Activities · practice · 10 min
Ball–you–basket: defending on the pass
Move while the ball is in the air.
Principle
Defence mirrors offence: foresee the advantage, don't give it, recover.
Set-up
3 or 4 attackers around the arc, as many defenders. The attack only passes, no drive.
Rules
On every pass all defenders shift: pressure on the ball, one pass away in the lane, further away sink to the paint. Then the attack may drive.
Where this fits
Period P2 · Halfcourt & spacingP3 · Game & tactics
Cells P2 · layer 0P2 · layer 1P2 · layer 2P2 · layer 3P3 · layer 0P3 · layer 1P3 · layer 2P3 · layer 3
By layer
| Layer 0Aware | Stand between your player and the basket; point to the ball. |
| Layer 1Control | Ball–you–basket and ball–you–man; move on every pass. |
| Layer 2Shape your own | Deny the logical pass; close out and first help. |
| Layer 3Shape others | Help and rotate as a unit; talk. |
How do you coach it?
Short and precise, coach-led, at most about 10 minutes. Then back to play.
- see the ball and your player
- one pass away: in the lane
- two passes away: in the paint
Autonomy is not the criterion here.
Read more4
Works on
Seeing ball, you and basket at once; moving on every pass
Easier
Slow passes; the coach calls the pass.
Harder
Live after three passes; the defence scores on a stop.
Question to observe
Do the defenders move on the pass, or only when the ball arrives?