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Help-Side Positioning Walkthrough

Learn where to stand when the ball moves: one pass away, two passes away.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Set four offensive players on the perimeter. Defenders match up.

Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of steady slides.

Ages
14 and up
Time
12 min
Players
3 or more players
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Basketball, 3 or more players
Level · skill
Advanced · Defense

The steps

How it works

  1. Set four offensive players on the perimeter. Defenders match up.
  2. The ball moves around the perimeter slowly. Defenders adjust: deny, then help-side.
  3. Practice "ball, you, man": see the ball and your player at the same time.
  4. Walk through 3 minutes, then go half speed.

Coaching point

Ball, you, man. Always see both.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Mirror slides: a partner walks side to side and you stay in front in a defensive stance, with no contact. Swap often.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of steady slides.

Story

You are a shadow that sticks to its owner.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own run of steady slides. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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