How to Teach the Peel Switch in Help Defense
The Goal
Teach youth and high school players how to execute a peel switch when an on-ball defender gets beat. The goal is simple: stop the drive, avoid leaving shooters, and keep your defense connected.
The Setup
Players: 2 offensive (ball handler + corner shooter), 2 defenders
Spacing: Wing ball handler + corner spacer
Matchups:
X1 on the ball
X5 in help near the lane
Situation: X1 gets beat off the dribble. X5 helps. Now what?
Step-by-Step Execution
On-Ball Defender Gets Beat
The ball handler gets past X1. This is the moment.
X1 must recognize the breakdown and stop chasing the ball. Peel off. Recover to space.Help Defender Rotates Up
X5, the help defender, steps up to cut off the drive.
They are now guarding the ball, ready to contain or contest.Peel to the Open Man
X1 doesn’t follow the ball. Instead, they peel off and rotate to cover the corner shooter (or whoever X5 left).
This keeps your defense in single coverage. No double teams. No wide-open threes.New Assignments, Same Mission
X5 is now on the ball
X1 is now on the open man
Everyone’s covered. Nobody’s chasing. No panic.
Coaching Tips
Train Early Recognition: Help defenders need to rotate before it’s too late.
Use Cues: “PEEL!” or “SWITCH!”, keep it clear and consistent.
Recover Smart: Teach players to close out, not chase.
No Hero Ball: Remind players, if you’re beat, trust the switch. Don’t try to guard two.
Drill with Pace: Use live 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills to simulate the speed of real drives.
Full Breakdown: Why the Peel Switch Works
What Is It?
A peel switch is when the help defender takes the ball, and the original on-ball defender rotates to cover the helper’s man. It’s clean. It’s smart. It avoids “2-on-the-ball” disasters.
Why Not Just Help and Recover?
Because that leaves someone wide open, usually in the corner.
Peel switching prevents that. It keeps every offensive player matched up, even after someone gets beat.
When to Use It
When your guard gets beat off the dribble
Against athletic ball handlers
When help defenders can switch onto guards
When the offense has shooters spaced in the corners
How to Teach It: Practice Progression
Phase 1: Recognition + Communication
2-on-2: wing drive and corner shooter
Cue the peel when the defender gets beat
Phase 2: Add Decision-Making
3-on-3: throw in a roller or a cutter
Teach who rotates and how to close out
Phase 3: Game-Like Situations
4-on-4 or 5-on-5 shell
Designate certain drives that must trigger peel switches
Pause, review, and rep again
Common Errors & Fixes
| Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|
| Late peel or no switch | Drill “beaten = peel” mentality with live reps |
| Two defenders stay on ball | Pause drills and walk through switch responsibility |
| Miscommunication | Use loud, clear cues in all reps (“Peel!” “Switch!”) |
| Open shooter not covered | Reinforce recovery angles and scout common pass targets |
Youth Coaching Adjustments
Keep it simple: “If you’re beat, your teammate stops the ball, you find the open guy.”
Use cones or chairs as stand-ins for corner shooters
Focus on spacing awareness over perfection
High School Coaching Adjustments
Layer peel switches into your pick-and-roll defense
Use film sessions to highlight when players get beat and where the rotation should go
Add drive triggers in shell drill to simulate game situations
Why the Peel Switch Works
It restores structure after a breakdown.
It keeps the ball in front without leaving shooters.
It teaches accountability, communication, and control, three things youth players need more of.
Offenses count on chaos. Peel switches bring calm.
Teach it. Drill it. And when your players trust it, when they start making the right reads on their own, the game slows down, and your defense levels up.
That’s the win.
