How would you advise your team playing tall players?

Eleanor DurrPlayer, England

Hi Bwalya 

Firstly in attack I would advise you to get your players to come in front and not ask for the ball overhead, as this is likely to be intercepted. I have attached a video answer going into further depth about how to come in front of your defender and a simple drill with progressions that you can use with your players. 

In regards to defending, it is unlikely your players will be able to compete for an overhead ball (if the height difference is significant). It is therefore important your players try to keep their player high and wide - this is high up court (away from their shooting circle) and wide, towards the sidelines. This will help slow the ball down and make it easier for your back defence (GK, GD) to read the game and prepare for an interception. It will also significantly reduce the oppositions space, putting pressure on both the ball carrier and the receiver. In regards to your GK I would advise her to keep moving around her player and not letting the GS set up. You can see how to do this here . Overall in defence make sure your players are dictating their attacker, making them go where they want them to - don't back off just because they are taller. 

Although taller players are definitely harder to mark for smaller athletes, your team are likely to have speed on their side of which they can use in both attack and defence - work on their quick footwork and getting around their players for success.

Hope this helps. 

Cominginfront.mp4

DESCRIPTION

Using the distance of approximately one third set up one feeder set up centrally at the top and a line of attackers opposite the feeder. The first attacker will have the ball. They will pass the ball to the feeder and drive out at an angle to receive the ball from the feeder. They will then turn and pass the ball back to the next person in the queue of attackers and join the back of the queue. The next attacker will do the same but drive in the opposite direction the player in front went - so if they went right, you would go left.

Cominginfront.mp4

DESCRIPTION

Using the distance of approximately one third set up one feeder set up centrally at the top and a line of attackers opposite the feeder. The first attacker will have the ball. They will pass the ball to the feeder and drive out at an angle to receive the ball from the feeder. They will then turn and pass the ball back to the next person in the queue of attackers and join the back of the queue. The next attacker will do the same but drive in the opposite direction the player in front went - so if they went right, you would go left.