Defensive Skill Development

"A tenacious defensive player will never let up during the entire game. He is a workaholic. He challenges every shot, pass, dribble, and cut. A team with this attitude will win the “big” games, and championships."

Since basketball players spend most of their time and efforts developing and refining their offensive skills, they are usually very ill prepared defensively. Yet, despite having little or no defensive skills, coaches still expect their players to be able to go out and guard outstanding offensive opponents. However, to be successful, players must first possess a working knowledge of the defensive fundamentals.

Like their offensive counterparts, defensive fundamentals must be broken down and practiced constantly on all levels of basketball. Players need to know and practice how to guard the player with the ball, how to guard a player without the ball, how to guard a cutter, how to guard a player in post area, and how to box out and rebound on shots.

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Individual "On Ball" Skills & Techniques

  Basic Defensive Concepts & Principles

  Pressuring the Player with the Ball

  Containing a Dribbler

  Defending Against Dribble Penetration

   Maintaining a Strong Pass Denial Position

 

Individual "Off Ball" Skills & Techniques 

   Defending & Disrupting Cutters

  Defending the Post Area

  Defending the High Post Area

   Providing Strong Backside Support

   Executing Quick Closeouts

 

  Defensive Rebounding Techniques & Methods

  Taking a Charge

  Double Teaming

  Techniques for Disrupting "Off" Ball Screens

  Attacking "On" Ball Screens