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How to fake out a defender in basketball
2.8.6 Drive fake moves – World Association of Basketball Coaches
Drive Fake (“Jab Step”)
A drive fake (also called a “jab step”) is when an offensive player with the ball fakes that they will move in a particular direction by taking a small step in that direction. The move is done before they have dribbled.
If the defender reacts to the fake, the player can move in the opposite direction or may be able to shoot or pass. If the defender does not react, then the player can move in that direction. As with any fake, the offensive player must remain balanced (so that they can move in either direction) and they should allow time for the defender to react before taking their next move.
The coach should not “over teach” the drive fake and instead should have players practice in contested situations frequently to improve. The following considerations will assist the coach to provide feedback to athletes:
Balance – keep the head centred, not leaning too far forwards (keep the “nose behind the toes”)
Fake with the whole body – the more realistic the fake is, the more likely it will deceive the defender. The player should:
Look in the direction of the fake
Turn the shoulders toward the direction of the fake
Threaten – the drive fake should be in a direction that the defender is likely to want to stop them (i.e. toward the basket). Players will often fake stepping sideways, which is not threatening
Ball position – with the development of skills such as the “throw down” dribble, skilled athletes will often not move the ball. Players should be initially told to move the ball outside the leg that they are stepping (or jabbing with), ready to dribble in that direction.
Don’t Overstep – the fake step should be a small step so that they player can quickly move in either direction with a longer step. If the fake step is too long it can lead to losing balance and also may mean the player has to step backwards before being able to change direction.
Take advantage – many young players will perform a fake but then not take advantage of a reaction by the defender and often pre-determine what they want to do. Players should “read” what the defender does and then react, for example:
If the defender steps backward, the player may be able to shoot
If the defender moves to defend the drive, the player may be able to drive in the opposite direction
If the defender loses balance (e.g. their weight shifts to the back or to one side), the player may be able to drive (the defender will need to re-balance before they can move)
Practicing in contested situations will help the players to improve their ability to fake. Some activities are:
Foul Line 1v1
The defender starts with the ball and hands it to 1, and they play 1v1 with 1 restricted to a maximum of two dribbles.
A common mistake made by 1 is to drive away from the basket (shown in red). Instead, 1 should “attack the hips” of the defender and go towards the basket. It is important that this is played at a distance where 1 can comfortably shoot.
Attack the Elbow
1 starts with the ball and scores a point if they can dribble the ball on either elbow. Limit the number of dribbles that the offensive player can use.
The offensive player should be encouraged to use a retreat dribble, if the defender initially stops them getting to the elbow.
Guard the Corner
This activity can be done anywhere a corner is marked.
The offensive player is in the corner and must attempt to dribble out. The defender tries to stop them, moving laterally into their path. If the offensive player puts a foot on the line they are out of bounds.
Penetrate or Shoot
This activity is done from a position where the offensive player is comfortable shooting – this will vary depending upon the skill and age of the players.
The offensive player gets 1 point if they are able to shoot (whether or not it goes in) and gets 2 points if they are able to dribble into the key. The offensive player has a maximum of 3 dribbles.
Faking and Moving Without the Ball
Two important skills in basketball are faking and moving without the ball. Both should be practiced well.
Faking
In order to be an offensive threat you must be able to elude your guard whether you have the ball or not. A fake is an act designed to throw your guard off balance, so you can drive past him or free yourself for a shot. Do this by faking with your head, eyes, feet, shoulders, and body.
The fake drive-and-shot is designed to throw the defensive player off balance and force him back to make room for the shot. Feint a dribble around the guard, using the front foot to force him back.
The offensive player then comes up to position for the shot. Any feint will produce some recoiling action on the guard's part. The fake shot-and-drive is a maneuver in which the player with the ball fakes a shot at the basket to draw the guard close to him so he can dribble around him.
When you are faking, keep the ball protected and in position for the dribble. The first stride should be a long one with the right foot if going right, placing the ball well out in front while driving by the guard.
A double fake is executed by faking a drive with a deep step to the right, causing the guard to drop back a little. The offensive man then moves his front foot a bit back and poises for a set shot.
As the guard comes up on his toes to stop the shot, the offensive man lowers his body and drives off his front foot, placing the ball well out ahead and drives in for the goal. To go to the right side, the deep step is faked to the left with the right foot. The shot is faked, then comes the drive to the right. A left-handed player will use his left foot as the forward foot and follow the same technique as above.
In starting a fake, a player never knows whether it will be a single or a double fake. This will depend on the action of the guard. Sometimes a guard commits himself on the first fake. If he is not fooled on the first fake, then try the double fake.
A common fault of many players executing feints is that they do not allow enough time for the defensive player to "fall for" the deception. Shooting or driving too soon simply means that the deception is wasted.
Moving without the ball
Players often do not know how to act offensively when they do not have the ball. In my coaching experience I have found this to be especially true of young players. Too frequently they do nothing. They stand around watching the man with the ball, waving their arms for a pass even though he is closely guarded. The easiest man to guard is the player who stands around and moves slowly and aimlessly. Basketball is a team game and all five players must work as a unit to get the best results.
A player without the ball can do the following:
1. Move at all times to prevent the defense from double- teaming a teammate.
2. Keep the middle of the court open to permit plays down the middle.
3. Set up a screen for teammates.
4. Be alert to cut in for a possible play.
Situations change with every pass of the ball. Watch for weaknesses in the defense so you may take advantage of them.
It is important to know what you intend to do. Indiscriminate running will only tire you out. Never run straight or in circles. An opponent can easily guard you. Deception and change of pace will help you elude your guard.
Learn to fake and also to move without the ball, and you will become a much more valuable player for your team.
