The following rules are fundamental for any zone offense. Whether you are coaching a beginning youth team or high school/college, these basics should be built into your zone offense system if you desire success. Obviously your zone offense can get as advanced as you want ... these, however, are the building block fundamentals for playing zone offense. Rule 1: Set Up Opposite the Defense To best counter the zone defense formation, the offense should set up with an opposite front from what the … [Read more...]
How to Score Against a 2-3 Zone
A defense will run a 2-3 zone for several different reasons. It could be because they don’t think that your team shoots well, they might be undersized, also could be what they do well, or maybe to take you out of your normal man to man sets. Whatever the reason is, it is your job as the head coach to have your team prepared to play against a 2-3 zone. Before talking about how to beat the zone it is important to recognize what the defense is trying to get you to do by playing your team in … [Read more...]
High-Low Post Drill
Purpose: To teach the post players the basics of flashing to the high post and then looking for the low post teammate on a pass or for their own shot. Drill: This drill uses four defenders set up in somewhat of a box zone. The drill starts with #1 passing to #2. #4 flashes to high post elbow looking for a pass from #2. Upon receiving the pass, #4 looks to #5 pinning his defender. If #5 is not open, #4 can also look for his own shot or kick it back out to a guard. Coaching Points: If … [Read more...]
Double Skip Pass Drill
Purpose: This drill helps the players work on making skip passes, receiving skip passes, and moving into an open gap in the zone prepared to shoot. Drill: One line at the top as shown. Use as many baskets as you can to keep lines short. O1 starts by making a skip pass to the coach or manager (C). After making the pass, O1 slides down outside the 3-point line. 'C' skip passes back to O1. O1 takes the shot and follows it. Coaching Points: Players should work at making good passes and using … [Read more...]
Baseline Breakdown Drill
Purpose: To work on attacking the zone defense when the ball goes to the baseline. This is a good place to attack from as the offense has now gotten behind the defense. Drill: Four offensive players on one side of the floor as shown. Three defenders playing a zone in a similar manner to the diagram. The drill begins with O1 passing to O2 on the wing. O2 dribbles at the defensive forward forcing the forward to stop the penetration. O2 then passes to O4 on the baseline. O4 drives baseline for … [Read more...]
Step Into Gap Drill
Purpose: The 'Step Into Gap' drill teaches the players to move into the 'gap' after making a pass against a zone. Drill: Two lines at the top as shown. O1 and O4 pass to their respective coach (C) or fellow player. O1 and O4 curl either down or to the top. O1's coach passes the ball back to O1 and O4's coach passes back to O4. O1 and O4 each take the shot. Coaching Points: Players should work at making good passes, faking a step one way and curling the opposite way, and also getting ready … [Read more...]
Attack the Diamond Drill
Purpose: The 'Attack the Diamond' drill is very similar to the 'Attack the Box' drill. The main difference, however, is the emphasis placed on the offensive players. Drill: The defense sets up in a 4-man diamond zone as shown. The four offensive players set up as shown. The offensive players attack the diamond by emphasizing diagonal passes and quick passes to the corner. Coaching Points: Many zone principles apply here such as penetrating the gaps and making skip passes. However, the emphasis … [Read more...]
Attack the Box Drill
Purpose: The 'Attack the Box' drill allows the offensive players to work against a box zone using any of the 21 Zone Principles discussed. Drill: The defense sets up with 4 players in a box zone as shown. Four offensive players are in a 1-2-1 offensive set as shown. The offensive players attack the box using the zone principles. Coaching Points: As a coach, you can also have the offensive players work only on specific principles such as penetrating the gaps, making skip passes, setting … [Read more...]
4 on 4 Zone Offense Principles
Purpose: To practice the zone offense principles and techniques that were previously taught and using them in a game-like situation. Drill: Four defenders set up in a box zone defense. Offensive players O1, O2, O3 and O4 set up in a manner shown. The perimeter players, O1, O2, and O3, attack the zone using perimeter player principles. O4 should run the baseline and flash to the high post looking to get open. Coaching Points: This drill can be performed in any number of ways. As a coach, … [Read more...]
3 vs. Box Zone Offense Drill
Purpose: To teach the perimeter offensive players to penetrate the gap and force two players to guard you. It also helps them work on skip passes and kicking the ball back out. Drill: Four defenders sets up in a box zone. Three offensive players set up around the perimeter. There is no set pattern for this drill. The player with the ball should attempt to penetrate the gap between two defenders, forcing both to guard. If the dribbler is stopped, he will look to pass to the wing (if in the … [Read more...]