How to Improve Playing Defense With Your Feet in Basketball

Defense wins Championships! In order to play good defense, each player must move their feet to keep their body in position against the offensive player. A player can get into bad habits of reaching and lunging for the ball which takes him/her out of good defensive position. This drill will help players play defense by moving their feet.

Things You'll Need

  • 5 towels
  • 5 offensive players
  • 5 defensive players
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Instructions

    • 1

      With the 10 players on the court, have 5 players on offense and 5 players on defense. This will be a half-court drill. Players will switch from offense to defense each time the defense secures the ball.

    • 2

      Take 5 gym towels and roll them up. If you don't have gym towels, t-shirts or plastic bags can be used as well.

    • 3

      Give one rolled up towel to each of the defenders.

    • 4

      Each defender takes the ends of the towel and holds it over their head.

    • 5

      The offensive team runs their the standard offensive plays and tries to score as they normally do. They should not change any aspect of their game.

    • 6

      The defenders must play standard man-to-man defense while holding the towel above their head. This will force them to play position defense with their feet instead of relying on reaching and lunging for the ball.

    • 7

      When the offense shoots the ball, the defense must use proper box-out technique to keep the offense from securing a rebound.

    • 8

      A defender must secure the rebound while holding onto the towel. Because it will be difficult to secure the rebound, it will force the defender to establish excellent box-out position to allow time to secure the ball. In many cases, the ball will hit the ground before anyone touches it. This would display excellent box out skills.

    • 9

      Once the defense secures the ball, they now become the offense. Stop the drill to allow the new defensive team to get the towels and get into defensive position.