Zone Offensive Concepts

Here are some principles of play that we want to consider when implementing our zone offence. This is not a strategy, but rather concepts that will enhance the team’s zone offence.

When attacking a zone there are a number of key things to consider.o The defence is defending an area on the floor. The defensive coach gets to decide where the areas are and

who she wants in those areas. The offensive coach dictates the match ups by who she places in those areas. For example; the offensive coach can position her best rebounder vs. the defenses weakest rebounder. The offensive coach is not bound to place any players in the areas defended by the defence. She can keep an area vacant or she can over load certain areas.

o Since the defence is playing an area if you can beat the zone down the floor you may find open areas. Transition or early offence is important.

o Making players in the zone defence move outside their area or to the extreme edges of responsibility will open up gaps and seams. It also takes the zone to the grey areas where confusion between players becomes an issue.

In this diagram we see the classic 2-3 or 2-1-2 zone. When the ball is on the top the circles represent the areas of responsibility for each player. The arrows represent places on the floor where confusion occurs. These are the areas that are on the outer limits of a player’s coverage and often have dual responsibility for who will guard a ball in that area. It requires communication as to who will be responsible. This allows for moments of hesitation or confusion that the offense can take advantage of when attacking. All the offence needs is a one second advantage.

We often call these areas the gaps and seams in the zone. It is important to understand that these are living spaces not permanent places. They are alive because they are based on the players and how they defend; they are not always the same exact spot on the floor.

In general, all eyes will be watching the ball on defence. For this reason it is to the defender’s advantage to have good PVAD (Positioning, Vision, Anticipation, and Decision Making) on the ball and the player(s) who is in her area at the same time.

In this example we see that the four offensive players without the ball are being guarded by three players. In each instance the defenders can keep two offensive players, plus the ball within their vision at all times. Defender #3 is free to read the ball handlers eyes.

The off ball defenders are only one step away from covering the new player who receives a pass. They will be able to arrive on time on defence.

It is to the offense’s advantage to disrupt this PVAD by placing players where the defenders must turn their head to see one or the other. We also want to make it so players arrive late to their new position on defence. This again creates confusion or hesitation.

In the diagram I have not changed the positioning of the defence, but have moved the offensive players to positions that put PVAD to their advantage, not the defences. The four defenders without the ball must now turn their heads to see the ball, plus the two offensive players who are on the fringes of their assigned areas of responsibility.

On a pass the defenders must also cover greater distances to guard the player with the ball. We have put the defence into a state of motion and confusion.

What are the different ways we can move players in the zone to put them into confusion or hesitation.

Perimeter spacingIn the past offences made use of single gaps between each perimeter player. This worked because it allowed for multiple short passes. The theory was that by making many passes eventually the defence would make a mistake. The problem with today’s game is that this type of spacing allows the zone to match up and easily cover the offensive players. In a short shot clock you do not have time to break the defence down to create consistent high percentage scoring opportunities.

In this diagram the offence has placed a double between player #1 and #2. Against teams that bump the wing defender back you may get a quick opportunity to attack this gap. The problem is that the second top defender #1 is usually sitting in the middle of the gap.

Also there is only one extra perimeter player for the reversal. It is usually very easy for the defence to match this sort of action because you have not created any two on one situation where confusion will occur.

Note: We also want to play well off the three point line. Players can also move closer to the line when shooting. Don’t crowd the line.

If the top defender guards the wing it is better to have the double gap in front of the ball, by having #1 space away. Note; you can achieve the same effect by having #1 cut and fill the opposite corner. #2 would balance up to the high elbow.

Penetration into this gap will creates more problems for the zone, as we have two extra perimeter players in front of the ball. A two on one will be created somewhere, causing confusion.

In general the rule for a perimeter players is to position herself Behind the shoulder of the next perimeter defender In a place where she can catch the ball and make the

next perimeter pass is required.

Here the two perimeter defenders have stretched out further into passing lanes. It is very important for #1 to move back appropriately. She still is behind the shoulder and can make the next pass. This now creates more room for inside players.

If the defence traps the ball the offensive player still needs to stay behind the shoulder of the next defender. It is the next offensive player who must move to position herself for the next pass.

This concept also applies when the ball is on the wing. The player on top is positioned behind the shoulder of the next defender and in a place to make the next pass. This action keeps double gaps in front of the ball.

Double gaps are not just for the ball to be dribbled into. The perimeter player can also cut into these spaces to shorten passes.

Post Spacing

Poor spacingWe do not want one defender to be able to guard two players at once. This means the offensive players must keep the proper distance and angles to prevent this from happening. Here we see when the ball is on the side that the offence has a high and low post on the same side of the floor. This spacing is very easy for one defender to defend. The same is true for the distance between the guard at the top and the high post.

