Defence (S1): Open and Closed Part 1

DESCRIPTION

In groups of 3 with the ball; feeder, attacker, and defender A and D should use a court line as a guide. Neither can cross the line. Initially, the feeder just holds the ball. Attacker working at about 50% effort, making small movements forward and back. Defender to track the movement of the attacker. Swap around positions. Try both sides of the line. Try 'closed' (face-to-face) and open (back-to-face) tracking. Progression 1: The feeder can drop the ball at any stage and both players can run onto the ball. Progression 2: This time defender "encourages" the high and wide - beyond a point (for less experienced players, you can mark this point) and allow the attacker to take the pass when it is high. The attacker should turn to look down the court and defenders take distance and get arms over. Make continuous practise.

COACHING POINTS

Feet under body, small steps, balanced, upright position Avoid side-stepping or backward step movement and leaning in. Eyes up to watch opposition and the ball As players explore the options within this simple movement, remark how their body angle supports or hinders their ability to track - shoulders should tracking mid point of the attacker. BALL DROP: how does this impact their defensive tracking? Add in the ball drop with no further instructions initially and most likely they will be reluctant to drop all the way back with the attacker! Ask them to repeat with ball drop, but this time defenders to recognise that ball landing HIGH and WIDE with attacker is a WIN! Make the movement continuous and increase attackers intensity; defender to take positives from ball received high and quick (correctly distanced) arms over. After ball is then released back to the feeder, defender should step up (angled) to attacker to delay, then step off body again to track and encourage high and wide again. Remain dogged in defence!

This practice has no coaching points

PROGRESSION

This practice has no progressions