VCU Defense

VCU DefenseFull & Half Court Defense w/Drill Work

VCU’s Defensive Goal(s)

• Create Turnovers

• Force Quick Shots

• Disrupt Offensive Flow

• Make it had for opponents to prepare for.

• Create Fatigue

• Make Depth a Factor

Things to Think About

Keys to Success

•“Fouling Negates Hustle”

•Talking Makes You Quicker

3 Values A Team MUST Have

•5 players flying around.

•Communication

•Emphasis the importance of deflections

Trapping Fundamentals

When To Trap?

1.Know the ball handlers level of control

2.Build a element of surprise.

3.Know the location on the court to trap.

Ball Handler’s Level of Control

Each team has designated a specific player(s) to handle the ball during times of pressure. Understanding who these players are. Know their strengths and weaknesses.

Can they dribble with their off hand? Do they see the floor well in times of pressure? What is their typical progression in passing out of a trap?Can they score? Do they have tendencies you can take advantage of?What is their physical condition like? Will they get tired quickly?

Elements of Surprise

A major part of an pressure system is the element of surprise. Surprise doesn’t always mean application of the press, but rather catching your opponent in an unfamiliar situation. Think in terms of being unpredictable.

The simple application of a press will be successful on a team with less talent then your own. However, in order to find success on a more talented team you must be unpredictable.

DO YOUR JOB•Scout your opponents tendencies in pressure situations. •Apply pressure from the front as well as the back of the offense. •Don’t show the same stunt more then twice.•Change alignments when at all possible.

Area(s) of the court good for trapping.

Here is a great diagram that shows key areas of the court to consider employing a trap.

Pressing Teams Do This….

Take Away the Obvious Pass

Always Apply pressure on the Ball

Develop Stunting Based on Your Team Strengths; not your Opponents Weaknesses

Practice How Defend Odd-Numbered Situations• 2 on 1• 4 on 2• 3 on 2

Understand How to Defend Multiple Positions

DIAMOND PRESS

Diamond PressPosition Breakdown

“Madman”- ON BALL, BEAT PASSER TO THE BALL, BE ACTIVE, ANGLE YOURSELF WITH THE BACKBOARD

3 MAN - 1ST PLAYER TO LEFT OF 4, INSIDE SHOULDER /EVEN – DON’T DENY THE BALL INBOUNDS, NO SIDELINE

2 MAN - 1ST PLAYER TO RIGHT OF 4, FT LINE TO CLOSE DOWN (NO SIDELINE), INTERCEPTOR HIGH

1 MAN - GET BACK, MATCH UP WITH NEXT GUY OVER TOP ON THE BALL SIDE, INTERCEPTOR SIDELINE

5 MAN - DEEP AS THE DEEPEST TO ½ COURT, 2 ON 1 GUY, PROTECT THE RIM – NOTHING EASY

Diamond Teach Points….

Cannot get beat going down the sideline.Push the dribbler towards a trapping area. Active hands and rotations. Deflections back towards 4.Communicate at all positions. “Throwback” to 4 means a stunt = retreat and try again. Stay in Diamond until there is a deep penetrating pass.

This means tips, back pressure, weakside sprint outs.Talk, match-up, and fix-it.

Diamond Press Diagram 1

Notice the Diamond press is a full out assault the offense in the backcourt. The goal being to trap the first pass and create confusion. Solid traps, quick hands, and communication are key.

Diamond Press Diagram

2

The key after the initial trap is x1 who moves in to take away the first pass out of the trap. It is vital you practice taking identifying the “next pass” option in any press break.

Diamond Press Diagram

3

This diagram shows the appropriate stunts useful in “diamond” series.

Double Fist Press

Double Fist Position Breakdown

MACTH UP AND COMMUNICATE IMMEDIATELY – 4/5, 2/3, 1 MAD MAN INFLUENCE TO BALL SIDE INSIDE SHOULDER / ARRIVE ON THE CATCH 1/3RD THE DISTANCE = STUNT FORCE IN THE ALLY / STUNT – SHRINK THE FLOOR 3 STRIDE RULE – TRAP THE TURN AND UP CLEAROUT = FA AT TOP OF THE KEY = TRAP TURN /

CORRAL DRIBBLE

Double Fist Diagram 1

Double Fist is that unpredictable, hard to scout, pressure press.

