Charapter I

Actively defending is about forcing the attacker to choose to attack how you want them to attack, leaving these decisions up to your opposition is a fool’s game. Whenever possible the defence should decide the terms of any action on the floor.

The most simple form of deciding the flow of an opposition attack is forcing them to pick a side of your choosing in a 1v1 situation. Positioning is the key in these engagements, it is simple for an attacker with full autonomy to create opportunities that are unfavourable for the defence so, the defence must not allow the attacker the option to do this.

Shifting your positioning creates channels for the opposition player, the channels you create should depend on where you are strong, there is little sense in sending the opponent down your weak side when you have the power to take control of a situation with your place on the floor.

The addition of teammates complicates things but does not change the core, allowing channels to exist where the team is strong. Guiding the ball to your teammates where you can work together to end the offence. The specifics change with the sport and situation but, it is as combat is in “the art of war” there is value in appearing strong where you are weak and weak where you are strong.

So how can the importance of these simple principles of defence be impressed into players? How can this importance offset or overcome the arrogance of the top players?