At Henryville, we have 10 Basic Rules of Defense that we try to follow and incorporate in our daily practice plans. They are 10 rules that can make you a tough team to score against. But before you do anything on this list, the coach must pass onto the team how important being a good defensive team/player is to your successes. Probably an 11th rule should be added on both offense and defense and that is communication. Talk to each other.1. No middle: We do not want the ball driven to the lane. Most kids will drive to the lane to score, if we can keep that from happening, we feel we can stop individual offense.
2. Jump to ball 1/2 step, then drop to defend drive: Kids have gotten so much better at penetration and we want to stop dribble drives. In fact, because of personnel, we do not teach to deny one pass away. For two reasons, 1. we find that getting back doored happens, creating offense, but 2. because the person is so good at penetration, if we deny, we don't help as well.
3. Close out with hands high: Depnding on how good the shooter is will decide for us through scouting if we want to close out tight, or shallow. But it is imperative to get your hands up, both of them. Stutter stepping while closing out to take away penetration. Now with that said, if we believe the player cannot shoot, we may not raise our hands giving them the shot.
4. Don't get screened: Screening and using screens has deteriorated, so we feel we should never get screened. If you are physical with your offensive player, they will not use the screen correctly, but also, if your teammates help you, screening won't happen because.....
5. Extend screens/ Bump cutters: By being a good teammate, you should help your teammate on defense by stepping out and extending screens. But if you are not going to do that, bump cutters. When an offensive player comes into your area, move into their path, bumping them or taking them off their line.
6. Go with the butt: Again, on a ball side screen we want to slip through the screen, but if you cannot, stay right behind your man. If you do that, you cannot be screened!
7. Affect shots, no standing 3's: No matter where someone shoots, affect their shot. Wall up in the post, hand up on 15 footers, yell, throw hands up, rotate, switch, do whatever you have to, to affect shots.
8. Take the charge: Be a good teammate and help, and when you do, take a charge. Then all other teammates should help that person up because of such unselfish behavior.
9. Look to help out: Depending on whom you are guarding, look to help out. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
10. Block out, or arm bar: Block out in the paint, and hold them, keep the offense from getting second shots. On the perimeter, we teach to arm bar, then roll to block out.
