Mike Neighbors Pack Line Defense

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching | Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

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December 20, 2013

Mike Neighbors Pack Line Defense – Part 1

Mike Neighbors is the first year head coach for the women’s program at the University of Washington. He was an assistant to Kevin McGuff who just took the head women’s job at Ohio State. Their study and breakdown of the Pack Line defense, that was first taught by Dick Bennett at Wisconsin, has been developed and explained in detail. This post is part one of two based on terminology and positioning for executing the Pack Line. I will also be posting some of the drills that they recommend for developing your Pack Line.

A. We believe your defense must be able to do the following:
– Put you in a position to beat the best teams on your schedule
– Help you win on the road
– Improve as the season progresses
– Advance your team into the postseason

B. Terminology for Mike Neighbors Pack Line Defense:
– “Pack Line”: An area one step inside of the painted three point arc.
*Rule – If you player doesn’t have the ball you will have both feet inside the Pack Line
– “Post”: A rectangular area that is one step outside the lane from each block and one step up from the second free throw spot.
*Rule – Offensive players must be pushed outside this area, don’t allow them to catch with two feet in the “post”
– “Pinch”: Boxed area around the elbows
– “Outside”: Area toward the baseline when the ball is on the wing, or to the sideline when the ball is at the top of the key.
-“Straight Line”: An opponent’s drive from the spot they received the pass to the rim.
*Rule – No straight line drives to the basket

C. Keys to look at on a stat sheet for Mike Neighbors Pack Line Defense defensive teams:
– Defensive Field Goal Percentage: The percentage of made field goals your opponent was able to achieve
– Rebound Margin: Teams that combine a low defensive FG percentage and a high rebound margin are usually successful
– Fouls per game: When run properly the Pack Line will prevent fouls from your players and ultimately limit Bonus situations for your opponent

We have a new basketball coaching contributor in Mark Chapman He is doing an excellent job in providing basketball coaching clinic notes, basketball drills, and basketball plays. He is the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio. I think that you will enjoy these basketball clinic notes on the Mike Neighbors Pack Line Defense.

Follow Coach Mark Chapman on Twitter!!!

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes: