Defending the Drive: Trail Official Protects the Airborne Shooter

In this training clip, we analyze a drive to the basket following an on-ball screen where the defender, #2 White, is beaten off the dribble and attempts to recover from behind. As the offensive player becomes an airborne shooter, the defender initiates illegal contact from the backside. While the Lead official focuses on secondary defenders and potential block/charge scenarios in the paint, the Trail official remains disciplined, trusts the crew's positioning, and stays focused on their primary area of responsibility. Because the Trail didn't "ball watch" or get pulled into the Lead's space, they maintained the best look at the play and correctly penalized the foul, ensuring the shooter remained protected throughout the entire shooting motion.

Play BreakDown

Backside Defender Illegal Contact on Shooter / Best Look? / Protect Shooter.

As this play starts the Center is in a great position to referee the screening action and the on ball defender. The Trail assists the Center with the on ball screening action. The Lead hasn't rotated and is refereeing multiple players in the paint.

As #7 Black turns the corner the Lead needs to locate the secondary defenders and be anticipating a potential block / charge play as well as having an awareness of the Restricted Area. It's extremely important that the Lead stay disciplined, trust the system and his partners, referee these secondary defenders and not get caught watching the ball. If we create good habits and not watch the ball we will be ready when the block / charge plays happen and not be surprised.

After using the ball screen, #7 Black beats his defender #2 White off the dribble who ends up coming from behind to try and defend the play. #2 White creates illegal contact on an airborne shooter and is correctly called for a foul by the Trail official who has the best look at the play.

If the Center and/or Trail watch the ball and lose focus on our primary area of responsibility we end up missing plays like this. Understand your looks, trust the system and your partners.