As we get our teams ready for the season, it is important to have a plan of action. What are we going to emphasize? What do we think we need to develop in order to win? A case can be made that it starts with defense. One of the key basketball strategies is to hold our opponents to a low score. In this way, we give our team a better chance to win, even if we are not shooting well that game. Through forcing turnovers and getting defensive rebounds, we also create opportunities to score, especially if we like to play fast in those situations. This article describes ways that you can develop your defense so that you give your team a better chance to win the game.

As one of the crucial basketball strategies, defense starts with a team commitment to be really good at it. From the coaches and the players and anyone else associated with your team, there needs to be an enthusiasm about playing strong defense. There needs to be a strong energy toward stopping the opponent from scoring. There must be a great satisfaction in making a defensive stop. It is done in a quiet, understated, humble manner, yet there is an inner feeling of having done a great job when the team plays well on defense.

It is important to commit to a zone defense or a man-to-man defense, so that your team can learn to play one defensive approach well. Each type of defense has its merits. Zone defense focuses on strong coverage of certain areas of the basketball court, so that easy shots by your opponent are taken away. Man-to man defense involves each of your players taking personal responsibility to guard one opponent.

Whatever defensive approach that you choose, it is important to emphasize strong effort by every one of your players to make it work. Every defense is ultimately a team defense, with teammates helping each other to prevent a score by your opponent. Every one of your players on the court is responsible for stopping the opponent from getting easy shot attempts. By proper positioning, rotating, and contesting of shots, all 5 of your players contribute to a defensive stop. It is quite exciting for them, yourself, and your players on the bench to see this joint effort toward preventing a score by your opponent.

When you all pull together to keep your opponent at a low score, good is very likely to come to your team as you combine with strong effort to reach your defensive goal. This is what makes defense one of the most rewarding basketball strategies as well as one of the most effective ones.