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~ Defense—the Stabilizer

Director of Basketball, Stanford University

HE technique of guarding is the
backbone of good defensive play,
regardless of the type of team de-
fense. The success of any defense is first
dependent upon individual defensive abil-
ity. Defense is a more constant factor
than offense, which accounts for the stabil-
izing influence of good defensive play. It
is like good free-throwing for keeping a
team in the game when the offense bogs
down. A weak defense places a great bur-
den on the offense, hence the importance
of a dependable defense. :

Mental Defensive Qualifications

The mental requisites for good individ-
ual defense play are equally as important
as the physical. Without doubt, deter-
mination is about fifty per cent of de-
fense. Fine skills and technique in de-
fense are valueless without the mental
quality of determination. The determi-
nation of a player to out-play his oppo-
nent, to shut him out, to be a fine re-
bounder, to be a great ball “hawk”, and
to do more than his part toward a good
team defense is the thing that brings
about his maximum development.

Mental alertness and aggressiveness are
the mental factors determining defensive
efficiency. Offensive players always have
the guards at a disadvantage because they
know the next move, while the guards are
forced to anticipate the play and to react
to it. Most players like to play an ag-
gressive defense which gives them an op-
portunity to cut loose. Big players like
to be aggressive on the defensive boards,
while small, fast forwards like to rove and
gamble in the front line by playing for
interceptions, both of which are plausible
defensive attitudes.

Physical Defensive Qualifications

One of the main physical requisites for
individual defense is the mastery of a
good fundamental defensive position. II-
lustration 1 shows this position with the
weight low and well distributed. The
boxer’s step is demonstrated, showing the
player’s readiness to retreat to an even
stance for his shuffle steps, if necessary.
The knees are bent which help maintain
this alert position. The arms are in a
position to guard a pass or shot. The
arms are to be extended at all times and
should be kept moving, since stationary
hands, and arms are not the least discon-
certing to the opponent. Illustration 1,
shows good hand position against the shot.
Illustration 2 shows the hand position in
attacking the ball. Illustration 3, shows

for NoveMBER, 1942

By Everett Dean

the arms outstretched to the side in the
act of “windmilling”’ to knock down or
discourage passes.

Defensive footwork and balance are so
interrelated that they cannot be separated.
The proper stance may call for a different
spread for each individual. The stance
must be comfortable and natural, with
the weight balanced and slightly forward
on the balls of the feet. The boxer’s step
with the shuffle is the most commonly
used footwork. The shuffle is used well
with the wrestler’s stance. The best de-
fensive fakes are combined with the
boxer’s step. This step permits a safe and
quick approach to the defensive man.

Much time should be spent on this fun-
damental defensive position, for it is the
first essential in individual defense. Dia-
gram 1 is a mass drill which we use early
in the year to develop good defensive
form. This drill calls for the squad to
follow the leader. Balance, agility and
quick reactions are developed. The ac-
companying list of forty-five defensive

 

 

 

 

A drill for the defensive funda-
mental position.

Diagram 1.

 

pointers and fundamentals is placed in the
hands of the players, when we start de-
fensive work. The most fundamental of
those points are drilled on, before the
defensive is assembled.

The type of defense to be used will be
determined by the following factors: The
training of the coach, the kind of material
available, the floor conditions in that
conference, and the type of offenses to
be encountered. There are many styles
and variations of defenses, the working
principles of which are correct under cer-
tain playing conditions. It is the job of
the coach to familiarize himself with each
principle and to apply it under the right
condition. While it is not a common
practice to use a variety of defenses or
their variations it is very effective, if the
players are sufficiently experienced.

There are several broad fundamentals
of defensive play that must be co-
ordinated in assembling a team defense.

Balance: In these days of ultra-fast
breaking and fancy, effective one-hand
shooting, defenses have suffered. There-
fore, the balance between offense and de-
fense has widened in favor of the offense.
Fundamentalists will continue to advocate
that the ratio between the two should
run something like 51:49 or 55:45 or 60:40
in favor of the offense. The material
factor will govern that ratio. The
stronger the defense, the less efficient the
offense need be. Any ratio below fifty
for offense, however is not good for the
game. Sound defense is such a good
stabilizing agent that it looks like a wise
insurance against bad nights. Defense
should be constant as compared to the
many variable factors in aggressive play.

Team Play: A talking defense makes:
team play much easier. Defensive situa-
tions arise where suggestions to another
in the defense will clear up plays that
would otherwise grow into real problems.
Pointing is another form of communica-
tion with your team mates. Such signals
as “Defense, Defense”; “Follow, Follow”;
“T have this man”, “Shift, Bill”, “Scissor,
Tom”; “Watch the block, Ed”; “Arms
out”; “Cover tight”; “Sag off, Jack”; and
others, are helpful to the players if they
have practiced and developed the habit of
these expressions during daily practice.

Some defenses call for more team play
than others, but all defenses to be effec-
tive, must be tied together with co-oper-
ation and understanding.

Individual Fundamentals: All in all,
the team defense should be as strong or
as weak as its individuals. To have a good
team or organization, it is first necessary
to master individual defense. Sometimes

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