By Coach Shane Dreiling
Courtesy of "The Tenets of Team Defense"

1. The same principles and techniques apply to all of our defensive schemes, whether man-to-man or zone, and at any level of pickup on the floor. This helps in our teaching sequence and we teach only those things that apply to our system.

2. We teach with the use of short, simple and concise verbal cues. Not only does this save time during practice, it also allows players to "coach" themselves on the floor once the players realize what the technique looks like. It also assists players' communication with their teammates and forces players to concentrate on the situation at hand.

3. Defense is the basic team philosophy and foundation of the entire system. Defense should be the most consistent part of a team's total game.

4. All defense starts with the defensive transition game. Your players must be aware that defense starts immediately when the possession of the ball changes.

5. Pressure on the ball. We stress this in all areas including when the ball is held, dribbled, passed, or shot. This eliminates free thinking time by the offensive player.

6. Deny one pass from the basketball. This system is designed to push the ball to the side and deny it from reversing.

7. Give help side support. A good defensive system must always be prepared to give quick help to the ball side defenders.

8. Each defender is responsible for his man, yet each player is also responsible for every offensive player on the court in this team defensive system.

9. Closest man to the ball takes the ball, even more important in our Pressure Match-Up Defense.

10. All techniques, concepts, and principles must be learned through repetition and played with perfection.

11. This system must be thoroughly understood by everyone on our team and every effort must be given to be 100% mentally sharp at all times.

12. Every player must play as hard as they can for as long as they can. A player must not rest on the court. That is what the bench is for. Demand 100% from your players physically as well.

13. All players must learn to defend. If a player can't play defense, then he can't earn playing time, period!