Basketball Positions

There are basically 5 different basketball positions.

These helpful youth basketball tips will teach players and coaches the offensive and defensive responsibilities of each one.

Click on each position to find out more...

1. Point Guard (also called #1) - Usually the best ball handler.
   
2. Shooting Guard (also called #2, Off-Guard, or Wing) - Usually the best outside shooter.
   
3. Small Forward (also called #3 or Wing) - Usually the most athletic player on the team who can play inside the key and outside.
   
4. Power Forward (also called #4 or Post) - Usually one of the taller players on the team who is a strong rebounder and can move around well around the key.
   
5. Center (also called #5 or Post) - Usually the tallest player on the team who plays exclusively inside the key and should be a good insider scorer and rebounder.

Each of the positions in basketball has specific responsibilities.

Though each of the basketball positions has a general area on the court where they set up, these locations may change throughout the game for all kinds of reasons.

A player's strengths and weaknesses, physical size, and offensive plays that are called are just some of the factors that influence where a specific player might actually play.

Many players find that they fit into only one position, but the more versatile and skilled players may have the opportunity to play a of couple different basketball positions.

Sometimes the #1 and #2 players are interchangeable, as well as the #2 and #3, #3 and #4, and the #4 and #5 players.

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Basketball Positions - Basic Responsibilities

#1 - POINT GUARD

She plays outside the lane, typically at the top of the key.



ON OFFENSE:

She is the floor leader and coach on the floor and is often one of the shortest players on the team. She must be the team leader and provide positive leadership.

Her job is to run the offense. She brings the ball down the court, so she must be an excellent ball handler. She has to be able to handle defensive pressure without turning the ball over.

Because she sets the offense in motion, she must be a good passer, and she has to be able to see the whole floor to recognize what the defense is doing and what players are open.

She must be a good outside shooter.

She calls the offensive plays, so she must be an assertive and confident communicator.

ON DEFENSE:

She usually guards the opposing point guard, so she must be a good defender on the ball.

She needs to be aggressive and scrappy and willing to hustle after loose balls.

Because she plays at the top of the key, she is usually the safety and should be the first person back on defense to stop the fast break.

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Basketball Positions - Basic Responsibilities

#2 - SHOOTING GUARD

He plays out on the wing usually from the free throw lane line extended all the way down to the corner on the baseline.

ON OFFENSE:

He is usually the best outside shooter. If he is able to hit consistently from the wings and the 3-point line, he opens up scoring opportunities for the posts down low.

He, too, must be a good ball handler because he will help the point guard bring the ball down the court if there is a lot of pressure.

He must be a good passer and must be able to get the ball into the posts.

He also needs to be able to drive to the basket to score.

To help keep the offense moving, he has got to be able to move without the ball.

ON DEFENSE:

He is typically taller and slower than the point guard, so he usually guards the slowest guard on the other team.

He must be able to cover out and deny his player from receiving the pass from the point guard.

If his player has the ball on the wing, he must not allow him to pass freely into the post or reverse the ball to the top of the key, and he must not allow his player to drive to the basket.

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Basketball Positions - Basic Responsibilities

#3 - SMALL FORWARD

She plays on the opposite side of the court as the #2 player and covers the same area from the free throw lane line extended down to the corner.

ON OFFENSE:

She is usually the most athletic player on the team; she is quick, and she can jump!

She should be able to shoot from the outside and create scoring opportunities off the drive. As a result, she has to be quick and a good ball handler.

She should be a good rebounder and be ready to crash the boards after every shot.

She also has to be a good passer with the ability to pass the ball down low to the posts.

She must be able to move without the ball by cutting to get open, and she needs to know how to use screens.

She should be in excellent physical shape because she must help lead the fast break by running hard down the court every time.

She is a very skilled, strong, and versatile player because she will find herself shooting from the outside as well as in the key with the larger more physical players.

ON DEFENSE:

She typically guards the best athlete on the opposing team who is usually the #3 player.

She has the same responsibilities as the #2 player, but she has to really focus on crashing the boards as well.

She also needs to know how to play post defense since the #3 players cut through the lane and try to post up at times.

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Basketball Positions - Basic Responsibilities

#4 - POWER FORWARD

He roams the lane, sometimes playing near the top of the key and sometimes posting up down low. He can also pop out to the baseline.

ON OFFENSE:

He is usually one of the tallest players on the team and often the smaller and more athletic of the post players with the ability to make quick, strong cuts across the lane.

He must be able to shoot short jumpers from about the free throw distance, and he has to be able to do all of the post moves.

He is most effective if he is able to use both hands to handle the ball.

In addition to being able to shoot facing the basket, he needs to be able to work off of post moves with his back to the basket.

He must have strong hands and be able to catch passes while being banged around and closely guarded.

Because of the constant contact, he needs to be physically and mentally strong.

He needs to be able to recognize when the defense is collapsing on him and find an open teammate either by kicking the ball back out to the wing or dumping it down to the open #5 player. The post player is critical in helping the offense be able to reverse the ball around the floor.

He should also be a good screener because he will be called on to set picks for players to cut toward the basket.

He needs to be a strong rebounder and have the desire to crash the boards after every shot.

ON DEFENSE:

He must be able to block out and rebound every time a shot goes up.

He needs to be physically strong enough and able to play good post defense.

He also must be a good help-side defender able to keep cutters from receiving the ball in the lane and helping stop any drives toward the basket.

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Basketball Positions - Basic Responsibilities

#5 - CENTER



Of all the basketball positions, she is typically the tallest and biggest player on the floor. She plays in the lane, both high and low, but rarely leaves the lane.



ON OFFENSE:

She has many of the same responsibilities as the #4 player.

She must be able to shoot short jumpers from about the free throw distance, and she has to be able to do all of the post moves.

She is most effective if she is able to use both hands to handle the ball.

In addition to being able to shoot facing the basket, she needs to be able to work off of post moves with her back to the basket.

She must have strong hands and be able to catch passes while being banged around and closely guarded.

Because of the constant contact, she needs to be physically and mentally strong.

She needs to be able to recognize when the defense is collapsing on her and find an open teammate either by kicking the ball out to the wing or finding the open #4 player. She is critical in helping the offense be able to reverse the ball around the floor.

She should also be a good screener because she will be called on to set picks for players to cut toward the basket.

She needs to be a strong rebounder and have the desire to crash the boards after every shot.

On the fast break, she usually the trailer, or the last one down the floor.

ON DEFENSE:

She must be able to block out and rebound every time a shot goes up.

She needs to be physically strong and able to play good post defense.

She will be needed to help out on defense, so she must also be a good help-side defender.

She needs to take advantage of her large body to be an intimidating presence in the middle by blocking passing and driving lanes and contesting every shot.

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There is one more role on every team that gets overlooked a lot when people think about all of the basketball positions - the Bench Player.

Though obviously very different from the other positions in basketball, bench players have very important responsibilities to the team.

For some excellent DVDs and videos with basketball drills and tips for each of the basketball positions, click on the following links:

Guard Play - Point Guards, Shooting Guards & Wings

Basketball Positions - Post Play (Forwards & Posts)

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