The McKibbin Brothers
How to play defense feat. Taylor Crabb
Reading and reacting from one of the best defenders alive.
Adult training · Week of October 12
Defense night
Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Elevate in Bonita Springs. Same plan both nights — come to one or both.
Week of October 12 · one-hour session
Defense night
Monday and Thursday this week we train defense: three drills, then Queen & King of the Court. All levels welcome.
Sessions
Monday, October 12
Thursday, October 15
Time
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Where
Sports Challenge America (Elevate), 28120 Race Track Road, Bonita Springs
0:00 – 0:05
Skill explanation
Defense is reading and pursuit before it is athleticism. Tonight we get stopped and balanced before contact, dig hard-driven balls high and inside, and chase everything that drops.
- Stop and get balanced before the attacker contacts
- Read the attacker's shoulder and hand, not the ball
- Dig high and inside the court
- Chase every ball — the point is not over until it lands
The hour
Session plan
No warm-up — we start on the ball. Three drills, fifteen minutes each, then we compete.
- 6:30 pm – 6:35 pm5 min
Defense — coach explanation
Defense is reading and pursuit before it is athleticism. Tonight we get stopped and balanced before contact, dig hard-driven balls high and inside, and chase everything that drops.
- 6:35 pm – 6:50 pm15 min
Defensive Read & Dig
Intermediate · 6 balls per court
Why: Teach defensive base position and reading the attacker's body for shot vs. swing.
- Coach calls 'swing' or 'shot' as they hit, then attacks. Defender reads, moves, digs. Last 5 min: coach NOT calling — defender reads only.
- Coach emphasis: Stop your feet before contact — you can't read while you're moving.
- 6:50 pm – 7:05 pm15 min
Hard-Driven Angle Digs
Intermediate · Cart of balls, Cones or target markers, Full court or half court as needed
Why: Train defense through hard-driven angle digs with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.
- Coach attacks cross-court (same side OR opposite side from a box). Defender faces the attacker / ball. 10 digs per defender on each side of the court.
- Coach emphasis: Read first, stop or stabilize before contact, and create a settable defensive touch.
- 7:05 pm – 7:20 pm15 min
Chase Down the Shot
Intermediate · Cart of balls, Full court or half court, Target marker
Why: The objective of this drill is to reinforce defensive movement to line and across court angle cut shot and the plays that result.
- In this drill an athlete or coach shoots line or angle randomly for a defensive player who is positioned in the angle. The individual hitting should keep in mind that there would normally be a blocker present and they may need to direct their shots upward. This drill is particularly exhausting so it is recommended that an athlete only does 3 - 5 in a row before getting a rest. If the athlete can get to the ball with two arms they should however if it is necessary to use only one arm refer drill 7.1 for technique.
- Coach emphasis: Don't 'cheat' which means athletes should not move
- 7:20 pm – 7:30 pm10 min
Queen & King of the Court
Every session ends the same way: continuous Queen & King of the Court. Challengers serve in, winners hold the King/Queen side, losers rotate off. Competitive reps that put the night's skill under real pressure.
- Challenger side serves; winner of the rally moves toward the King/Queen side
- Lose on the King/Queen side and you rotate off to the back of the challenger line
- Points only count when you win on the King/Queen side
- Play until time — highest score wins the night
Watch before you play
Defense videos
Two minutes of video before practice makes the drills click faster. Press play right here.
Better at Beach
Footwork for digging the line shot
Get stopped and balanced before contact.
The McKibbin Brothers
Hop step defense
The movement pattern that covers the most court.
Other weeks