SOS Defense - Overview

S-O-S Pressure Defense
Spells "Help" for Your Program

More than at any other time in the evolution of America's game from peach basket to prime-time TV, the past decade had introduced significant and irreversible changes in the way teams play the game. One, in particular, is presenting a major challenge worldwide for coaches on every level of the game. Quicker, stronger, taller athletes, shooting , driving, passing, blocking with awesome skill and consistency, have forced us all to explore that "other" dimension, the art of defense, more seriously and thoroughly than ever before.

Once the passion of a relative few in the profession who had always been avid believers, the need to play both ends of the court is solidly a part of mainstream thinking today. Philosophical debate is now focused upon the kind of defensive strategies that can best confront the escalating power of modern day offense, on how to teach these strategies effectively, and more importantly, on how to motivate players to play "D" with the same enthusiasm and intensity as offense.

Although tough, tenacious pressure defense is not widely embraced as a basic primary strategy at this point in time , it is firmly believed that successful teams of the future will employ pressure strategies more and more to replace and/or reinforce the most commonly used containment defenses of the past. It is already happening in various degrees, among consistent winners on every level, acting as an equalizer in keeping pace with the continuously growing power of the offensive game.

It's important to note that regardless of whether you are disciple of pressure, a zealous advocate of the zone, or philosophically somewhere in between SOS pressure defense has something for you. The individual defensive fundamentals and teaching techniques presented will enhance team defensive performance no matter what basic system you favor. Simple to complex skill development, the introduction of key SOS action words to clarify and communicate both practice and game time "specifics," the stress on pride, desire, and intensity as major ingredients of defensive success - all contribute to an innovative, inspirational, yet truly practical approach to the teaching of any and all systems of defense.

It is my fervent hope that SOS Defense will serve as a practical and potent tool for your added coaching success and career satisfaction.