If you have a player in the high post it is better if the player low plays in the short corner. This increases the distance between the two interior players.

If there is a player in the low post it is better spacing if the high post on the same side steps out to the high elbow. This again increases the distance and makes it impossible for one player to guard two.

Stretching the zoneThe ability of the post players to step out or pop creates problems for the zone defence. The further our post players can pop the more the defence must stretch in order to contest the shooters.

This is another reason for keeping the double gaps. It is into these double gaps the post players can step. If you keep single gaps there is no space. To pop.

Another option is to change the angles of the interior players. Here we see that if there is a low lost on the ball side the high post creates a triangle by being in the high post opposite the ball.

You can also see in this diagram that #1 is playing behind the shoulder of defender #2. This again is putting PVAD in advantage for the offence, not the defence.

We use the concept that you enter the ball to a side where two offensive players are located. When you reverse the ball you want to have three players present. When this occurs you a create 2 on 1 situation. In our diagram you can see that offensive players #3 and #4 are on the ball side. The defence has three defenders; #5, #4 and #2.

By playing with good offensive PVAD we stretch the defence by playing behind players and by being high and wide. As you can see on the dribble we are freezing one defender and now reversing the ball to the side where there are three offensive players. Defender #3 is forced to make a decision as to which player she should guard.

Please note: the ability to stretch the defence by having multiple players who can shoot the three point shot is vital for this concept to work. If the defence does not have to stretch to defend shooters, all the movement in the world around the perimeter will NOT open up inside scoring. You need to be able to shoot the ball. Especially the corner three point shot.

Post ActionsThe posts players have the following actions in order to create shots for themselves or teammates.

Posting or sealingIn general we do not want to post on the middle defender of the zone defence. If the ball is passed to the post in this situation she has no PVAD. She has three defenders that she must account for in making her decision.

Because of the wider key the perimeter defenders can easy help inside and also cover perimeter shooters.

In this situation offensive player #4 needs to slide to the short corner and post up with her back to the baseline. Her feet are in line within the backboard. This way with a back pivot she can still shoot the ball.

If the middle defender in the zones decides to cover this player in the short corner it now opens up the middle of the key.

The exception is when she can post on the middle defender and bury her at the rim. This is a an ideal situation since she can use the width of her body to protect the ball. The help defenders must cover to great of distance to be able to help effectively.

In the high post we do not want to post up with our back to the basket. Again this players has no PVAD and cannot make a good decison until she piviots.

We want to post with our feet parallel to the sideline. It is also ideal if the players seals or pins on a defender. This creates passing lanes or screens a defender form her area of coverage.

Screening or piningAnother way to open up areas in the zone is to screen or pin. It prevents defenders from covering their assigned areas. Other defensive players may have to move out of their assigned areas to defend the now open player. In general we want to screen in the first defender and seal the next defender. If the defender being sealed comes to meet the offensive player, drag her out of her comfort zone.

Here we see on the ball reversal #4 is screening defender #4 from getting to her assigned area of coverage, the corner. It is very important that #4 does not move or try to pivot and interfere with this player. This will most often be called a moving screen when you do this to a zone defender. Whichever way she chooses let her go. The key is to move to the chest of the next defender and seal her.

By sealing the next defender you have given the player in the corner #3 excellent options:

o She can pass to the player sealing at the rim.o She can shoot the open three point shoto She can drive on a bad close out

If the second defender comes to meet the offensive outside or at the lane lines. She drags that defender to the short corner. A drag is a subtle cut that is trying to influence the defender to the extreme limits of her comfort zone. These little movements often create holes that other players can cut into fill.

Remember we do not post up on the middle defender unless it is at the rim.

The same action of screening in and sealing the next defender can be done in the high post also. #5 screens to create a shot for #2 and then goes and seals defender #2.

Since she is able to seal #2 on the other side of the split line this is a good seal situation. There is space in front of her in which to operate.

If the second defender meets the player before the lane line, drag her out to the three point line. This again opens up gaps and holes that can be used by other players.

Screens or pins are also used to create passes to the basket. The inside player screens the defensive slide of the defender. Here #4 uses a back pick (this works best when facing the middle) to screen defender #4 from recovering back to the basket on the ball reversal. This allows for diagonal lob passes lob passes to the rim against the back of the zone. This work especially well against zones where backline players’ musts often guard a wing and the rim. By screening this player you can open up lobs.

The high post can also set flare screens or pin the zone in. This is very effective off penetration. After pinning she would again look to seal the next defender or dive to the rim if the open basket appears.

Special screenThe other type of screens is of course picks or ball screens vs. the zone defence. These are very effective since it is more difficult to have someone who can hedge. If both players involved in the pick can shoot it becomes extremely difficult for the zone to cover. Huge gaps start to appear as the defence has to stretch to cover these players.

