How to Teach the Full-Court Man-to-Man Press Defense: Run and Jump Breakdown
Learn how to run an effective full-court man-to-man press using Run and Jump principles. This guide includes setup, communication cues, drills, and tactical advantages for youth and high school teams.
Drop Coverage in Ball Screen Defense: Basics & Execution
Drop coverage in pick-and-roll defense helps force tough shots and protects the rim. Learn how to execute drop defense, avoid common mistakes, and perfect your positioning.
4-1 Zone Defense: Teaching an Aggressive Backline Anchor System
This article breaks down the 4-1 zone defense, teaching youth and high school coaches how to protect the rim, cover corners, and deny the high post with strong communication and active hands.
How to Defend Down Screens with the Lock-and-Trail Technique
This article teaches how to defend down screens using the lock-and-trail technique, a staple of sound off-ball defense. Includes teaching points, contact show responsibilities, and breakdowns to help high school and youth coaches apply it in practice.
Transition Defense Drills to Keep the Ball Out of the Middle
Learn how to build transition defense with drills that emphasize stopping the ball early, forcing sideline, and recovering into help positions. Includes sprint-back rules, house formation, and closeout reps.
How to Blitz Ball Screens Like Creighton
Creighton’s textbook ball screen blitz shut down Ohio’s pick-and-roll. Here’s how it works, why it’s effective, and how to teach it at youth and high school levels.
How to Guard a Player Without the Ball: Help Side Defense 101
This article breaks down key teaching points for guarding players without the ball, including stance, foot positioning, vision, and drills to build strong help side defense habits for youth and high school basketball teams.
How to Run the Triangle-and-Two Defense
The Triangle-and-Two is a hybrid defense designed to disrupt teams with two top scorers. Learn how to run it with key teaching points and common mistakes to avoid.
How to Teach the Box-and-One Defense in Youth Basketball
Learn how to use the Box-and-One defense at the youth level to shut down dominant scorers. This hybrid zone system is simple to teach and surprisingly disruptive.
How to Run the 1-2-1-1 Diamond Zone Press for Youth Teams
A coach-ready guide to the 1-2-1-1 diamond zone press, complete with rotations, trapping angles, and defensive responsibilities. Ideal for high school and youth basketball.
How to Defend Ball Screens: Drop, Hedge, and Switch Explained
A must read guide for youth and high school coaches on defending ball screens. Master drop, hedge, and switch techniques with coach-friendly drills and video examples.
How the 1-3-1 Zone Defense Creates Turnovers
Want a defense that creates chaos and scoring chances? Learn how the 1-3-1 zone defense pressures the ball, traps the corners, and forces turnovers that lead to fast breaks.
When and Why to Use a 2-3 Zone Defense Effectively
2-3 zone defense, youth basketball defense, high school basketball coaching, zone rotations, how to guard high post, defensive plays
Pack Line Defense for Youth and High School Teams: Full Breakdown and Teaching Guide
A full breakdown of the Pack Line Defense—how it works, how to teach it, and why it’s perfect for youth and high school teams that want to protect the paint and stop drives.
Elite Team Defense Communication: Lessons from Draymond, the Spurs, and Duke
This article shows how to teach vocal leadership on defense using examples from Draymond Green, the Spurs, and more. Learn drills, coaching cues, and communication phrases that make a difference for youth and high school teams.
Help Defense: Teaching Proper Help Side Positioning
Learn how to teach help side defense using the Shell Drill. This breakdown includes the “Cowboy Up” cue, skip pass recovery, explosive rotations, and how to enforce constant communication—perfect for youth and high school coaches.