hoopsplaybook.ca
Basketball Systems, Skills & Drills
 

Home
Fundamentals
Youth
Systems

Defences
Fast breaks
Zone offence
Zone set plays
Horns
Other offences
Quick hitters
Inbounds
Press breaks
Tactics
Skills & Drills
Conditioning
Footwork
Passing
Dribbling
Layups
Shooting
Free throws
Post play
Rebounding
Fast break
Press break
Defending
Pressing
Transition
1 on 1
Attack/defend
Scrimmage
Other
Library
Index
Links
clear.gif

Youth Basketball

Defence

 "Gap" Youth Defence

See Defence - Youth gap for a simplified gap man-to-man defence (including drills):

  • the on-ball defender always plays the ballhandler straight up (ball-you-basket), not shading or forcing
    • on-ball stance is low and wide, square to the ball
    • on a dribble drive, drop step and slide, turn and run if beaten
    • on a pass, turn and sprint to a gap position ("jump to the ball"), take away a face cut and be ready to help
  • play gap defence on both sides of the ball
  • gap defenders help and recover on dribble penetration (close out on a pass to their check)
  • gap and help defenders are ball-you-man, seeing both (pistols), the same distance from both
  • on baseline penetration, a help defender will help and stay, switching with the on-ball defender (run and jump switch, a two-man rotation)
  • a help defender will also deny a cut to the ball from weakside (smash a flash)
  • deny a low post from the high side
  • switch any screens (or gap)
  • talk on defence.

In building team defence, start with 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 shell drills (see Shell breakdowns), then 4-on-4 (e.g. Woodley 4 on 4). It's the same defence in 3-on-3 basketball, so a progression is seamless.up

Progressions

See

U8 concepts

  • is your team on defence
  • who is your check
  • check-you-basket
  • hot feet
  • on-ball defence
    • stance (low, wide)
    • lateral slides
    • "dead", trace the ball
    • "shot"
  • rebound

U10 concepts

  • close out
  • on-ball defence
    • guard the ball straight-up (ball-you-basket)
    • maintain a cushion
    • drop step
    • hip turn (quick turn)
    • zig-zag
    • contest a shot
  • jump to the ball (defend a basket cut)
  • backpedal
  • gap position
  • help position
  • ball-you-check triangle (pistols)
  • help and recover
  • box out

U12 concepts

  • on-ball defence
    • ball up (move in), ball down (move back)
    • turn or channel the ball
    • slide-run-slide
  • below the level of the ball
  • help and stay, jump switch
    • baseline drive
  • denial stance
  • deny a low post
  • defend a backdoor cut
  • smash a flash cut
  • talk on defence

U14 concepts

  • shade-influence-force the ball
  • help the helper
  • defend ballscreens, dribble hand-offs (switch, gap, squeeze)
  • defend off-ball screens (switch, gap, squeeze)
  • post defence
  • shot block
  • take a chargeup

Resources

  • Coaches Handbook > Defending
  • Defences
    • Petitgoue Youth
      • channel middle
      • post defence - high side, front, low side, dig
      • switch a cross-screen
      • chase a downscreen
      • double-team a ballscreen
    • Forcing-left pack
      • force or shade left
      • help the helper
      • post defence - force left, choke, dig
  • Jr. NBA - Defence
    • stance, slide, trace the ball, deny, ball up ball down, close out, gap position, help and recover, jump to the ball, help position
  • Gooroo Defence
    • stance, slide, drop step, take a charge, zig-zag, close-out, box out, rebound, outlet
  • Favourite Drills for Kids > Defending
  • SNYB - Offensive / defensive concepts (pdf)
    • ready position (stance), slides, guarding a dribbler, turn and sprint if beaten, turn or channel the ball
    • close out
    • team defence
      • see the ball, help defender (ball-you-man, pistols stance), deny stance, communications
    • transition
      • rebound, break-out dribble, outletup


hoopsplaybook.ca
© 2007-23 Eric Johannsen