Secondary Help Defender

Secondary help defender is a defender who turns to help a team member who is helping the defender on the ball. Players also need to understand when, and how, to “help the helper”. This means being alert to help a teammate that is helping to stop a dribbling penetration. The task of the second helper is to stop their teammate’s player until the teammate has recovered. This second help is also performed without losing sight of their own offensive player, as they will recover to guard them.

On occasions it may be necessary not to “help and recover” but to rotate to stop the dribble penetration because the dribbler has beaten their defender. The principles of “help the helper” apply, however defenders will change who they are guarding.