Coach's Advice on How to Play Basketball Defense
Proper basketball defense is the reason many basketball games are won. If you play great defense throughout the entire basketball game, in most cases you will come out on top.
Many of the winningest coaches in the game will tell you that the way to a winning basketball team is to focus on basketball defense. In basketball, defense can determine the outcome of the whole game. Maybe you already know how important good basketball defense is, but are you sure you are practicing defense correctly on the basketball court?
Proper basketball defense techniques can only be achieved with hard work and effort on the part of both basketball players and coaches. The heart of learning good defense stems from a desire to develop all areas of your game. Basketball isn't just dribbling, passing and shooting. Basketball is also about learning how to defend your side of the court, and most successful coaches will tell you that a good basketball defense is vital if your team wants to win.
Follow these suggestions for improving your basketball defense:
-- Be quick with your hands and feet.
-- Practice swift and continual jumping.
-- Hone your reflexes, so you learn to jump into action instinctively.
-- Look for a coach who teaches defense and focuses on the whole team rather than a few select individuals.
-- Learn and practice different types of basketball defense: full-court press, half-court trap, man-to-man defense and others.
-- Be able to switch from offense to defense quickly.
-- Have an overall comprehension of the game of basketball, and be aware of the different theories and strategies.
-- Practice handling both the strong side basketball defense and the weak side as well.
-- Always pay attention to and work on your defensive bearings, footwork and positioning.
When your team learns how to play a great defensive game of basketball, the fans will be out of their seats and cheering. With the proper attitude and correct state of mind, playing good basketball defense will come naturally. If your heart is in the game and you have a deep desire to win, you have what it takes to become a terrific defensive player. Just keep in mind that it isn't all about shooting and scoring. The best offense is always a good defense.