10 Tips to be Hard to Guard
- Workout-If you want to be hard to guard, workout everyday to be a well rounded player. Practice being hard to guard with and without the ball with the OtterBasketball Online Training system
- Be Skilled-Take pride in being a multi skilled player. Focus on defense as well as shooting, ball handling, passing and high pressure situations. (ex: double teams and finishing vs. athletic players)
- Let the Game Come to You-Don’t force the issue. Make sure you let the game evolve by slowing down and allowing yourself to make reads vs. athletic players.
- Relax Under Pressure-Understand that in order to be hard to guard vs elite competition you have to be able to relax in high pressure situations. (play with confidence)
- Be a Great Shooter-The shot is such a critical component of being hard to guard. It closes the distance for you making you quicker and opening up passing lanes.
- Know Your Strengths-Know your strengths and play to them. Too often players try to do things they are not capable of and put themselves in tough situations.
- Use Your Teammates-Don’t try to do things by yourself. Distributing the ball to open teammates makes you harder to guard and takes much of the defensive focus off of you.
- Understand How to Create Space-Understand the rules of engagement...how to close the distance properly and create space to shoot and relieve pressure.
- Stay on the Rim-keep your hips on the rim as much as possible. It makes you harder to guard and makes you much more of a threat by being able to shoot or make the proper read on the defense.
- Move Without the Ball-I know from experience it is that much harder to stop someone who does not rely on having the ball in his or her hand to be a threat. Understand how to move correctly in your system to create opportunities without the ball.