​Defensive Anchors

1.PLAY HARD
It is important to take pride in defensive effort. This is one area of the game that can and should be constant. 
 
2. SEE THE BALL / SEE THE MAN
Be aware of where the ball is at all times. An offensive player cannot score without the ball. 
Guarding a player with the ball our position is BALL-YOU-BASKET. 
BALL-YOU-MAN away defense to prevent "face-cuts" to the basket.

3.PRESSURE THE BASKETBALL 
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Key defensive philosophy is to apply IMMEDIATE and CONSTANT PRESSURE on the ball. 
Force the ball to be dribbled to the outside, take away the outside shot, and take away any easy ball movement. 
Attack the ball without fouling, or giving up stances, or allowing penetration. 

TOUCHES, DEFLECTIONS, COVER THE BALL. 
Guarding any player one pass away is a
DENY STANCE-ON THE LINE, UP THE LINE. 
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If the ball is on the side of the floor, keep one body part in the passing lane. This means that the defender is between the offensive player and the ball. Put the offensive team under constant siege for the full game. 
“FOULING NEGATES HUSTLE.” Play aggressively and smart using sound techniques and principles. ​​

4.COMMUNICATION
It is essential that all five players communicate with each other. Calling “ball”, yelling “help”, "shot", “skip” or “double” helps ensure that all five defenders will be in good position and know what is happening on the court. 
Three talking rules: Early, Loud and Often. 

5.NO DIRECT PASSES OR DRIVES 
Make the offense throw passes below or above, not through. ​Therefore, the only acceptable pass to give up is a lob pass.  Force the offense to their weak hand to take away the straight line drive. ​

6.STANCE AND SPACE
Basic stance is butt (bucket) down, chest out, hands and feet shoulder width apart with hands high and out. 
Left foot, left hand is forward. PUSH THE PLAYER AWAY FROM THEIR STRONG HAND. 
When guarding the ball, outside hand should mirror the ball, trying to touch the ball as often as possible. 
Inside hand is deflector hand. Defensively, take up space and look to defend in the neutral zone. 

7.SPRINT TO THE BALL
Any time the ball is passed
​YOU MUST SPRINT TO THE BALL. 
Move on airtime. Make gradual, quick, immediate adjustments in your stance. Be in position before the ball is caught. Sprinting to the ball allows proper position to front cutters, avoid screens (be a moving target), and help teammates. 
Any time the ball is dribbled, make the proper ball side or help side adjustments in positioning. 

8.TRANSITION AND COMMUNICATION
Quick, organized transition with communication by all five players is a must for a great defensive team. 
STOP THE BALL. Sprint to the level of the ball, eliminate all cheap baskets, and make opponents go against set defense. 
NO LAYUPS, NO THREES, NO FOULS, NO SECOND SHOTS. When in doubt, recover to the paint and then find man. 

9.QUICK HELP AND EARLY RECOVERY
There is no such thing as helping too quickly. This is not a suggestion but a requirement. Protect the gap and deny one pass away. When the ball gets steered into the next outside gap, be ready to provide quick help to the ball. On help, recover on line to offensive player as the ball is picked up. When guarding screens, talk and communicate with teammates. It is generally a goal not to switch when facing screens. Rather, hedge and recover, opening a gap for teammate to slide through so they can continue guarding their man. 

10.BLOCKOUT AND OUTLET
Defensive effort is completed when we have POSSESSION OF THE BALL (ICE) - Identify, Contact, Explode. 
When the ball is shot ALL FIVE PLAYERS have rebound responsibility - covering the paint in a triangle shape with guards blocking out then moving to the elbow areas. Play the odds when rebounding a jump shot and flood the weak side with a guard to give additional rebounding strength. ​