Defense will almost always be the "man to man" or "woman to woman" style.

Defense is HARRASSMENT! You want to make it
difficult for the opponent to get off a good shot. You are an
obstacle.

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Critical to an effective defense are the following:

1. You need to be ready to "spring"—backwards, forwards, side-wards. So assume a posture where your
knees are bent, you are slightly leaning forward, and your
hands are
up!

Up! means that your palms are on the same plane as your eyes.

Bend down and touch the floor with your fingertips, then raise up 3/4 tall.

2. Keep IN FRONT of your opponent!!!!!

3. Do NOT try to steal the ball by swatting at it or reaching behind your opponent. As you will learn, steals are only made from the "weak side." That is, another play slides over and steals the ball from the blind side of the opponent.

If you try to steal the ball, in 99.9% of the times, the ref will call a foul on you...even if you do not foul your opponent! Fouling "bails out" the opponent and gives her a free foul shot attempt.

4. When the opponent gets close to you, raise your arms
straight up .... do
not lean forward or you will be called for a foul.

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