Here is an effective quick hitter you can run against a zone defense. It will probably work best against a 2-3 zone defense, but can be used against other zone defenses. This basketball play uses a quick reversal and then counters back the other way to get a good shot attempt. If the potential shooter is defended, he has multiple passing options to create a scoring chance. O1 initiates the play by dribbling toward O2, who clears out to the opposite side. O4 slides out to the short … [Read more...]
Basketball Coaching Tips for Beating the Press
Press defenses are generally employed to force the offense out of their comfort zone: to speed them up, to create chaos, to force turnovers. As an offense having to go against a press defense, there are some fundamental tips and guidelines you can follow to help your team beat the press. Attack the press. This goes to how you choose to beat the press but it also goes to attitude. Players often become timid when pressured. Part of that is on developing skills through practice and … [Read more...]
Double Overload Zone Offense
The Double Overload Zone Offense can be run as a continuity zone offense or a quick-hitting set. As the name indicates, it overloads one side of the zone defense to create multiple easy scoring chances. While it can be run against any zone defense, it is probably most effective against the 2-3 zone defense. The Double Overload can be run to either side with O2 and O3 high on the wing. In our diagram, O1 starts the play by passing to O3 high on the right wing. O1 cuts to the elbow and … [Read more...]
Open Key Offensive Patterns
Special Note: This play originally appeared in the March 1974 edition of "The Coaching Clinic", a monthly publication published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. It was submitted by my dad, Jim Alfonso, back when he was a freshman boys coach (he is now retired after many successful years as a track coach, referee, and history/physical education teacher ... as well as being a successful husband and father!). Here is the "About the Author" as printed in the publication" Jim Alfonso is a graduate of … [Read more...]
High/Low Zone Offense
This High/Low Zone Offense is a simple basketball continuity offense that is effective against zone defenses, particularly even-front zone defenses such as the 2-3. The movements are simple to execute and therefore allow it to be an effective offense for youth teams that come up against a zone. It is also an efficient zone offense for higher level teams. Even against better 2-3 zone defenses, scoring opportunities can be created because this simple offense does a great job in overloading the … [Read more...]
High-Low Post Play Kick Out Options
This High-Low Post Play can be run as a set play against a zone defense or, if you allow more freedom on offense, it can be a breakdown drill to teach your players where to move against a zone when they don't have the basketball. It can be run to either side ... in our diagram we are starting with O1 passing to O2 on the right. O4 flashes to the ballside elbow and O2 passes him the basketball. O4 looks first for O5 sealing the defender behind him, then for his own shot. If O5 is not … [Read more...]
Post Kick-Out Zone Offense Shooting Drill
Purpose: A drill to teach zone offense passing and movement skills that works on a variety of aspects such as feeding the high post, moving without the basketball, and catching at the ready to shoot. Drill: Two lines and a coach or passer needed for this drill. The coach stands at the elbow / free throw line area. One line starts at the top and one line on the wing. Players, or at least the first couple of players in line O1 should have a basketball. The first player in line 1 passes the … [Read more...]
Backside Screen and Skip Play vs. 2-3 Zone
This can be run as a quick hitter against a 2-3 zone defense and it can also be taught as a technique to be used against a 2-3 zone, even if it isn't specifically called as a play. This play is especially effective against a 2-3 when the bottom outside defender has a tendency to move too far into help position. O1 starts by passing to O2, who immediately passes back to O1. O1 quickly reverses the basketball to O3. O2 slides down into the open gap as O4 screens the defensive … [Read more...]
2 Zone Offense Inside Out Shooting Drills
Purpose: To work on shooting utilizing shots that you will get against a zone defense, specifically when executing the inside-outside pass opposite. To help players learn the benefits of the 'pass opposite' when playing against a zone defense. Drill #1: Inside Outside Pass Opposite O1 passes to O4 in the low post. O4 turns and passes opposite to O2 for the shot. Coaching Points: O4 should keep catch ball and keep at chin level or above head. O2, instead of simply standing … [Read more...]
Slash Zone Offense
Finding a zone offense that is a "multi-tasker" can be tough, but with our "Slash" and its accompanying quick hitters we have found just that. This zone offense allows us to run our transition spots (4 Out-1 In) and seamlessly get into it when we see a zone look. The best part is that it creates quality movement, puts pressure on the middle, gets players to the short corner, and allows us to overload ANY zone that can be thrown at us. If a simple, yet effective, zone offense that can be … [Read more...]