Contents > 2. Defense >
2.1. Player-to-Player, 1/4 Court Defense
(1) Q: What is Player-to-Player Defense?
A: In player-to-player defense, every defensive player is assigned a player from the offensive team. Each defensive player always has the responsibility of defending the offensive player they were assigned, unless a “switch” is made (which we will discuss more later). Players are “matched up” or assigned an offensive player usually based on position, skill, or size (for example, a big post player will usually defend another big post player; a big post player won’t usually defend a smaller quick guard).
(2) Q: What is ¼ court defense?
A: ¼ Court defense is defense played in the quarter of the court closest to the basket your team is defending (see below in red).
(3) Q: What is 3-point line defense?
A: 3-point line defense is a type of ¼ court defense, where the defense only defends the offense from about one step past the three-point line and below. This is the type of basic defense that is best to begin with.
(4) Q: Why play 3-point line defense?
A: Unless you are playing against a very good three-point shooter (like Steph Curry), there is no need to play so far past the three-point line (unless you are trying to get steals, which we will talk about later). The advantages are:
Don’t unnecessarily waste your energy playing beyond the 3-point line (especially playing in long tournaments with many games).
Pack the defense inside for a stronger wall
Encourage offense to shoot from the outside, since their percentage will be lower
(5) Q: Does player-to-player mean I follow my offensive player closely wherever they go?
A: You will always know where your offensive player is, but you will not necessarily be close to them all the time. In player-to-player defense, your spacing and how close you are to your assigned offensive player depends on which defensive position you are in.
(6) Q: What are the defensive positions of player-to-player?
A: There are three main defensive positions in player-to-player: on-ball, deny, and help defense. A defensive player will fluidly transition between all three of these positions depending on the location of the ball and their assigned player at all times. We will go through each position.
