Contents > 2. Defense > 2.1. Player-to-Player, 1/4 Court Defense > 2.1.3. Help Defense >
2.1.3.1. Help Defense Default Positioning
(1) Q What is the default position in help defense?
A: When the ball-handler has not gotten past any of your teammates, your assigned player is not cutting to the hoop, and you are two or more passes away from the ball-handler, you are in your default help position.
(2) Q: What are the goals of default help position?
A: The goals of the default help position are to:
a) create the appearance of no clear dribble driving lanes, which may prevent a dribble drive
b) be in a position to help the drive if needed, but still be able to get back out to your assigned player for proper on-ball defense (recover)
c) be in a position to help the helper if needed
(3) Q: How do you achieve the goals of default help position?
A: It best to focus on both your body location and your body positioning:
- Body Location:
- This will depend on various factors (including the skills of the offensive and defensive players), but in general it is best to be a little less than halfway between your assigned player and the ball-handler. This way you can help on the drive if need be, or be able to play on-ball defense if your assigned player gets passed the ball.
- It is also best to be slightly lower than the straight line between your assigned player and the ball-handler, so that you can see both of them (usually looking straight ahead; using your peripheral vision to see both)
- Body Positioning
- Arms/Hands: it is best if one arm is pointing to the ball-handler, and the other is pointing to your assigned player; this allows you to keep track of both, as well as take up space in the passing lanes.
- Defensive Stance; you will still be in your normal defensive stance, however you won’t likely need to be as low as on-ball since you will not be changing directions as quickly
SKILLS DRILLS
Skills Drill #1: Default Help Defense Positioning (Ball-Handler Movement)
First, O2 will stay stationary in the corner. O1 will dribble back and forth from the top of the key to the opposite corner. X2 must play proper help defense.
Skills Drill #2: Default Help Defense Positioning (Assigned Player Movement)
Next, O1 will stay stationary in the corner. O2 will run back and forth from the top of the key to the opposite corner. X2 must play proper help defense.
Skills Drill #3: Default Help Defense Positioning (Ball-Handler + Assigned Player Movement)
Finally, both O1 and O2 will dribble or run back and forth from the top of the key to the corners. X2 must play proper help defense.
