Help Defense: Teaching Proper Help Side Positioning
Quick Coach Tips
“One on Ball, One on Man” Rule
Teach players to point one finger at their man, one at the ball—this keeps them oriented in proper help side.Mandatory Talk
Enforce constant communication: “Ball!” on-ball, “Deny!” one pass away, and “Help!” when in help side.Jump to the Ball on the Pass
Every pass is a trigger to explode to your new help spot. No jogging, no watching.Help but Recover
Stay far enough to provide help, but close enough to recover on skip passes.Drill at Game Speed
Repetition at full speed builds instinctive rotation and communication habits.
Full Breakdown: Teaching Help Side in the Shell Drill
The Shell Drill is a staple for building team defense, and at the heart of that drill is teaching help side positioning. If your players don’t understand how to be in help, they’ll constantly get caught out of position when teammates get beat.
This breakdown shows how to teach help side using the “Cowboy Up” cue, enforce vocal communication, and demand explosive movement on every pass.
1. The “Cowboy Up” Cue
One of the simplest, and most powerful, tools for teaching help side defense is the "Cowboy Up" rule:
“Point one finger at your man, one finger at the ball.”
This cue keeps defenders connected both to their assignment and to the ball’s location. Whether a player is two passes away, three passes away, or even four, this positioning cue creates constant defensive readiness.
It ensures players are:
Oriented to both man and ball.
Positioned to stunt or rotate.
Ready to recover on a skip pass.
It also builds visual accountability. If a coach sees a player without their arms out or body turned the wrong way, it's immediately clear who’s out of position.
2. When to Be in Help
Players one pass away should be in deny, positioned between their man and the ball.
Players two or more passes away should be in help. That means:
Moving off their man and toward the ball.
Maintaining Cowboy Up stance.
Staying within recovery distance if the ball is skipped.
Example:
Wing pass to corner → opposite wing is two passes away → they slide to help position with Cowboy Up cue.
Top of the key to wing → opposite corner becomes three passes away → same help principle applies.
3. Explode to the Spot
A key teaching moment in this drill: don’t slide, explode.
Every pass should trigger a decisive movement to a new help or deny spot. Players should:
Call out their role.
Jump or explode on the pass.
Land in perfect stance (low, active, arms out).
Too often, young defenders float, jog, or watch the ball move. That’s not real defense. Movement must be urgent.
Coaching Point:
“If you’re not moving when the ball moves, you’re a liability.”
Use commands like “explode!” or “jump!” to reinforce urgency during the drill.
4. Communicate Your Role
In this version of the Shell Drill, talking is mandatory. Every player must constantly call out their defensive role:
Ball: "Ball! Ball! Ball!" or "I got ball!"
Deny (1 pass away): "Deny! Deny!"
Help (2+ passes away): "Help! Help!"
This isn't just noise—it's clarity for teammates. When defenders communicate what they’re doing, the team becomes a connected unit.
Make it a rule: If you’re silent, you’re benched. Defense without communication is incomplete.
5. The Skip Pass Principle
One of the most overlooked parts of help defense is being able to recover on a skip pass.
Good help defenders:
Slide as far as they can toward the ball...
...without losing their ability to recover to their original man.
If a player is too deep in help, a skip pass becomes an open three. If they’re too shallow, they’re not helping at all.
Coach this balance using language like:
“Be one step off the midline if you're three passes away.”
“Help as deep as your recovery allows.”
“Can you contest the skip? If not, you're too deep.”
6. Building the Shell Drill Sequence
Here’s how to structure your Shell Drill with help emphasis:
Start in static positions: Walk through the Cowboy Up cue and spacing.
Pass to wing: Watch for:
Ball pressure
Deny on opposite wing
Help side shifts (Cowboy Up form)
Pass to corner:
Ball defender closes out
Previous wing defender jumps to help
Weak side adjusts again
Repeat across multiple ball reversals:
Top → Wing → Corner
Back to Wing → Top → Opposite Wing → Corner
Each pass triggers:
Explosive movement
Clear communication
Immediate positional adjustment
Pro tip: use phrases like “Jump on the pass!” and “Explode to help!” to cue correct timing.
7. Why Help Defense Wins Games
At the youth and high school level, most breakdowns occur because:
A player gets beat off the dribble
No help rotation comes in time
The defense panics and fouls or loses shooters
By drilling this Shell sequence daily, your team will:
Rotate instinctively
Communicate like a unit
Trust that help is behind them
It’s not glamorous. But it wins games.
