Basketball Skills: Tips for Better Defence

With BQJNC, QNJBC and U16 trails coming up, it’s the time to start working on your basketball defence techniques. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you improve your defence, no matter where on the court you are.

On-Ball Defence

This is when the person your defending has the ball.

• Tip 1 – Make sure to always have your shoulders lowers than your opposing player’s shoulders.
• Tip 2 – Keep an athletic stance throughout the game. This means standing wide and low.
• Tip 3 – Never forget your footwork. Take shorter, choppier steps and remember to “push-pull” off your front foot.
• Tip 4 – Always swipe up on the ball. Swiping down on the ball is a more aggressive motion and is more likely to get the attention from officials for a called foul.

Off-Ball Defence

This is a team-oriented defence which, if done with the right technique, achieves more steals and deflects more passes.

• Tip 1 – Be equal distance to deny both the pass and the penetration from the opposing team.
• Tip 2 – Use your peripheral vision to help keep an eye on both the ball and the player your defending at the same time.
• Tip 3 – Keep your palms facing outwards, whilst facing the ball to deny passes and discourage dribble penetration.
• Tip 4 – Swarm the ball if it enters the paint

Transition Defence

This is about the process of changing from offense to defence.

• Tip 1 – Prevent the opponent from scoring easy lay-ups on the break.
• Tip 2 – All players must protect the basket whilst one player try’s to stop the ball to avoid dribble penetration.
• Tip 3 – Practice using a full-court pressing defence with your team. Using this effectively will quickly produce back-court turnovers, and easy steals and scores for your team.

Pick and Roll Defence

• Tip 1 – Always try to disrupt the offense. Pressuring the ball makes dribbling and passing more difficult, and increases the chances of an offensive mistake.
• Tip 2 – Learn one or two key methods of defending a pick and roll – HERE.
• Tip 3 – Remember that whilst a pick and roll defence strategy is completed by only two players, it requires all five players to be aware of the situation.

If you want to learn more about improving your defence techniques, talk to your coach.