the low post area (D.12),
which we analyze afterwards.
individual techniques and tactical elements
D. 12 – low post #1
While the player with ball is trying to get the post
line (deployment line), the defender of the player
in low post has to release the contact and move
quickly the feet to play front; the defender on the
weak side
D. 13 – low post #2
has
gradually
to
adjust
his
defensive
position
dropping towards the ball and sagging more
deeply in the area. O1 can stop the dribble
recovering the ball and this the best situation for
our defense, or change hand and move toward
the middle (D.13). X3 can read this changing of
posture and immediately run back to his initial position on stay on the passing line to 3
to slow down a possible reverse of the ball.
Team defense: help against dribbling penetration and defensive
rotation
The responsibility of the defender on the ball is to put a great pressure and prevent
dribble driving to the basket. But this is not
D. 14 – help vs dribble penetration
always possible, and sometimes the offense get
a real advantage which allow it to attack strongly
our basket: in this emergency situation the
defender on the ball can count on the help from
all his teammates.
Concepts and tactical elements
help against dribble penetration (D.14) must
come from the weak side and from the deepest defender (the defender more closer to
the basket) for this reason a lot of time this kind of help comes by the inside defenders.
14
The defenders on the strong side a pass away from the ball has to bring an early help:
X3 moves only one slide towards the ball, remaining on the passing line, and
immediately comes back to his offensive player to deny any pass to him. The target to
fake the full help is only to slow down the dribbler.
the defenders on the weak side a pass away from the ball (middle penetration) have to
near to the paint area running along the ball line. In case of baseline penetration we
want bring the help on the borderline of the paint area.
Against middle penetration, the designate defender for helping (usually a inside or tall
player) will get position in the middle of the area to protect the basket
The defender of the dribbler has to recover because he has the responsibility to disturb
the middle range shot.
It’s important to learn the difference between “real” penetration and “false” one.
To reinforce these concepts we decline all the defensive placement idea by some
examples of game situation.
Five offensive player spread around the D. 15 – five outside
perimeter (D.15) with the ball in the point area.
Consistently
with the
precedent
defensive
concepts: the pressure on the ball must
establish the first idea of strong-weak side.
In this way the other four defenders can adapt
their position also with the ball in middle area.
Baseline penetration (5 vs. 5) (D.16)
The deepest defender on the weak side X5 stop D. 16 – baseline penetration
the penetration at the borderline of the area: the
efficiency of this action is a key point, because if
also the helper is defeated there is no possibility
to recover the defensive advantage. In the
same time X4 has fill the area and put a arm on
the passing line for O5, the offensive player free
by X5 (“help who helps”). Also X1 and X2 have to fill the area, the first remaining on the
passing line, X2 he has to be ready to close up on the passage for O2 or O4.
15
Middle penetration (5 vs. 5) (D.17)
D. 17 – middle penetration
X5 who is defending on the inside player, has to
fill he penetration line, remaining in the area to
protect the basket (a step beyond the ring). X3
sags towards the area, ready to deflect a pass
to O5 if this goes to the short corner. X2 and X4
sag towards the ball, remaining on the passing
lane. X1 has to recover and to contest the mid range shot.
D. 18 – clear out
Clear out (5vs5) (D.18)
X5 has to stay with O5 to strongly deny the high
post spot. The help has to come from the
deepest defender on the weak side and we
have the same rotation seen before.
Example of situation 4 vs. 4 (D.19)
D. 19 – 4 vs. 4 example
D. 20
We can use this example to explain the responsabilities in the help defensive situations
(D.20). X4 has to help against the O2 middle penetration following the precedent rules.
X1 has to be ready to rotate on O4, X3 has to deny, he can fake an help remaning on
the passing lane to induce O2 to try a passagge. If this happens X3 has to be ready to
deflect or intercept the passage.
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Example of baseline penetration (about motor anticipation ability)
It’s importante that the players improve their D. 21 – “real” penetration
attention capacity and controll on every things
happen
on
the
court,
understanding
the
opponents’ attitude, they can anticipate the
offensive movement. In this example if
the
defenders understand that the penetration is
really dangerous (D.21), they move to protect
the basket. Instead if they perceive that the
offensive movement it’s not effective (D.22), then D. 22 – “false” penetration
they can move to deny all the passing line so to
get a great vantage on the offense.
This happens only if the defenders:
• be successful to maintain in their range of
vision the ball and their own offensive
player
• maintain constantly their correct defensive placement
Close out
More or less all the defense learn to fill the area when the ball is going towards the
basket, and this is remain valid also for young teams. The real difference between a
good defense and an outstanding defense is the ability after stopping the penetration to
open towards the perimeter to get again the control and the initiative.
