As the guard on the opposing team drove through the defense, got in the lane, and made a lay-up the coach knew something had to change.

The past few games the teams they played against had a guard or two that easily got in the paint and was able to put up a lot of points.  They had tried both a man to man defense and a 2 – 3 zone and neither seemed to be working.

It didn’t help that their team easily had the smallest players in the conference.  Most of the teams they played against had guards that were as big as their post players.  The post players tried to step up and help by keeping them from driving in the lane but by the time they closed out the guards were getting their shots off and making a good percentage of them.

The coach decided they must come up with a defense that would put a post player in the paint that would keep them from being able to drive right up the lane.  At the next practice he taught them a 1 – 3 – 1 zone that would put the point guard at the top of 3 point area, the 2 wing players on both sides of the free throw line, 1 of the post players on the free throw line, and the other post player in the middle of the paint just in front of the basket.

The next game they played a man to man defense and 1 – 3 – 1 zone defense.  This appeared to help keep the guards on the other team from getting into the lane and getting easy shots.

At the next practice they continued to work on the 1 – 3 – 1 zone defense.  When the practice was over the coach sat down with Dionne to discuss the new defense.  Dionne was the post player he had put on the free throw line to help keep the opposing teams guards out of the lane.

“Dionne, what do you think of our new defense?”

“I like it.”

“From your position you will be responsible for keeping them out of the lane, do you think you can handle that?”

“Yes coach, I think I can.”

“Good, so do I.”

“Coach?”

“Yes, Dionne?”

“Every since the game yesterday I keep thinking about the new defense.  I keep imagining the guard on the other team trying to drive in the lane, taking the ball away from them, and then driving the other way for a lay-up.”

“Is that way you keep imagining happening?”

“Yes coach.”

“Do you believe that you can do it?”

“Yes coach.”

“Then you can.  Because if you can imagine it enough to see it clearly and you believe in yourself, then you can.  The only thing left is to make it happen.”

The next night they had a game.  They started in a man to man defense and for a while they were able to match up with the other team.  Late in the first half the opposing teams guards started driving in the lane looking to shoot lay-ups.  Noticing this the coach screams out to switch to the 1 – 3 – 1 zone defense.

Within a few possessions of changing to the 1 – 3 – 1 defense the opposing guard attempted to drive right up the middle.  She was immediately met by Dionne, who quickly grabbed hold of the ball, ripped it from the point guards hands, and started driving the other way.

Dionne was so fast that she drove right past two of the opposing teams guards.  They attempted to catch her but she was just too fast.  By the time they got to half-court she was already at the free throw line with no one between her and the basket.  She drove right up the middle of the lane, shot the ball over the front of the rim, off the back board, and into the basket.

The coach was so excited for Dionne.  It was exactly how she had imagined it.

After the next practice he told her how proud he was of her.  He also made sure that she understood the important lesson she had just learned.  That she could do anything she put her mind to.  She just has to imagine it, believe that it is possible, and then take action.

There are times that she may not be successful her first try like she was in yesterdays game.  However, if she stays focused and keeps trying she can do anything as long as she never gives up.