Basketball 4-on-4 Help-Side Defense
A 4-on-4 half-court defensive drill where the offense swings the ball around the perimeter and defenders adjust their position based on where the ball is. Then the teams play live to apply help defense, stopping drives and recovering.
How to play
- Make 6 teams of 4 in pinnies; two teams work at each basket (one on offense, one on defense) and a third watches. Attackers stand in both corners and both wings at the three-point line (3 min).
- Phase 1 (6 min): attackers pass around without dribbling or driving. With every pass, the ball defender pressures and the others sit between their player and the basket, sagging closer to the lane the farther they are from the ball.
- The teacher or the watching team calls "freeze!" and checks that every defender can see both the ball and their player.
- Phase 2 (6 min): allow one drive per possession; the nearest help defender must cut off the path to the basket and a teammate rotates to cover.
- Phase 3 (6 min): live 4-on-4 half court. The defense gets 1 point for each stop and the offense 1 point per basket. Rotate offense, defense and observers every 2 minutes.
Rules
- Help with your feet, with no swiping or pushing the driver.
- Attackers may not stay in the lane for more than 3 seconds.
- Observers only speak during freezes and always with constructive comments.
- Teams switch along the baseline so nobody cuts across the court.
Variations
Easier
Play 3-on-3 using only Phase 1 and part of Phase 2.
Standard
4-on-4 with all three phases: passing, drives and live play.
Harder
Attackers may cut through the lane after passing, so the defense must adjust faster.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility: act as the observer who calls the freezes, or as a fixed attacker in a corner.
- Students with autism: teach the position with a court diagram and cones marked on the floor.
- Lower fitness levels: stay in the passing phase without drives for longer.
Learning goals
- Position yourself to see both the ball and your assigned player.
- Stop a drive as the help defender.
- Value defense as a team effort.
Equipment for a class of 25
- basketballs: 3
- basketball hoops: 3
- pinnies: 24
Teacher tip
Use the triangle image: ball, defender and matchup form a triangle with the defender at the point. The freezes produce the most learning, so do not skip them.
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