In sight of the age of this group I regard important to teach the correct technique of the
close out. I don’t believe possible and useful to code with precision the organization of
the defensive rotation, I think that this aspect of our defense has to be delegated in part
to the personal initiative of the kids. It’s important that they are actives, that they have
initiative and are able to take risks with responsibility and that is clear for them the first
target of our defense: to stop the reverse of the ball to take the initiative of the game.
concepts
the target is to solve the emergency situation and after to take again the initiative of the
game with a strong defensive aggressiveness
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tactical elements
keep the ball on one side of the defensive half court where it is come; to prevent extra
pass, to stop the reverse on the ball
individual techniques
• close out in balance
• remove the rhythm to the shooter: it’s important to reach with one arm up to avoid
that the receiver could shot immediately, after we can position with balance to
defend against a new penetration
External players
D. 23 – close out external (#1)
D. 24 – close out external (#2)
The defender X2 firstly has to adjust his position while the ball is reversed (D.23), then
he has to fill the area (as to rise up on an inside player) during the penetration. When
the ball is passed back on the perimeter X2 has to recover to his offensive player
moving towards the passing line (D.24) and to keep away a new one vs. one (shoot and
penetration).
Inside players
D. 25 – close out inside (#1)
D. 26 – close out inside (#2)
The defender of the inside player has to close the baseline penetration (D.25). Just the
support pass the ball, the defender has to recover the deny position, running towards
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the ball and not towards the offensive player (D.26), because in the second case he will
seal by the offensive player.
External + inside players (3 vs. 3 + 2 support)
D. 27 – close out 3 vs. 3 (#1)
D. 28 – close out 3 vs. 3 (#2)
Team up the two previous situations.
We have specify two concepts (in addition at those already seen).
The defender X2 which rotates on the inside offensive player, he has to go on the
passing line only with one arm and not with full body, to avoid to undergo a seal action
by the offensive player on the next ball rotation (D.27).
When X2 recover the deny position, he has to move firstly towards the ball and
secondly towards the offensive player (D28).
High and low post defense
Low post
As already seen, we want deny 3/4 and front defense while the offense is to create the
deployment line to get the ball in low post.
If we have a tall kid very high and slow, we can allow him to defend behind, but we ask
him to contain the eventual one against one and above all to be present on the
defensive rebound after boxing out.
One vs. one in low post
Baseline penetration: help from the weak side in the same way of penetration of a
external player.
Middle penetration:
• If the penetration is fast, we help with the deepest defender on the weak side, as
in the case of a penetration of a external player
19
•
If the penetration is under control we trust on the individual responsibility of the
defender, filling e faking with the others defenders. The defender on the offensive
player on the strong side can try to tip behind the ball.
• In a profitless mismatch, we allow the first dribble towards the middle (to give
time to the others defender to get a correct position) and after we force a reverse
dribble towards the baseline to trap with the deepest defender. The others
defenders rotate to deny the nearest passing lines.
High post
As we as said, we deny in the same of he was a external player: never the ball in this
spot.
Defending the screens
Screens away from the ball
Concepts
We want give to our kids some simply rules which are to be consistent with previous
concepts which allow us to front every defensive situation with screens.
The goal is to allow the offense the less advantage options in spacing and timing
aspects; the requirement is that we have to be ready to defend on two passing lines.
tactical elements
• screen on the ball side: trail
• screen away from the ball, cut in the middle
If the screen is set in wrong way or the cutter doesn’t use it in the correct way (not
shoulder to shoulder) the defenders have the normal rules of defensive placement.
individual techniques
In every case against the screen we want accelerate (“the screen doesn’t exist”)
Who defend against the screener follows the normal rules of defensive placement. The
key point in the defense against screen is the constant pressure on the ball.
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Strong side screens (or in any case near the ball)
Our idea is that the defender trails the cutter D. 29 – ball side
remaining in the “slipstream” of the cutter without
losing the contact. If the cutter go towards the
tree point line, the defender will reach ready to
defend (accelerating probably he can also
deflect the pass).
If the offensive player will play a curl cut (D.29),
will find firstly the block by the screener’s defender (place between the own offensive
player and to ball, keeping the contact) and secondly by of own defender. These two
blocks will force the offense to play the ball in a cramped space, without advantage
because there are three defenders and three offensive players.
Weak side screens (or in any case far from the ball)
If the screen is away from the ball, the defender D. 30 – weak side
of the screener will be sagged coherently our
defensive placemen rules.
In this way the defender of the screener will have
time and sufficient space “to cut” the screen and
remain on the passing line (30).
We allow the offense to receive the ball in fade
away cut: this situation will dilate a lot the space to cover by the pass, granting to the
defenders enough time to reach in the correct defensive placement; X2 to press the ball
and x5 to deny. In other words we want “to soil” the offensive timing.
Back screens
In Italy a lot of young teams use the back screens (mainly in offense system like Flex
Offense). Against this screens we want maintain the same rules: to cut the screen or (in
emergency moments) trail. The screener’s defender has to be ready to help the
teammate in any case of difficult and after to recover on his own offensive player.
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Defending the pick and roll
Concepts
We believe that this particular game situation is useful to improve our players if they are
directly involved or not in the action.
