Dance is a word used to refer to a simple four-step routine that should be an every-time habit of all defenders when a shot goes up. No thought should be required. All four steps should become reflex, auto- matic. They are:
- Hand up, yell hey!
- Turn around and block out
- Move toward the basket
- Fast break
The process could easily be put to music, and the rhythm should lead to consistent execution. Hand-block-seek-go. Hand-block-seek-go. Hand-block-seek-go.
There is never a need to do one without the other. When your hand goes up, your mouth yells hey! and your body turns to block. These first two steps are one fluid motion. The next motion, oddly, is often omitted. Players fail to go toward the ball, especially those who usually do not grab the rebounds. They get in the habit of standing and watching, and they lose many tipped balls they could get during the course of a season. All five players should be on the move toward the basket until someone gets possession of the ball. You cannot hope to react to the ball if you are standing while it is tipped around. You need the momentum of going toward the ball to be able to grab it when your opportunity comes.
The final part of the hand-block-seek-go is left out even more often than the seeking of the ball. Players act as though they need a kick in order to realize it is time to break to the other end of the court. The moment you see one of your teammates get possession of the ball, you turn and sprint. If the defense is back, you may decide to slow down. But it is foolish to start slowly. A fast start is very possible and often successful, and it need be nothing more than a habit, an extension of the defensive rebounding dance.
From Dick’s book Stuff
