Mirror Defense: Dribbler and Shadow

In pairs, in coned lanes, one player zigzags down the lane dribbling while the other shadows them with defensive slides. Students learn the basic defensive stance, sliding without crossing their feet and protecting the dribble.

How to play

1. Mark lanes 10 ft wide and 40 ft long and put one pair per lane with a ball.
2. Teach the defensive stance (feet wide, knees bent, arms out) and practice 1 minute of defensive slides.
3. Phase 1 (4 min): the attacker zigzags at half speed and the defender slides in front without crossing their feet; switch at the end of the lane.
4. Phase 2 (4 min): the attacker tries to get by; the defender earns a point each time they cut off the dribbler and force a change of direction.
5. Phase 3 (4 min): the defender may now steal by touching the ball; a steal earns 2 points and roles switch.
6. At the end, each pair shares what was hardest.

Rules

• The defender never touches or holds the attacker.
• If the attacker steps out of the lane, the defender gets the point.
• Steal by poking the ball from below, never by hitting the arm.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student defends in a wheelchair in a wider lane while the attacker walks.
• Hearing impairment: signal phase changes by raising a colored cone.
• Lower fitness: 26 ft lanes and 30 seconds of rest at each switch.

Learning goals

• Slide sideways in a defensive stance without crossing the feet.
• Stay between the attacker and the goal by anticipating changes.
• Protect the ball with the body while dribbling.

Equipment for a class of 25

• youth basketballs: 13
• cones: 28

Teacher tip

Defenders tend to stand up and run forward; use the cue 'sit in an invisible chair.' Pair students of similar speed.

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