INBOUNDS DEFENSE GUIDELINES

Inbounds defense is one of those specialty areas that seem to be critically important to winning basketball games but sometimes doesn’t get the attention it deserves in practice. It’s one of those “little” things that can come back to haunt you if your team is not organized in its attack.

It must be understood that the inbounds is extremely close to the basket and a lot of cutting action will bring the offensive dangerously close to the goal. It is not an area where you want to have a breakdown defensively or it will cost you a basket, a foul or both.

When we are man-to-man on inbounds defense, we have developed the following guidelines for how we want our team to defend our opponent.

#1 GET READY TO DEFEND
Once the whistle blows, sprint to the paint, pick up your assignment and immediately get into your stance. This is absolutely critical — we are beat before we start if we don’t make this a priority.

#2 INBOUND DEFENDER
Loosen to the paint area where you are responsible for ALL cuts and passes made to the backside of the lane. Read the passer’s eyes for a clue as to where she is looking. Count to yourself on 3, closeout on the pass and pressure her.

#3 HIGH POST AREA DEFENDERS
If you are defending someone in the free throw line area, we want you to be off your player by a couple of steps. This does not mean you are in a relaxed state. In fact, you must be in your stance and anticipating what will happen. Generally, players in this area receive back screens. Make sure you get on the ballside of all back screen situations.

#4 LOW POST AREA DEFENDERS

“Become One” with your opponent. Be so tight against your assignment that it looks like one player. You are going to stay tight unless your player cuts away from the basket in which you then loosen up. Be “tight” on the ballside.

#5 SHOOTERS
Know who the shooters are and be ready to tag all cuts. Remember that many inbounds plays have quick hitting options for shooters once the ball is inbounded.

#6 CUTS AWAY FROM THE BASKET
Any time a player cuts away from the basket, start loosening up (inside-out approach) unless that player is an outstanding shooter. As you loosen up, stay in your stance and assume an open, helpside stance — seeing the ball and your man.

#7 TAKE AWAYS CUTS TO BALLSIDE OF THE COURT
Be on the outer ballside half of all cutters.  Don't worry about getting beat back door or off back screens -- it is the responsibility to inbound defender to "clean up" rim cuts.  We expect our defense on cutters to be ballside and to beat them and get over the screens.

#7 FINISH THE PLAY

Remember that just because that ball is inbounded this does not mean we can relax. Many teams have complicated systems that have several passes and screens once the first pass is made. Stay in your stance and ready to defend.

Not only do we believe in these guidelines but we set up practice segments where we can work on them. After all, they are called “special” situations for a reason.