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 Teaching Drill #6: “Defensive Box Outs” >>View/Print 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 Teaching Drill #6: Defensive Rebounding >>View/Print Defending Dribble Penetration Teaching Drill #2: "Double Close Outs" (Point, Right & Left Wing) >>View/Print INTRODUCE Guarding Player Without Ball – “First Pass Denials” Teaching Drill #5: "Dancing" (2-on-2) >>View/Print 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 Teaching Drill #5: "Dancing" (2-on2) >>View/Print Defending Dribble Penetration Teaching Drill #2: "Double Close Outs" - Right & Left Wings (add Pass Denial) >>View/Print INTRODUCE Special Defensive Situations Teaching Drill # – “Taking a Charge” >>View/Print Double Teaming Fundamentals Teaching Drill#X: "Double Teaming" (4-on-4) >>View/Print 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 Teaching Drill # – “Taking a Charge” >>View/Print Double Teaming Fundamentals Teaching Drill#X: "Double Teaming" (4-on-4) >>View/Print 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 – “Gut” (4-on-4 Full Court) >>View Print 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!

Teaching Points to Consider

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

Don’t have five days? Then combine the basic defensive skills and techniques into combination drills.
Great teams are a result of the best players being the hardest workers. No one steps on the floor without full hustle attitude. Get rid of the non-workers.
Do not try to introduce and refine a skill or play at the same time. Whenever possible introduce and demonstrate a skill or play one day (or session), and refine it on the next. Review (analyze) and reinforce only as needed during the season.
Motor skill learning and timing requires practicing at game speed.
Teach using quick mental pictures. Associate a technique with a name by using one syllable words if possible ("Ball","Shot", "Down", etc.).
Be sure to teach when and why as well as how. There are certain fundamentals every player must master, and in addition each position also has specific fundamentals to learn.
Practice makes perfect is only true if the proper mechanics are being employed. Physical habits do not change in a game. It is imperative to start building correct habits and techniques from the start.
Make precise corrections. Do not get caught up with lengthy explanations.
Do not waste other players’ time to correct one individual. On first time mistakes, stop action and make everyone aware of correction. On repeated mistakes, substitute or wait for break in action to correct.
Do not waste time. If a drill is going poorly, stop it and go onto something else. Come back to it later or next practice.
Once the basic defensive skills and techniques are mastered, they can be easily extended into full court disruptions.
This example building of a fundamentally sound defense should, be augmented with transition drills.
End all practices on high note or successful achievement (made pressure free throw, shooting contest, half court shot, etc.).

“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

Teaching & Refining Defensive Fundamentals

"Building Blocks for a Solid Defense"

5 Days (10 Sessions) Plan

DAY ONE – Session 1

DAY ONE – Session 2

DAY TWO – Session 3

DAY TWO – Session 4

DAY THREE – Session 5

DAY THREE – Session 6

DAY FOUR – Session 7

DAY FOUR – Session 8

DAY FIVE – Session 9

DAY FIVE – Session 10

Check-In Rule for ALL Drills

Teaching Points to Consider

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