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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  Basic Defensive Concepts & Principles
  Pressuring the Player with the Ball
  Containing a Dribbler

  Defending Against Dribble Penetration
   Maintaining a Strong Pass Denial Position
  Defending the Post Area

 Defensive Rebounding Techniques & Methods
  Taking a Charge
  Double Teaming

  Techniques for Disrupting "Off" Ball Screens
  Attacking "On" Ball Screens