Couple tips on playing effective defense

Hello dear visitors of our site! Today I want to share with you the supervision and conclusions received as a result of aspiration to improve the game in protection.

So it developed that the first some years of game in basketball (mainly on street platforms) my game in protection consisted in continuous attempts to cover the opponent’s throw. Once it turned out, once not really (I appeared or on the opponent’s back, or on his head). It is lousy protection. Few years ago, I reconsidered the vision of game in protection, than and I want to share with you.

Three-minute performance of Bruce Bowen in the TNT Fundamentals series became the first video which somehow told about development of protective skills of the basketball player. Then there was small article how to play in protection against greatest coaches. Well and the last, but probably production of the Better Basketball company – Better 1 on 1 Defense became the most important training video. Even having turned a deaf ear to more than a half told (something because of a language barrier, something – because of banal restlessness) and having put into practice even less, I began to be protected much better.

Defense stages in basketball

By the way, in this article everything will be exclusive about personal protection (and words about zonal protection though about it too it is worth writing). So, I allocate such stages of protection in basketball:

Stage No. 1: Defense against the player without the ball

Protection essence – not to allow the rival to get a ball. It probably one of the most difficult stages, but also one of the most effective. Agree, it is difficult to attack, without having a ball. And so, this stage of protection is incredibly difficult because it is necessary to direct many efforts not to be conducted on the deceptive movements by the case, the head and feet. Good result of such protection – the player does not get a ball throughout all attack. Also, good result if the ball is got, but: in an inconvenient position (it is far from a ring; in a platform corner) or last seconds’ attacks. The lousy result – a ball is got quickly and conveniently.

Stage No. 2: Defense against the player who got the ball

When the player gets a ball, it appears in classical “positions of threefold threat”. It means that he can throw on a ring, give a pass or begin maintaining. So we should resist to all three threats at the same time. So, optimum option will be to take such position which will minimize the range of the movement of the opponent. First of all, close its strength from pass having settled down a little sideways from it. As option – from his supporting leg; i.e. You will know the direction of its movement (he will not step a supporting leg).

Let’s divide the rival’s body into 2 levels conditionally: the first zone – to a belt; the second zone – is higher than a belt. And so, to begin maintaining, the ball has to be in the first zone. Both zones will be suitable for a pass, and for a throw the ball has to leave the first zone in the second. I hope meanwhile clearly. And so, one hand plays with the lower zone (preventing maintaining and low transfer), the second is protected from a throw and from a pass from the top zone. Remember about feet: from the bent feet, much easier and quicker to make breakthrough. If feet direct – that for their breakthrough need to be bent at first.

And still little advice: all the time pull the player the movements. Let probability of that these “ritual dances” will help to beat out a ball will be small, but you will be able to beat out the rival from a rhythm, habitual for it. And it is much costs!

Excellent protection: the ball is beaten out. Good protection – loss by transfer, inexact transfer, a throw from an uncomfortable position.

Stage No. 3: Defense against the player conducting the ball

Let’s assume that the previous attempts to take control of a ball failed, and the rival began maintaining. How to be protected then?

Let’s not consider those situations in which the rival is obviously weaker than you. It is simply uninteresting. The rival is stronger, quicker and jumping you – here a good situation. As I already spoke – close its strength. But if you do not know it strong and weakness; do not know how to hold: from a throw or from pass – that is the quite good decision. We try to make so that you were the leader. One party is obviously closed – and the player is intentionally passed in another. So you will be able not to lose in starting breakthrough and not to guess the direction of the movement: it can go only to one party. Try to squeeze out the rival with a ball to the front line, from where he will not be able comfortably to attack a basket any more. To clamp in a corner, to press to the line.

Once again: tightly close one party. Better – if it will be its strength; do not know what strong – close weak, and let under the strength of protection. And secure: sometimes it is better for player not to allow to throw from an average distance. Having allowed it to climb under a ring. After all there will be a secure in the form of “big”, to throw which so simply it will not be possible.

Stage No. 4: Maintaining is ended.

It can be a double step and a throw, a simple throw after a stop, pivot (turn), a series of displays, etc. Let’s consider it in more detail.

Double step. Remember: it has 2 steps for completion of attack, and you have 2 steps to beat out a ball still below, and then still the whole step for a blocked shot. I recommend to do here that:

A series of small contacts to a ball during a double step (as though you play a drum). Thus, you will not beat out a ball, but disorient precisely. And forces to hold a ball, it is necessary to put more.
We try to beat out a ball from below! Striking blow the probability of from above is very high that you will hit on fingers is a foul. And here from below: very few people expect such blow very few people close a ball exactly from below. And taking out a ball for a throw up he will get an additional impulse, a ball push – to throw as reflected it will be not so simple earlier.

Little advice: after selection of a ball by the opponent, very often the ball falls down, and it becomes strongly and sharply. Simply substitute all right from below at the level of the opponent’s waist: he will beat out from himself a ball about your hand. It is reception, very abrupt and often unexpected for the rival.

If it was the stop a jump, or simply a stop, it is necessary as much as possible will approach and to raise both hands vertically up. Now it is possible not to be afraid of a foul.

Stage No. 5: A throw in a jump.

Well if you highly and sharply jump – then try to put the block while the ball leaves a hand of the throwing. Can simply try to brush away it while the supporting hand does not to throw any more, and the ball goes on a brush. I will not tell how to put a blocked shot; it is a subject for separate article.

Remember that a hand the throwing can close the review: only not to a view in eyes, will simply approach it to the person of the throwing. The good way (if you did not manage to jump out on a blocked shot any more, and the throw is made) is imitation of contact with various bodies of the opponent (guys, understood about what I). The stomach, a solar plexus, smelled – all this stirs concentration at the time of a throw. Well and still often cotton in palms acts on street platforms: at the games, can give also a foul, and here on the street it can bring down that concentration.

And finally, I suggest to watch the old movie, about individual protection of basketball players, removed in the USSR. There are really useful things (the movie old – so do louder a sound).

Well that’s all, highlights which will help you to be protected better without any cardinal changes in game. It is sure that each of you found something useful in this article. If there are any questions or remarks – write them in comments, I will be glad to discuss.