Lateral pick & roll
Concept
We take advantage of the nearness of sideline to trap.
individual techniques
D. 31 – lateral pick&roll
X1, just informed by the teammates, push the
dribbler towards the screen (D.31)
• X5, before the dribbler utilizes the screen
pop out to trap in perpendicular way to the
sideline.
These
will
give
us
two
advantages:
o the screener is forced to roll towards the area, where our defenders on the
weak side are ready to deny
o if the screener run in the corner, pushing the ball under the free throw line
we reduce the distance to cover to close up
• the other defenders (and specially X2) have to read the look of the dribbler to
deny the nearest passing line and sagging from the offensive player positioned
outside the dribble’s visual field
Middle pick & roll (D.32)
We chose to switch to teach to play the mismatch.
individual techniques
D. 32 – middle pick&roll
Our tall kid (X5) has to contain one against one a
player probably faster than him.
He has to take down his barycentre and to be
ready to move his feet.
X5 has to take advantage to have the arm longer
than the offensive player. He can keep one hand
close to the ball standing away with the body.
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Our small player has to front 5 inside the paint area without accepting contacts
The other three defenders has to move their self together with a step towards the ball,
as they are play zone. In this way they don’t give a clear lectures to the dribbler.
Tall Kid: Fanning the pick & roll
D. 33 – fanning the pick&roll
If we have a tall kids poor of experience, then we
decide to protect him keeping him inside the area,
while the defender on the dribbler push him
towards our tall kid. X1 has to pass over the
screen, in effect we will try to trap in the paint.
This action is called fanning the pick and roll (see
Del Harris – Winning Defense, p. 120)
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Didactics notes
We use a lot the four against four situations because they are very useful and give us
some appreciably advantages.
• the game situations on the court are more clear and easy to read
• he offense can reverse the ball by passes changing the help side for the defense.
• in any case the spacing is realistic enough and more dilated, so more difficult to
defense
• is easy applicable to normal practices with twelve players
• by this disposition the rapport between time of work and time of rest is in average
two/one and this allow to maintain a good intensity
• when we consider important to have a more accurate spacing we use a coach as
support
We always want the defense work with the transition so the players can remark the key
point of our defense: we defend very hard to steal the ball and run to get an easy basket
in fast-break.
Alternative defense
When we are satisfied about the development of our defensive technical and tactical
program we can complete adding one or two alternative defenses: for example the run
and jump and/or 1-3-1 zone defense.
The run and jump defense it can be useful to increase the aggressiveness and the
spirit of full court collaboration, but we have to pay attention to use this kind of defense
in smart way, because we risk to lose the principle of the individual responsibility.
The 1-3-1 zone defense has the advantage to allow us to stress the idea to play on the
passing lines.
The two precedent defenses are two systems able to stimulate the attention, the global
vision and the capacity of motor anticipation and this is very positive.
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Conclusion
Our main goal is the development in all young player of the attitude to solve problem by
their self, in autonomy way. We don’t give them closed solutions for the problems the
game put in front of them.
We have to make the players ready to play at senior level for every kind of team,
independently of the defense and offensive system they will find to play, independently
from the play system of the Coach, they have to manage all the tactical elements of the
game. We can reach this important general target by neutral and balanced chooses
from a technical point of view. Mainly for this reason, for example, we choose to defend
on the ball with a “wall” stance.
All that you find in this my document is established on my daily work in the gym with the
under 16 groups and it is the direct product of my experience as Assistant Coach of
very experienced coaches. Besides I have considered my experience as Instructor in
the last years in the Educational Courses by our Coaches’ Academy and a last a part of
my personal thinking of course.
About my collaboration with the Coaches’ Academy of Italian Basketball Federation I
has been very lucky to can attempt so many clinics , lessons and to listen the technical
indications by Ettore Messina for years the Technical Manager of Coaches’ Academy.
But with the great respect for this important Coach, I consider for my personal growth
decisive moments the friendship, sharing knowledge and the nonstop head to head
with Giordano Consolini manager of Virtus Bologna’ Youth Sector, Raffaele Imbrogno
manager of the technical documentation Centre of Italian Basketball Federation in
Rome and Vincenzo Carlà teaching fellow of University of Florence and a very
passionate Coach.
I hope my elaborate will be interesting for someone but above all useful component of
comparisons with others different thoughts.
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Abbreviation list
SLOB
sideline out of bounds
FB
fastbreak
HC or 1/2C half court
3/4C
3/4 of court
FC
full court
References list
Harris D. (1993). Winning Defense, a guide for players and coaches. Indianapolis:
Master Press
Messina E. (2005). Basket (2nd edition). Bologna: Zanichelli.
Pesic S. (2008). Man to man defensive concept. Lecture for FECC 2008 clinic.
FIBAEUROPE - Coaching
Sepulcri S. (2006). La gestione dell'equilibrio: Principi e attualità operative. Giganti del
Basket (n.6 – June 2006). Bologna: Cantelli
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