Smothering Man-to-Man Switching Defense

with Ashley Howard,
Villanova University Assistant Coach;
La Salle University Head Coach from 2018 to 2022;
Villanova University Assistant Coach (with Jay Wright) from 2013 to 2018;
2016 and 2018 National Championships;
Xavier University Assistant Coach from 2012 to 2013;
Drexel Assistant coach from 2008 to 2012;
Jamaica National Team Assistant Coach in 2006;
LaSalle Assistant Coach from 2004 to 2008;
played collegiately at Drexel University

Switching on screens within your man-to-man defense can make your players more dynamic defenders and give your team an advantage. In this video, La Salle University's Ashley Howard shares five drills that he uses to teach switching man-to-man defense in group and individual situations.

1-on-1 Drill

Coach Howard walks you through how to get your athletes to guard players effectively in the open court. You will see:

• How and why smaller players need to be a "Pitbull" against bigger players in order to win their individual battles
• How to get your players to defend without fouling
• How to teach athletes to guard players who are quicker than they are

Team Drills

Next, Howard showcases four breakdown drills to teach your team how to play a switching man-to-man defense. You'll see how to teach your athletes great defensive footwork and positioning when switching, how to signal load your defense when players are in a mismatch situation, how your team can take advantage of defensive mismatches, and how to communicate switching situations so your athletes stay in a "ball, you, man" scenario.

BONUS: Transition Defense

Also included is a bonus segment featuring Coach Howard breaking down his transition defense approach. He details a progression of drills that puts the defense at a disadvantage so your players will know how to react and defend even without the full support of their teammates.

This video from Coach Howard will show you the power of playing switching man-to-man defense. Teams that implement Howard's tactics will have better communication, force opponents into difficult shots, and run a more versatile defense overall. This is a must-have to become an elite switching man-to-man team.

64 minutes. 35 bonus minutes. 2020.