Some thoughts on Defense!
Everyone on our team must learn to play good defense! Even one weak link will cause the entire defense to fail, because a good offense will eventually find out who the weak defensive player is. Playing good defense involves hustle, inspiration and perspiration (sweat!). You gotta want to play good defense!
Defensive skills are fairly easy to learn, unlike some offensive skills, and everyone can learn to become a good defender. If you are a poor, non-aggressive defender, you will hurt your team.
Closing Out!
When the offensive player receives the pass, the defender should rush at the ball-handler in a low stance. The last several steps should be quick, choppy steps to stop your momentum (so the defender doesn't dribble around you). In order to force the offensive player toward the baseline, split the defender's inside shoulder with your chest and position your baseline foot back, and have that hand low. The opposite hand should be up to challenge the outside shot. As you approach the ball-handler, snap your shoulders and head back to help slow yourself down.
Man-to-Man Defense
Clog the passing lane and prevent the player you are guarding from getting the ball, in other words "deny" her the ball. When guarding an offensive player who is one pass away from the ball, you should be in denial.
Denying your check the ball, keeps her from scoring. Play the passing lane and stay between the player you are guarding and the ball. Place your foot and hand nearest the ball slightly forward, and turn the palm of your hand toward the ball, so that you can reject any incoming passes. Be in a position to see both your player and the ball.
If the ball-handler stops the dribble, you have a "dead ball situation" and everyone should close in on their check. This is called "full-denial" – all 5 defensive players aggressively work to prevent any pass. If you are not on-ball then you should position yourself so that you are on an imaginary line between the ball and your check, body toward your check, but with head and eyes turned toward the ball, and your ball-side hand up in the passing lane.
If your check is two passes (i.e. a long distance) away from the ball-handler, you can back off a bit into the key - if your check is 2 passes away from the ball, then you are in "helpside".
