DEFENSE PART II

THE MENTAL DEFENSE is an important tool in playing basketball. Very few junior players use it - but some do and that is where they deliver match winning performances. We have this girl called Harshini who believes her birth right is TO STEAL THE BALL - and surprisingly she DOES IT. She lets the dribbler get ahead of her and then she chases him or her from behind waiting to insert her arm for that slight tap on the ball and LO BEHOLD the ball is stolen. Who taught her this? I think it is self-taught and that is why as I watch her play - I UNDERSTAND WHAT MENTAL DEFENSE IS!

ROLE PLAYING: Every team has players who play different roles. Picking up a role that you do best and contributing successfully is your mental defense. Unfortunately, some times it can go horribly wrong if you MEET YOUR MATCH in the opposition. So at such time, one should have the second option and third option in role playing. So I see Harshini change her role in different matches - AND IT IS TEXT BOOK STUFF - she is so good. Her height is just FOUR FEET! She plays basketball at V.S.C. I have many such players - I see magic every day!

TO KNOW YOUR TEAM DEFENSE: Some players have to be told what to do and some just know it. As they gain more experience, the players gradually understand the importance of defense - the types of defense and finally match winning defense. A team had six points lead with one minute remaining. They decided to DEFEND ONLY - and lost the match. Defense is not to crawl into your shell - ATTACK IS THE BEST FORM OF DEFENSE.

FULL COURT PRESS: This is to be properly understood and practiced. Players need to move and cover every player of the opposition to not allow pass. Speed and stamina coupled with STEALTH would be needed. Our objective is simple - NOT TO ALLOW THE PASS or if a pass is made - NOT TO ALLOW THE DRIBBLE - and if a dribble is made - NOT TO ALLOW FORWARD MOVEMENT! And, to keep searching for A STEAL which is an icing on the cake. Possibility of foul always remains but then it depends on whether you are losing an advantage or gaining an advantage. A FOUL IS A WEAPON OF DEFENSE and if need to be used MUST BE USED.

DOUBLE TEAMING: This needs lot of intelligence and close collaboration between the double teamers. Both have to cover the player - so it is important to push the player to a corner where he can be locked up. It is also important that other players of the opposition too should be well covered so that they cannot assist the trapped player. All the five defense players have to use their guile and skill in creating a `web of confusion' with the right type of body language. It would need hundreds of practice sessions against different players to polish your defensive skills. It is sad to see that the game which provides so many opportunities to THINK and PLAY, doesn't have enough number of coaches.

WINNING MATCHES doesn't necessarily mean that you are learning basketball. I have seen the standard of basketball at different levels and it saddens me. The game has become more and more physical - the artistry of the THINKING BASKETBALL has given way to push and pull. The juniors must learn the correct basics - develop correct behaviour on the court and LEARN and LEARN till they understand the different moves.
Wearing nice uniforms and costly shoes many come to the court with their mobiles in their hands - chatting and yapping - no warm up even till the coach comes. It is like a socialising platform - the basketball court! THE MENTAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE GAME HAS TO BE BUILT - chatting can be done for a limited period after the practice session.

BASKETBALL WHEN PLAYED CORRECTLY BUILDS BEAUTIFUL MINDS - you are collaborating with your team players through `thoughts' and body language. You learn the language which has no words - only fast movement of the body and a last moment FAKE - that makes the opposition make a MISS PASS { a pass made by a girl - No!} - A WRONG PASS which you can then enjoy to attack (maybe even an easy FAST BREAK}.

DEFENDING SHOOTERS! Some years back, I was playing one on one with a very short but extra-ordinary shooter. Shot after shot he made as I pressed to disturb his foot-work or cover his shot by jumping. Then he suddenly started missing - I HAD FOUND THE MAGIC FORMULA. I would move as if to press him, but then just NOT PRESS AT ALL!
My press was actually helping him - BY NOT PRESSING, he was over-shooting or under-shooting! By the time, he realized what I was doing, we were level - and very wisely I told him ENOUGH FOR TODAY. You are going to discover such strategies by yourself only IF YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE to learn is present. MENTAL DEFENSE IS A GREAT SKILL. Practice it!

YOUR COACH: Every artist, singer or dancer knows that THE TEACHER can make them learn rare skills and have deep insights, if he wishes to. Many players have a very casual attitude towards their coach - and the other extreme of TOO MUCH CHAMCHAGIRI - both are wrong attitudes. Build up a good relationship which helps both you and the coach to understand each other. Not being friendly with the coach doesn't help and BEING TOO FRIENDLY can lead to giving wrong ideas to your team-mates. For this to happen, a proper mental development is needed. I WISH I COULD WRITE MORE OPENLY ON THIS SUBJECT - but in our country we love to push dirt under the carpet - and even when we see it - we ignore it, thinking it will go away. Unfortunately, it doesn't - it accumulates and stinks.

WHAT MENTAL DEFENSE HAS TAUGHT ME? It has taught me to be on my guard always. Whether I am walking on the foot-path or facing a six footer drive in player; whether I am sitting on the chair or driving my Scorpio at 130 Kms per hour; whether I am eating my lunch or climbing an overhang on a cliff - I AM ON GUARD! How many times, I have dropped a watch or a breakable thing and suddenly out of nowhere my foot has reached out, taken the shock and it has rolled on to the ground safely. EXTRA-ORDINARY PERIPHERAL VISION which makes you see 360 degrees all the time. Split second decisions taken regularly when needed to avert accidents with quiet aplomb - that is what MENTAL DEFENSE IN BASKETBALL has given me.

MEDITATION AND MENTAL DEFENSE are very close to each other. In both 100% focus is onto either a thought or an action. It releases joyful hormones and the satisfaction of achievement or attempt to achieve. Perfection comes by and by.

I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE LAST WORD ON DEFENSE. I hope to add a chapter later on ADVANCE DEFENSIVE SKILLS. I am purposely not giving too many technical details - they can be understood by you with the help of your seniors or coach. I am trying to get the `essence' or the `spirit' into you - so that you can approach basketball playing and learning with the right attitude.