Defence Jill McIntosh Coaching Course May 2006 Feet Very important to defence. Quick footwork to get to small spaces, and intercept without contacting Warm-up Use lines of court for jogging, side slips, weaving (running in a weave pattern), criss-cross etc Lunges On a line; step in and out on spot, body and head upright. Add a forward + back 2 foot jump between sets Add in/out to sides with the forward and back steps (check feet are lifting, not dragging on the ground) Jump feet in a cross over the line L-R to R-L to L-R Do these exercises in short bursts to ensure quality. Mix with other dynamic stretches eg leg swings, upper body twists etc Using the commands to change the exercises helps practise their listening skills for when they are on the court. Fast feet (pitter patter). Coach points L or R or back or front and they tap a foot out to the side/back/front 2 side steps to side to get the ball (up) then 2 back to the start. Check steps are not too wide this enables quicker change of direction. 2 running steps to side to get a low/loose ball then back to start Pivot, intercept ball with outside arm, then step back Then put this whole group together to commands to develop the listening skills. Pairs spread out. Try to touch your partners knees, while partner tries to avoid. Gets feet working
In Pairs Stand in front of partner facing coach. Front one is just in front of the back one, about ½ way covering them in the front marking position. Angle the front body slightly in order to see the back one, but still able to see the coach The back one does different movements (anything steps/arms/jumps etc) and the front one copies them. If front one loses the back one, they need to move their feet first to find them, rather than turning their heads otherwise the defence will have tricked them and will vanish. This activity gives confidence in the front marking position, it takes practice to be able to see the ball and attacker at the same time In 3 s Have 2 D s in the front defence position check their feet open to front A does movements (jumps, sides etc) for the D s to copy, D s must be able to still see the coach Rotate around so they all get to try both sides In 5 s 3 D s in offset positions copy the Mover (M) A throws in the ball from time to time, and D s go for the ball need to call mine etc so not all going for it Check using peripheral vision. If they are copying the other D s rather than the M, then the group will look out of synch. They need to look forward from their stance, in order to see out to both sides Check positioning of feet, still using the front marking position for this exercise Swap positions around to practise different sides
In 5 s Offset 4 D s around A (not in parallels or square) A makes the movements and D s copy Passer (P) passes in the general area of A and D s communicate to intercept Look for angles of D s bodies, check they are using peripheral vision and their heads are not swinging side/side Look for clean intercepts, it it s not on, don t get a penalty Look for communication of D s not 3 going for one ball NEXT D s move to being in a diamond shape around A So this drill allows you to play around with different space marking patterns see what suits your players best. Can they change their patterns in a game? Ie go from one on one, to space marking, to a full zone?
In 4 s D is in the front marking position again. They need to move from side to side of A depending on where the ball is (P s are passing to each other slowly to start) As long as the movement is quick, it doesn t matter if they run or side slip from side to side, however, check their base is not too wide, as the wider they are the harder to change direction quickly Every so often, P will pass in a ball. Check, D feet position open ie leg in middle of the attack is the back leg NEXT P s are closer to D and A D tries to intercept the P to P pass from time to time, plus the pass can still go to A as before Watch timing of the intercept decision not too soon. Try using the feet the other way ie the D foot in the middle of the A is the front foot With the same set up try the defence defending the opposite side of the A the side the ball is not on. This can encourage a pass into A as she looks free. Next A starts to take a step out toward the ball on the open side to extend the defence Watch D s body is not just moving, but the feet are too, when they go for the intercept
Defence squishing A space P s pass between selves A moves side to side gently, then one can come in to middle and the ball comes in to them D s communicate who gets the intercept the other A s D could be better positioned for it. go mine etc. So D s are working one on one, but together If the other D gets the ball, then the D who s side it was on needs to swap and pick up the abandoned A Defence forcing A s out P s pass between selves A s move, and can come out to the side for the ball If A is moving for the ball, D needs to come off them slightly so they can take a 2 handed intercept without contact, drive toward the ball. Attack the ball rather than using the outside arm. Defence one outside, one inside The purpose of D on outside is to push their A to the other D who is on the inside D on inside has a 2 prong approach needs to adjust body to see both D on outside calls loudly to bring in the outside D A s make move to middle or side depending on if they are on the inside or outside D s pull out if they would cause a penalty
Putting on Pressure when D doesn t intercept ball, or had to pull out In pairs, A facing away from D, D close behind A. A passes to self and turns. D drops back to 3ft 1. With no arms, just get used to dropping 3ft with 1, 2, or more steps. Check the distance, they will likely allow too much space in this exercise. D needs to keep eyes up, should know which is the A s grounded foot, and not need to look down to judge the distance 2. Get back, BEND KNEES, ARMS UP. Check arms not going up too early, or they will be pulled for arms before distance obstruction. Check the base is comfortable, and is not defending up on toes. 3. Get back, bend knees, HANDS TRACK THE BALL, SMALL PASS up for them to get the intercept. Hands need to hover above the ball to put on pressure 4. Just ONE HAND hovering over the ball, other arms waits at side for the flick (check arm at side, not behind). This makes thrower think that there is a space, but the waiting arm will get the ball 5. LAUNCH toward the ball. Check timing will be obstruction if they land in close without having the ball. This time arms are at the ready to encourage an up pass. D needs soft hands to grab the ball.
3 open 2 1 A s Goal D defends A, protecting middle of court, and restricting A s movement P passes to A, A passes back to P If D doesn t get it, then they restrict A s movement need to get in front of A straight away so A doesn t get a head start At the point where A gets past D, D needs to open up to the ball, moving into the front marking position so they can see the ball and their A P passes back to A down court, and D goes for the intercept ide line Opening: Court situations; GD stopping GA on way to circle, GD wants GA to go down side line and along base (1), rather than front cutting into the circle at the top (2). So GD keeps in front of GA along the side, and at the corner (3) she opens up to the ball ready to intercept GA D s feet and Facing direction 2 GD 1 A s feet and facing direction WA driving to circle WD try and force WA into the corner for a high ball GK may be able to intercept this, or she may be forced offside 3 Back line throw in by GK. GA wants GD to have to receive it in the circle, rather than further back in the third. GA gets behind her and forces the pass in, then restricts movement of GD down court to throw out the opposition timing, then open out