Helpside and ballside

To explain the difference between helpside (weakside) and ballside (strongside) we draw an imaginary line between the two baskets. The defenders, who are on the ball side (ball or strongside), stay very close to their man, the players on the other side of the helpline (help or weakside) are at some distance from their man and in such a way that they are close enough to the helpline to help in case of penetrating players.

All players move with the movements of the ball. If the ball goes through a pass to the other side of the helpline, everything turns around. The helpside defenders become ballside defenders and go close to their man. The ballside then becomes helpside defenders and go into pistol stance.

With regard to the help defenders, we can give the following points for attention:

• You have to be able to see your direct opponent and the ball.
• An arm points in the direction of your direct opponent, the other arm in the direction of the ball (pistol strike).
• You choose in or near the bucket such a position that you form a blunt triangle with respect to your direct opponent and the ball; one pass away from the ball-attacker line; ball-me-you (flat triangle).