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Basketball · Level 4: Intermediate · Sub-level 4.1

Man-to-Man Defence

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The idea of man-to-man, pressure and sagging, the pack line, gap help, help the helper and rotations, matchups and cross-matching, no middle, defending a star, its weaknesses, and the shell drill.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The idea of man-to-manTake a test

  1. Each player is responsible for one opponent.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. On-ball defence, help and rotation all appear in man-to-man.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. Man-to-man is five players helping each other.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Similar size and speed make fair matchups.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Every player knows whom he must stop.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Each link in man-to-man matters.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. Matchups should fit speed with speed.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Back, find, call, stance.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. The further from the ball, the more he sags.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. Each defender guards one attacker.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 2Pressure or sagTake a test

  1. Tight guarding disrupts passes and dribbles.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. Sagging defenders crowd the paint.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. A poor shooter can be given space.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. A shooter must not get room.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Tight guarding gives up the drive.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Help covers the drives that beat the pressure.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. A slow shooter is safest pressed up tight.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Report, read, choose, stance.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. The better the shooter, the tighter.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. A quick player who cannot shoot should be given room.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 3The pack lineTake a test

  1. Off-ball defenders stay inside an imaginary line to clog the lane.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. It sits inside the arc, roughly 16 feet out.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. A packed lane leaves no driving room.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Sagging inside the line leaves shooters more room.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Only the on-ball defender pressures.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Drivers meet a crowd of defenders.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. Packing the lane takes away their strength.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Drive, step in, stop, recover.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. The pack line sits between the block and the arc.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. An imaginary line about 5 m from the rim.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 4Gap helpTake a test

  1. From the gap a defender can stop a drive and recover.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. The gap lets them help without losing their man.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. Diggers poke at the ball and recover.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Strong-side help is close but leaves a shooter one pass away.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. A short pass finds the open man fast.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. A long pass gives time to recover.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. Hugging his man left the drive open.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Gap, see, dig, recover.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. Weak side is safest; helping off the corner is riskiest.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. One pass away, he stands in the gap.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 5Help the helperTake a test

  1. Rotation chains cover each gap left by help.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. The low weak-side man covers the roller or big.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. A sinking defender protects the rim.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. The defence gives up the longest pass.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. After a skip pass, two defenders cross to swap men and recover quickly.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Talk stops double coverage and open men.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. The weak-side man rotates to the roller.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Help, rotate, rotate again, give up the long pass.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. Skip, sprint, cross, arrive.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. The next defender covers the first helper's man.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 6MatchupsTake a test

  1. In a hurry, players take whoever is closest.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. The nearest defender stops the nearest threat.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. They swap back when it is safe.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Offences look for the weakest matchup.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. The weak defender guards the least dangerous man.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. A long defender can contest from further away.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. A big helps until the mismatch is fixed.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Lose, nearest man, slow, switch back.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. Hide him on the least dangerous player.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. In transition, he guards the nearest threat.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 7No middleTake a test

  1. The middle gives the attack passes both ways.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. The line and the help trap the drive.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. A baseline drive can beat help to the rim.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Defenders try to stay between the ball and the rim.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Moving the feet keeps the ball out of the middle.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. A shared rule tells helpers where the drive will go.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. No middle means pushing him to the side.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Shade, drive wide, help, stop.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. The middle is the most dangerous.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. Keep the ball on one side of the floor.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 8Defending a starTake a test

  1. Help sits on the side he prefers to attack.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. More defenders sit where he is going.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. A crowded lane can stop him driving.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Help on him leaves others free.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Forcing a star to pass spreads the scoring.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Help where the danger is greatest.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. He is hot and the others are cold: help on him.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Catch, show help, see, pass.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. Help goes to the biggest threat.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. Help sits on the side he drives to.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 9Weaknesses of man-to-manTake a test

  1. Isolations and mismatches attack single defenders.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  2. Each screen forces a choice: fight, switch or help.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  3. Following cutters and screens costs energy.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  4. Without isolation threats, man-to-man holds up well.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  5. Clear matchups make box-outs simple.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  6. Changing defences upsets the attack's rhythm.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · recall

  7. Great isolation scorers attack single defenders.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  8. Find, screen, ball, attack.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  9. The more isolation threats, the harder.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

  10. One player can be beaten one-on-one.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence · applied

Test 10The shell drillTake a test

  1. Defenders practise positions as the ball moves.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  2. Each pass, defenders jump to new spots.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  3. Positions come first, then live play.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  4. Live actions test the help.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  5. It trains the run from the paint to the arc.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  6. It builds stamina and on-ball defence.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · recall

  7. The shell drill trains help positions.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · applied

  8. Spread, pass, jump, go live.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · applied

  9. From footwork to team defence.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · applied

  10. Four on four, with the ball moved round the perimeter.

    Source: FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills · applied

Sources

FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3 and general coaching references; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIBA rules belong to the Rules category.

  • FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, man-to-man defence90
  • FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3, defensive drills10