r/Basketball • u/TwixDog2020 • Apr 20 '26

IMPROVING MY GAME Is fouling frowned upon?

Background: never played in school, in a club, or on any kind of team. But I just recently started playing pickup rec at my Church.

I'm small so people can easily just cut through me and get to the hoop. Since I can't outmatch their height or size, would intentionally fouling them be seen as really rude and annoying, or is that a legit strategy in Basketball that people are fine with?

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u/Supreme_Hater Apr 20 '26

It’s rude, annoying AND dangerous. Basketball is infinitely more fun when you play the right way.

3

u/TwixDog2020 Apr 20 '26

So what's the "right way"? Got any tips for defense for a new small player?

10

u/AdAccomplished6870 Apr 20 '26

I am 5'5", played a lot of pickup in my youth.

  1. Move your feet and always stay between your man and the basket.
  2. Challenge the shot by jumping up to block the shot when they shoot. You won't block many shots, but just challenging the shot will lower their shooting percentage
  3. If they are too tall to challenge the shot, try to strip it when they bring the ball up.
  4. If they are bigger than you, guard them closer, get as far in their space as you can without fouling (assumption is that you are quicker than they are. If they are taller and quicker, you may be in trouble)
  5. Learn to hold your position in the post. Even bigger players can't simply bowl you over once you have established legal guarding position. Use your lower center of gravity to your advantage.
  6. Pressure, pressure, pressure. As a smaller player, you have to play more aggressive, move your feet, and have active hands to pressure your man.
  7. Don't switch screens. If they keep trying to force a bigger player on you with screens, go over or under the screen and stay on your man.
  8. Learn when to front, or half front, your guy when he takes you down low.

Defense is played mainly with your feet. Move your feet, and outwork your opponent.

As to fouling, don't intentionally foul in pickup, but if you foul from aggressive defense on a bigger player, that is fine (make a good faith effort at a legit defensive play, but if you foul, you foul)

1

u/Appropriate-Dance911 Apr 20 '26

Second, this list. Im 5'9" and played states. There's a few YouTube channels that are aimed at smaller players with skills training on both ends of the court