How to Defend a Fast Break in Basketball

The fast break is a great offensive weapon in basketball. If you do not have an effective way to defend your opponent's fast break, they will be able to score many easy baskets against your team. This article will focus on defending the fast break.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Well-conditioned team

1. Focus on getting offensive rebounds. If your team is successful in getting offensive rebounds and converting them into points, your opponent will have to keep all players in the lane for rebounding, which will slow their fast break.

2. Challenge the rebounder when he/she attempts an outlet pass. This will slow down the fast break and could lead to a turnover.

3. Know who the catalyst is--if there is one player who has the primary role of starting the break, assign a player from your team to jam them in the backcourt and make it difficult for them to get an easy outlet pass.

4. Be clear on who has safety position for fast break responsibility. In most cases, the player closest to the opponents' basket when you take a shot on offense is the safety player.

5. Once the opponent outlets the ball, make the player choose a side of the floor, thus taking away half of the court. Force that player to the sideline--preferably the one that is opposite their strong dribbling hand.

6. Every player except the one guarding the catalyst should sprint to the lane to cover for a lay-up attempt.

7. Once the lane is secured (as many defensive players in the lane as offensive players), all players should recover to the opponent they are guarding.

8. Know the 3-point shooters--be quick to close out on those players, as it is a very good secondary fast break strategy to find the 3-point shooters for an open look.

9. As you are recovering to your players, be aware of the secondary break. Effective fast breaking teams employ a secondary break. There is a tendency for the defense to relax momentarily after they stop the initial fast break--when this occurs, the offense can take advantage of the defensive lapse and find open cutting/passing lanes. The defense must prevent lapses and be aware/alert at all times.

Tips & Warnings

• If fast breaking is not a strength of your team, try to slow the game down. This is accomplished by walking the ball up the court, being patient on offense and limiting turovers.
• Every player should know where the ball is at all times.
• Until all players have recovered on defense, the team should be focused on stopping the ball and cutters close to the basket--they should not focus only on the person they are assigned to guard.
• Practice defending the fast break: 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 full court drills as well as 5-on-5 drills will give necessary repititions to gain the experience.
• For youth teams (ages 12 and under) refer to my article: "How to Defend a Fast Break in Youth Basketball" (see Resources below).

Resources

• Defend a Fast Break in Youth Basketball

[CoachKerry]

on 11/5/2008 Great comment. A patient offensive team can really take the wind out of the sails of a fast breaking team. Thanks for sharing.

[skinc3]

on 10/22/2008 You don't have to walk the ball up the court to slow the game down. All you have to do is while running your offenses be patient and wait for good shots.

[MichaelJMotta]

on 4/20/2008 This is one of the most comprehensive and well-written hands-on articles I've seen in here. Every time I tried playing devil's advocate in midstream, my "error of omission" question was answered later.