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...]
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...]
The Convertible Zone Offense
The following zone offense is designed to create many problems for most zones. It is convertible to meet odd front (1-2-2 and 1-3-1) zones or even front (2-3 and 2-1-2) zones. The Convertible Zone Offense is from Mike Harkins in a book titled "Successful Team Techniques in Basketball". Coach Harkins coached Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) from 1960-1976, sending 10 teams to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. He compiled a 290-158 record at EMC, winning 12 conference … [Read more...]
Lob Continuity Zone Offense
The Lob Continuity play is designed to create multiple scoring opportunities, with the easiest of all being a lob pass for a layup or dunk. It is an effective quick hitter that can also be run as a continuity as the ball swings and reverses from side to side. The Lob Continuity play starts with O1 passing the basketball to O3 on the wing. O3 then dribbles down toward the corner. O1 follows his pass and replaces O3. O2 cuts to the top and O4 flashes to the ballside elbow. O5 posts up on … [Read more...]
Zone Delay Spread Offense
The Zone Delay Spread Offense is an offensive set you can utilize at or near the end of game situations when you are trying to use clock and the defense is in a zone. It is not entirely a continuity offense because there isn't a set pattern to follow but it is effective against a defense that is pressuring you with a halfcourt zone. I think more often than not, most teams that are behind in this situation will play man-to-man but I have seen some teams stay in their zone. This is a simple … [Read more...]
1-4 X Zone Offense
The 1-4 X Zone Offense starts out in a 1-4 set as shown in the following diagram. It can really be used against any zone defense because as the offensive players move, they will be flashing and cutting to open areas in the zone. The 1-4 X Zone Offense works well as a quick hitter but can also be run as a continuity, as you will see in the last diagram. This is a great set which helps you attack the middle of the zone defense. The 1-4 X Zone Offense starts from a 1-4 high set and can be … [Read more...]
1-3-1 Control Game Offense
The 1-3-1 Control Game Offense is a continuity offense with a baseline roamer. This offense works equally well against man-to-man or zone defenses. A control game is much like a delay game in that you are attempting to control the tempo of the game. You can certainly achieve this tempo in a motion- or passing-style offense but, depending upon your team and personnel, you may prefer to do this via a continuity offense. To begin the 1-3-1 Control Game Offense, the players align themselves as … [Read more...]
1-4 High Continuity Zone Offense
The 1-4 High Continuity is an effective zone offense to employ against odd-front zones such as the 1-2-2. The point guard, O1, can initiate the offense to either the right or left side. In this diagram, O1 starts by dribbling to the right. As he goes right, O4 steps out to the the 3-point line to receive a pass from O1. O5 pins the guard on the elbow. As O1 passes to O4, O2 and O3 slide down to their respective corners. After pinning the guard at the elbow, O5 looks to slide into … [Read more...]