The defense should force ball entry to one side of the floor. You can deny or allow ball to come in bounds.

Defense goes man-to-man this point.


The next element of surprise happens in this phase of the press. Notice it takes a run & jump stunt with the x4 and x1 as long as x1 forces the ball back towards x4.


The third stage of this press takes on yet another element. Notice it moves from a run & jump to a 2-2-1 ¾ court trapping look.

Be unpredictable and change up where you trap, how you stunt, and when you retreat.

Remember When Trapping……

Don’t allow splitsBe physical with lower bodyWatch shoulders and eyes to read the obvious passPenetrating pass does not end press, sprint back and fix it.

Side Diamond

Properties of the Side Diamond Press

When opponent takes the ball out of the sideline this a great time to trap. Trap the first opportunity and then sprint out. When the ball is center line and back or a short pass up court. KEEP THE BALL OUT OF THE MIDDLE. As the ball moves closer to the frontcourt it is vital keep it out of the middle of the floor.

Side Diamond Player Positioning…..

MADMAN - ON BALL, ANGLE MORE AS YOU ARE IN THE BACKCOURT, TRAP 1ST PASS IF WITHIN 3 STRIDES

2 MAN - BACKCOURT GUY, FACE BALL, TAKE AWAY THE INBOUNDER

3 MAN - FRONT COURT, FACE BALL, MAKE SURE NO ONE IS BEHIND HIM

1 MAN - ROVER, FREE SAFETY WHO FACES DOWN THE BALL, MATCH UP DEEP AS DEEPEST IF BEHIND HIM

5 MAN - ENFORCER, COVERS THE BASKET, COMES UP WITH BACK GUY IF HE FLASHES

Side Diamond Diagram 1

The majority of S.O.B’s are executed at the high school level from a single line. Here is the initial set up for the side diamond press trap for the single line set.

Press Drill(s)

Here are a Few Great Press Drills…..

Circle TrapI. Works on trapping fundamentals and intercepting the next

pass. Trap Transition

I. Back tips, Back Pressure, Talk & Fix ItTriangle Fast Break

I. Back tips, Back Pressure, Talk & Fix It444

I. Get into press quickly. Conditioning1 vs 1 building up to 4 vs 4

Circle Trap Drill

Triangle Break Drill

Defensive Fundamental Drills

Here are some Great Defensive Fundamental Drills

One on One Zig Zag DrillStance DrillScramble DrillBulldog Drill

One on O ne Zig Zag Drill

This is a simple variation of the zigzag drill. Players guard the ball and turn the dribbler. At midcourt the dribbler stops briefly, and the defender yells, “fire”; while trapping chest-to-chest.

We use fire to signal the ball handler has picked up his dribble in a trapping zone.

Stance Drill

This is a basic defensive stance drill. With a coach (represented by the cone in the diagram) in front of the group, place the players in a

straight line so that they have room to move. As the coach pulls the ball towards his body, the players yell, advance and take one slide step forward. As he pushes the ball away from his body, the players yell, retreat and take one slide step back. As the coach dribbles at the players, they open up and slide, using a drop step every direction. If the coach drops the ball, the players dive onto the floor.

Scramble Drill

This is a full court drill with no out of bounds. The drill should be played to 16 points. Emphasis can be placed on either offensive or

defensive rebounding. Three teams compete continually during the drill.

Scoring is as follows:

Two points for offensive rebound

One point for defensive rebound

One point for a score

The drill begins with four white jerseys trying to rebound against four blue jerseys in the half court. One team is designated the defense,

while the other team is designated the offense. The coach has the basketball. He will dribble the basketball and force both teams to move.

The coach will then shoot the ball. If the defense rebounds, they get one point. The defense will quickly outlet the ball to an assistant coach standing at the elbow at the other end of the court. The defensive team now becomes offense and sprints down the floor where the ball is. Four red jerseys are waiting on defense. The drill is repeated at this end.

Bulldog Drill

Break team into pairs. Two pairs will go at once, one pair on the left and the other on the right. The offensive player dribbles from the sideline to the beginning of the three second area. Go to half court. The defender attempts to turn the dribbler. The defender must beat the offensive player to the spot. The defense must influence the dribbler and shut him down for five seconds. The defense must have the offense pick up the ball and cause a dead ball situation. If the ball rolls loose, the defense MUST dive on the floor after it.

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VCU Defense