Learning the defending fundamentals is a bit like learning to ride a bike, once you know how you never forget.
Defence is a hugely important part of the game. There will always be days when your players are missing shots but as long as they're able to stop your opposition from scoring then you only need to score one basket to win the game!
It's for this reason that in this session we introduce your players to the importance of defence, making sure they have the correct fundamentals to confidently play defence and take pride in their defensive technique (Did you know that Michael Jordan took most pride in his defensive ability?)
Skills covered in this session:
Teach your players the fundamentals today and make sure they have the basics down so that they can play a great defence!
The ball screen produces almost half of all professional offensive possessions, yet most teams still teach it as a memorised play. The modern approach trains the read - giving players a framework to decide based on what the defence does, not what the coach called.
The closeout is the most repeated defensive action in modern basketball. With fouls per game climbing in the 2025-26 season, coaches must teach defenders to contest the three without surrendering the drive or putting shooters on the line.
The 2-3 zone defence remains one of the most effective defensive systems in basketball when coached and executed properly. This guide covers the fundamentals of running a 2-3 zone, including player roles, rotations, and when to deploy it for maximum impact.
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