Chantal Vallée: Multiple Strategies for Neutralizing Ball Screens

with Chantal Vallée,
Hamilton Honey Badgers (Canadian Elite Basketball League) Head Coach & GM;
University of Windsor Head Women's Basketball Coach;
Five straight Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) Women's Basketball National Titles (2011-2015);
2x CIS Women's Basketball Coach of the Year;
ATHENA International Leadership Award, 2012Ball screens have become one of the primary offensive weapons for teams of all levels across the country. Planning to stop the pick & roll is now an essential part of any successful defensive game plan. Five-time Canadian National Championship coach, Chantal Vallée shares five ways to defend ball screens. These strategies have been developed through years of researching the top defenses around the world.

Coach Vallée breaks down the technique and communication needed for the two defenders directly involved with the ball screen. You will also learn how to incorporate the other help defenders in your team defense with rotations that take away the typical scoring opportunities created from ball screens. On-court drills utilizing 2-on-2, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 scenarios will give you a visual on defending ball screens and rotations, depending on if you hedge the screen or switch.

Communication

Successfully defending ball screens requires the entire team to be coordinated with each other. Through a two-player demonstration, Coach Vallée shows how a clear system for communication will put everyone on the same page to defend ball screens so there's no breakdown in your defense.

• Switch - This defensive tactic has the capability of completely shutting down a ball screen offense. However, a common disadvantage of the switch is that it can create mismatches. You will learn four different methods to eliminate the vulnerabilities of the switch, including 3-man and 5-man rotations.
• Hedge - Coach Vallée has players demonstrate the three types of hedges that can be used versus a ball screen. In addition to describing the basic technique for two-step hedges, you'll learn how to stop dribblers from splitting defenders. You will also see different options for your players when recovering from help support.
• Jam - See how this strategy can be used to shut down a great pick and pop shooter. Coach Vallée will show you how to rotate when help support is needed to take away drives in the paint.
• Down - This strategy has become increasingly more common in the NBA because it shrinks the floor for the player using the ball screen. See how to rotate with your weakside defenders when your opponent sends a great shooter to set the ball screen.
• Sag - For teams with slower defenders, dropping them back and crowding the paint can still be an effective option. Coach Vallée will show how to use this strategy against the high pick and roll.

5-on-5 Rotations

Coach Vallée uses this drill to teach rotations off the ball and in help settings when screens are being set. These rotations are demonstrated on-court at walk-through speed, then the drill goes live. Coach Vallée discusses responsibilities of those in help position and who must pick up the first pass.

Coach Vallée will give you strategies for defending ball screens that you won't find anywhere else. These defensive tactics will help you defend ball screens with a method that best suits your players and will greatly benefit your help defense.

Produced at the Spring 2015 Toronto clinic

72 minutes. 2016.