Teaching & Refining Defensive Fundamentals

"Building Blocks for a Solid Defense"

5 Days (10 Sessions) Plan

Individual Fundamentals: Guarding Player with Ball, Defending Dribble Penetration, Attacking the Picked Up Dribble, Strong Pass Denials, Quick on Balance Close Outs, Defending Post Ups, Defending the High Post, Defensive Rebounding (Shooter, Ball Side, Helpside & Free Throw)

Team Fundamentals: Double Teaming, Helpside Rotations, Defending Baseline Dribble Penetrations, Defending Point Penetrations, Defending Basket Cuts, Post Double Teams, Defending Off Ball Screens (Down, Back, & Base), On Ball Screens (Mid & Side)

Special Situations: Taking a Charge, Giving a Foul, Last Shot Rebounding, Defensive Transition (1-on-0, 2-on-1, 3-on-2),

DAY ONE – Session 1

DAY ONE – Session 2

INTRODUCE

Basic Concepts

Demonstrate cutting the court down in size: Trap Zones, PushPoint (sideline push), Helpside I, and Box Pressure (preventing ball reversal)

Pressuring Player With Ball – “On Ball Defense”

Basic stance & footwork: Ball, Push, Jam

  • Teaching Drill #1:– “On Ball – Basic 3"
    >>View/Print

Defending Against Dribble Penetration

Protecting the "Blocks" & Elbows"

  • Teaching Drill #2: – “Double Close Outs" (Point, Right & Left Wings without Close Outs)
    >>View/Print

Defensive Rebounding - Boxing Out Techniques

Guarding a Dribbler in Open Court

  • Teaching Drill #3 – “Containing Dribbler in Open Court” (without pass denial)
     >>View Print

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

Defensive Rebounding

Defending Dribble Penetration

  • Teaching Drill #2: "Double Close Outs" (Point, Right & Left Wing)
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Guarding Player Without Ball – First Pass Denials

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Basic Shifting
    >>View/Print

Defensive Transition - Defending Breakaways

  • Teaching Drill #7: “Wolf” (Pursuing Dribbler From Behind)
    >>>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill # – “Denying Dribble Penetration” (Live 1-on-1 Legs Only) >>View/Print

 

DAY TWO – Session 3

DAY TWO – Session 4

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

First Pass Denials

Defending Dribble Penetration

  • Teaching Drill #2: "Double Close Outs" - Right & Left Wings (add Pass Denial)
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Special Defensive Situations

Double Teaming Fundamentals

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Basic Shifting
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Quick Close Outs
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Seal & Recover
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill # – “Three Up” (Live 1-on-1 Point)
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Denying Dribble Penetration” (Live 1-on-1 Legs Only) >>View/Print

 

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

Special Defensive Situations

Double Teaming Fundamentals

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Basic Shifting
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Quick Close Outs
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Seal & Recover
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Disrupting Baseline Penetrations” (Right & Left)
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Attacking Down Screens
    >>View/Print

Defensive Rebounding

  • Teaching Drill # – “Helpside Rebounding” (1-on-1)
     >>View Print

REINFORCE

Defending Dribble Penetration

  • Competitive Drill # – “Three Up” (Live 1-on-1 Left Wing)
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Cut Off & Control
     >>View Print

 

DAY THREE – Session 5

DAY THREE – Session 6

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Disrupting Baseline Penetrations” (Right & Left)
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “ Attacking Down Screens
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Point Penetrations
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Basket Cuts
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill # – “Three Up” (Live 1-on-1 Right Wing)
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Cut Off & Control
     >>View Print

REVIEW & REFINE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Quick Close Outs
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Point Penetrations
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Basket Cuts
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Defending Post Ups

  • Teaching Drill #: “Post Isolation” (Live 1-on-1)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Post Shifting
    >>View/Print

Special Defensive Situations

  • Teaching Drill # – “5 Second Call” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill # – “Triple Closeout” (Live 3-on-3)
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Cutthroat” (4-on-4 Half Court)
     >>View Print

 

DAY FOUR – Session 7

DAY FOUR – Session 8

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

Defending Post Ups

  • Teaching Drill #: “Post Isolation” (Live 1-on-1)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Post Shifting
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Post Double Teams
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Mid- Screens
    >>View/Print

Special Defensive Situations

  • Teaching Drill # – “Giving a Foul” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive # – “5 Second Call” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Triple Closeout” (Live 3-on-3)
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Cutthroat” (4-on-4 Half Court)
     >>View Print

 

REVIEW & REFINE

Defending Post Ups

  • Teaching Drill #: “Post Isolation” (Live 1-on-1)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Post Double Teams
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Mid- Screens
    >>View/Print

Special Defensive Situations

  • Teaching Drill # – “Giving a Foul” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Defending Post Ups

  • Teaching Drill #: “Defending a High Post ” (Live 1-on-1)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: 3-on-3 “Defending Side Screens
    >>View/Print

  • Competitive Drill – “Gut” (4-on-4 Full Court)
     >>View Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill # – “Post Cutthroat” (4-on-4 Half Court)
     >>View Print

 

DAY FIVE – Session 9

DAY FIVE – Session 10

REVIEW & REFINE

Pressuring Player with Ball

  • Teaching Drill #4: "Basic 3" (Group Shifting - Ball, Push, Jam)
    >>View/Print

  • Teaching Drill # – “5 Second Call” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: 3-on-3 “Defending Side Screens
    >>View/Print

INTRODUCE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Base Screens
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Teaching Drill # – “Giving a Foul” (1-on-1 live)
    >>View/Print

  • Competitive Drill # – “Cut Off & Control
     >>View Print

  • Competitive Drill – “Cutthroat” (4-on-4 Full Court)
     >>View Print

REVIEW & REFINE

Team Fundamentals

  • Teaching Drill #: Shell 4-on-4 “Defending Base Screens
    >>View/Print

Special Defensive Situations

  • Teaching Drill # – “Free Throw Box Outs” (3-on-3)
     >>View Print

INTRODUCE

Defending High/Low Post Action

  • Teaching Drill #: “High/Low Post Disruption ” (Live 3-on-3)
    >>View/Print

REINFORCE

  • Competitive Drill: 1-on-1 Double Elimination Tournament

 

Check-In Rule for ALL Drills

Prior to putting the ball in play, the defensive player must first check to see that all of their teammates are in proper defensive position and  stance. Putting the ball into play without first checking to see if teammates are ready results in an automatic ten (10) push ups. Enforce!

 


5 Stars

Teaching Points to Consider

"It's not what you run, but how you run it that counts"

“It’s not what you learn , but what you remember that makes you wise.”

Related Items:

Program Evaluation: Teaching Defensive Skills & Techniques Check List

Defensive Skills & Techniques Drills - Master List

HoopTactics' Player Development: Individual Defensive Skills


 

 

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