Teaching Defensive Principles

Coach Dina Gentile

How to simplify teaching “D”

• Roles of defenders, what makes sense to players?

• Decide on terminology and expectations.• Use many activities over multiple practices to

get your point across. • Repetition creates Routine. Routine is the

doorway to GOOD HABITS!

POSITIONING

• Players need to be in an athletic stance, on their toes versus on the heels of their feet.

• Players need to be patient on defense as to not over run the ball. The offensive player can just tap the ball away if the defensive player approaches too quickly.

• Forcing to a direction, it is almost like sheparding herd to one spot on the field.

EXPECTATIONS

1 (pressure)

2 (cover)

3 (balance)PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2 PLAYER 3

EXPECTATIONS

We need to decide which way we want to force the offensive player when the ball is in the middle of the field. For younger or less skilled players we may want to force to the sideline. For advanced or older players, we want to force the offense into the defensive pressure we are creating by our shape.

EXPECTATIONS

Player 2 (pressure)

Player 3 (cover) Player 1 (balance)PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2 PLAYER 3

EXPECTATIONS

1 (pressure)

2 (cover)

3 (balance)PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2 PLAYER 3

EXPECTATIONS

Player 3 (pressure)

Player 1 (cover) Player 2 (balance)PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2 PLAYER 3

REPETITION

• Always use the same terms so they get the idea embedded in their heads.

• Ask questions. Maybe players still do not understand what you mean by the terms you use.

• Trust the process, teaching “D” is not easy!

Elevate the gameon and off the field

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