An original way to beat a defender in basketball
Hello, dear visitors of basketball-training.org.ua (how long have I not written this phrase…). A few days ago, while playing basketball on one of the courts in Kharkov, I ran into a player who, when beating, used one very interesting trick that I myself like to use (but which had not yet been used against me until now).
It was then that I realized how effective this method can be, especially if it is performed by a player who is not as slow as me. Yes, I'm really far from the fastest player, so most of my "feints", if you can call them that, are based on using the opponent's speed against him (and a little physics, which you can still come in handy even on the basketball court).
So, today we're going to talk about the defender's supporting leg, the leg where the weight is transferred, and which we will use for our own purposes. Let's get started.
3 elements to beat successfully
First, you must get the ball in position from which you can attack the ring. Well, or your defender must think that you can do it. Everything is trite, but nevertheless, over and over again I come across the fact that the majority are either just too lazy to spend their energy on getting rid of guardianship and they ask for the ball a couple of meters from the three-point line, from where it is very problematic to threaten the ring. Or they just don't know how to open up.
Topic article: 3 easy ways to get the ball in basketball
So, your goal is to get the ball at least on the three-point line, as much as possible already inside the arc. This move will not work if you get the ball under the basket or on the edge of the three-second zone.
The second stage is to stagger the defender 2-3 times, simulating a pass. You just do a few lunges to the side, and at this point you need to concentrate on the legs of the defender: which of them is his weight on. Which leg becomes his support during the execution of your false display for the passage. Did you see?
The third point is the passage itself. If you know which foot the defender is on, where his weight is concentrated at the time of your deceptive movements, then you should know the following: he will not be able to step with this foot. In any case, for this the defender will have to shift the weight to the other foot - and even if he is very fast, these fractions of a second will be enough for you to beat him.
Yes, this technique will not work every time. Yes, you will not beat the defender with 100% probability. But by using this trick, you can buy time and create space. Another "trick" - step as close as possible to his supporting leg: even if he reacts very quickly, he will most likely break the rules.
How to defend yourself against such a technique?
No matter how interesting and promising the above trick looks, there is a defense against it and it is quite simple.
First method: block the attacker's strong side from the passage, positioning yourself at almost a 90 degree angle to it. Either close your weak side (let the player go to your strong side, or to the side where there is a safety net). This is a budget way. You save energy, but still give the attacking player more freedom of action.
The second way is to do hellish footwork. I won't tell you too much, it's better to look at the video, as Andre Iguudala shows in the video for Nike:
See the topic: Nike Signature Moves Part 1
where is your body weight now. Of the minuses - an unprepared player after 2-3 such defenses will “sit down” very much and become slow in defense.
The third option - get as close as possible to the player, even in the process of receiving the ball. Thus, the attacker will not have much time to think: on which leg is your weight concentrated, where to stagger you, etc.
Small conclusions
The method described above is suitable for a measured pace of the game, even more so for a streetball match in which there are no quick breaks and the probability of an effective 1v1 beat is much greater.
The method described above is not a panacea, but simply one of the ways to use the laws of physics and the lack of experience of the defending player.
This method is difficult to use in its pure form if you are far from the basket (1-2 meters from the three-point line) or if the defender is very active.
Defending against such a technique is quite simple, the main thing is to understand that the opponent is going to use it (most often, he looks at your feet).
And this concludes the article, I wish you successful training, success in both attacking and defensive actions and I look forward to seeing you on the pages of this site.
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Maxim Gordienko
How to beat an opponent in basketball
Sovsport.ru how to develop technique in basketball in order to dribble around opponents.
Without the ability to make tricks in basketball, it is virtually impossible to beat an opponent. Breakthroughs from ring to ring without changing the trajectory of movement is an unprecedented rarity. You can reach the distance for a throw due to a well-executed combination or individual skill.
Players with deceptive feints are the key to the success of any team. And there should be more than a dozen deceptive movements in the asset.
So, how do you dribble around an opponent in basketball? The main thing is to be well oriented on the site. Especially when the player is with the ball and chooses a further direction of attack. This is both the ability to give a convenient pass to a partner, and to perform a productive throw.
All feints are achieved through long practice. They are often practiced in a one-on-one game. You can also train at home in front of the mirror, performing deceptive body movements.
You can start with a simple game under the basket to find out the most convenient basketball feints for you. Your partner stands under the ring and imitates defensive movements, and you try out various tricks, choosing the most suitable ones. It is advisable to record workouts on video so that later you can see your mistakes.
If it is not possible to train with a partner, you can use chairs and perform basketball tricks by circling them. You need to work well with your feet and imitate a jump shot.
Beginners should start by running the ball. Every basketball player started with the simplest exercises. It was they who became the basis for more complex ones.
Basic stance when dribbling: legs bent at the knees, pelvis lowered, body tilted slightly forward, shoulders turned, head raised.
While dribbling, the player must be ready to change direction, stop, pass or throw a ring at any time.
The ball is covered from the opponent with the body, shoulder, free arm. The hand that dribbles the ball regulates the force of impact, the height of the rebound and the direction of the ball. In this case, only the fingertips touch the ball, the player should not look at the ball, but only control it with peripheral vision. Partners, defenders, and referees should be in the player’s field of vision at the same time.
Deceptive moves in basketball are divided into four stages:
1. Being in front of an opponent, you need to find a bypass to the basket.
Players should “read” what the defender does and then react, for example: 
Limit the number of dribbles that the offensive player can use.
Both should be practiced well.
Shooting or driving too soon simply means that the deception is wasted. 
Especially when the player is with the ball and chooses a further direction of attack. This is both the ability to give a convenient pass to a partner, and to perform a productive throw. 
Every basketball player started with the simplest exercises. It was they who became the basis for more complex ones. 
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