Pushing. Blocking. Reaching. Tripping. Holding. Sounds like child’s play, right?
But in youth basketball, this kind of illegal contact results in a foul. Fouls aren’t just bad manners, they often lead to free throws or turnovers, and can significantly impact the outcome of the game.
As a coach, the job is to help kids focus on proper defensive positioning, technique, and footwork, which helps to avoid fouls altogether.
Pushing
A pushing foul is exactly what it sounds like — when a player forcibly pushes an opponent from their position. Most commonly with the hands or arms, but it can be any body part.
To prevent pushing fouls, make sure to reinforce proper body position and arms when defending. That means: arms extended upward, palms open and a straight back, and using the chest and lower body for contact.
Blocking
A blocking foul happens when a defensive player uses their body to prevent another player from moving, and it goes hand-in-hand with charging fouls. (More on charging, here).
To avoid blocking fouls, help players understand the importance of establishing legal guarding position before their opponent starts their drive, and to take contact from the dribbler on the torso.
To establish a legal guarding position, a defender must have both feet on the ground and be facing their opponent. Once in position, defenders can move backward or sideways and jump straight up with their hands extended vertically.
With more advanced players, you can teach them to time their jumps and reach for the ball at the peak of the opponent’s shot. That helps avoid unnecessary contact — and could result in a blocked shot.
Reaching
A reaching foul happens when a defensive player makes illegal contact with their hands or arm, often when trying to steal or block the ball.
For reaching fouls, encourage players to use their feet and body to defend, instead of swiping at the ball with their hands. Timing matters, too. They need to be patient, and wait for the ball to be in an exposed position.
Tripping and Holding
Tripping fouls are aptly-named — when a defensive player uses a foot or leg to trip their opponent. Holding fouls happen when players use their hands, arms, or body to grab or restrict an opponent’s movement. Players will often resort to tripping and holding when they get beat by their opponent.
Help defensive players avoid both tripping and holding fouls by emphasizing good footwork and body control. Remind them to move their feet quickly and stay balanced, while also maintaining their defensive position. You can also coach the whole team to recognize when one of their teammates gets beat, and to help on defense when that happens. That’s a key aspect of team defense. In turn, a player who gets beat will help cover their teammates.
FAQs
A defensive foul is an infraction that occurs during a basketball game when a defender uses any part of their body such as their hands, arms, legs, or feet to make illegal contact with an opposing offensive player.
How do you teach basketball defense without fouling? ›
Players must learn to pressure the ball without hand-checking, bumping and "riding" the offensive player. In the half-court, you will have less fouling if you can keep the ball in front of you and sag into the gaps (help and recover), to prevent dribble-penetration.
What is illegal contact in basketball? ›
A player shall not hold, push, charge into, impede the progress of an opponent by extending a hand, arm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a position that is not normal. Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately.
What is considered illegal defense in basketball? ›
The NBA implemented the rule to prevent defenders from planting themselves underneath the basket. When a defender is in the paint, they must be "actively guarding an opponent," meaning they are within arm's length of an offensive player and in a guarding position, within three seconds.
What is the 3 second defensive violation in basketball? ›
Any defensive player, who is positioned in the 16-foot lane or the area extending 4 feet past the lane endline, must be actively guarding an opponent within three seconds. Actively guarding means being within arm's length of an offensive player and in a guarding position.
What are the three keys to playing defense in basketball? ›
3 Tips for On-The-Ball Defense
- Try to Maintain your Balance.
- Create Ball Pressure.
- Over Guard One Side.
6 Tips For Better Perimeter Defense
- Stay Low. Remember to begin with your shoulders lower than the person you are guarding. ...
- An Arm's Length. Do not begin too close or too far away from the offense. ...
- Keep Steps Short. Never forget your footwork. ...
- Remember the Hands. Another key is to have active hands. ...
- Swipe Up. ...
- Get in Shape.
Keep your feet stable and hip-width apart to limit the risk of a foul and make it harder for the shooter to get past you. Jump when the shooter is about to let go of the ball, blocking the shot with the hand that's closest to the ball.
Can you grab the ball out of someone's hands in basketball? ›
The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. Steals are credited to the defensive player who first causes the turnover, even if they do not end up with possession of the live ball.
What are you not allowed to do in basketball? ›
The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed.
In basketball, traveling is a violation that occurs when a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball. Traveling is also called, predominantly in a streetball game, "walking" or "steps".
Can you push in basketball defense? ›
A pushing foul is exactly what it sounds like — when a player forcibly pushes an opponent from their position. Most commonly with the hands or arms, but it can be any body part. To prevent pushing fouls, make sure to reinforce proper body position and arms when defending.
Can you put your hand on someone in basketball? ›
in NFHS and NCAA. That's the rule. If the ball handler. or shooter has the ball in his hands, you can make contact with the hand.
Does a shot attempt count if fouled? ›
When a player shoots and is fouled after the ball clearly is in flight, a FGA is charged. If the shot is made, then whether it was in flight is not important; either way, the shot will count and a FGA must be charged and a FGM credited.
What is the difference between offensive and defensive fouls in NBA? ›
While you may think they are similar, they are two completely different calls in basketball. A charge is an offensive foul and a block is a defensive foul. When a charge is called, it means that an offensive player has made significant contact with a defender that has an established position.
What counts as a blocking foul? ›
A blocking foul happens when a defensive player uses their body to prevent another player from moving, and it goes hand-in-hand with charging fouls. (More on charging, here).
What is considered a defensive stop in basketball? ›
A defensive stop occurs when a defensive team prevents an offensive team, currently in possession of the basketball, from scoring points near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
How many defensive types are there in basketball? ›
While there are a number of defensive strategies that a team can employ over the course of a game, they all ultimately fall into one of three categories: man-to-man defense, zone defense or a combination defense.
