Youth Basketball

Defence

• Gap Youth Defence
• Progressions (U8-U10-U12-U14)
• Resources

 "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.

Progressions

See

• U8 to U14 Player Skills > Defence
• Skills Checklists - Defence

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 charge

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, outlet