Post cutting

By playing behind the shoulder of the defence it takes away the good PVAD of the defender. She must constantly be turning her head to scan. This allows for some cuts behind the defence.

Poor cutting1. DO NOT cut within the vision of the defence2. DO NOT follows the ball3. Does not create a passing lane by sealing or

cutting on the edge of the seam

Here we see #5 following the ball and cutting within the vision of defender #4 and #5. It is very easy for the two defenders to pass off the cutter. Also since she is cutting to the middle of the seam she can be defended by multiple defenders. This makes a difficult pass for the player with the ball. Also it makes it harder to anticipate the next action when catching the ball.

Good cuttingIn this example we see player #5 be a good cutter:

1. Instead of following the ball she moved opposite the direction first by butt sealing the perimeter defender in the zone first. This creates a diagonal lob to the corner of the backboard.

2. She cut behind the head of the middle defender.3. She cut on the edge of the seam. This keeps a passing

lane open.4. At the end of her cut she sealed another defender with

her feet parallel to the sideline so she has good PVAD.5. After 2 seconds she saw the opportunity to stretch the

zone by cutting out to the high elbow, in the double gap created by the perimeter players.

Here is another example of the type of post cuts. In this example #4 is in the high post when the ball is on the wing. On the reversal, instead of following the ball and the natural rotation of the defence, she moves counter to the defence and seals the perimeter defender.

As the ball continues to move she moves along the edges of the seams sealing the bottom defender. When the low post on the other side raises up she cuts behind the head of the middle defender to the short corner.

Good post cutting involves: Cutting behind the head of the defenders Moving opposite the ball first and sealing Cut on the edges to create a passing lane Sealing at the end of the cut Do not stay too long – stretch the defence or be ready

to seal another perimeter player and cut again.

Perimeter Actions

Reversing the ballFinding a tempo that allows the offense to synch the inside and outside game. Moving the ball too quickly around the perimeter often leaves post players out of the picture. Also if the ball is moved too fast the zone does not actually have to make the little shifts that can lead to missed assignments. The zone can actually stand still since the ball is not threatening the basket. It is just being passed quickly form one side to the other with looking to score.

This pattern of the perimeter players passing the ball from wing top wing and the post x-cutting, following and never touching the ball is all too familiar in many zone offences.

To proper synch the inside an outside game the zone offence has a little slower tempo than man to man. The post players need to touch the ball. This is especially important in the short corner and high post.

Pass fakes is one of the best ways to move a player in a zone. Since all defenders have a tendency to watch the ball, one good pass fake is like an actually pass. On the left we see #1 make a pass fake to #3. When she sees the defence jump in the direction of her fake, she passes back to #2 who quickly looks inside to #5 who was cutting against the faking action.

In the diagram to the right we see player freeze dribble defender #2. She then makes a pass fake to #3. When she sees defender #4 jump to defend #3 she now has an easier pass inside to #5. Fakes are crucial in a zone offensive attack.

It is important for the players on offence to identify which defender is guarding the first pass. If it is a top defender the best option is to look to reverse the ball. This is because in a 2 -3 zone there is an extra defender on the ball side. The exception would be if it is a 3-2 zone. By attacking the ball side corner you force the low defender to step away from the basket.

Note; the first pass vs. the zone should be an easy pass. It should not involve a high degree of difficulty. Trying to split the top two defender in a 2-3 zone on the first play is an example of creating a difficult pass on the first action against the zone defence.

In order to move defenders outside their comfort zones with passing, we must stretch the defence. This can be accomplished by;

o Being able to shoot the deep three with multiple players from multiple positionso Making the ball move from one corner all the way to the other corner.o Making the ball go inside and outside

Using posts players who can step out from the low post to the short corner and out to the three point line from the high post.

The player on top sometimes needs to position herself so that she can she can receive the pass from one wing and see the open reversal pass to the opposite wing. If she is too close this pass can be contested by the defence.

Dribbling vs. the zone

Freeze dribble By dribbling at the defender it freezes this player and prevents her from guarding two players in her area at once. The second player in the area wants to force the next defender to have to move out of her comfort zone to defend. We have now put the defence in motion.In the example #1 freezes defender #2. #3 is playing at the extreme edge of defender #4 area of responsibility. This defender also knows that #5 is moving to a place where she is solely responsible for covering. This puts confusion in the defence. It should be noted that these actions rarely work on the first action of the possession. The good teams practice this

first pass coverage. It is when you get the defence in motion where these concepts are the most beneficial. Now players are more likely to be out of position. There are a couple of schools of thought on where you dribble when freezing a zone defender.

If the zone is sagging it is best to freeze dribble at one defender. Trying to split two sagging defenders is a difficult skill. Also you still have three defenders who are able to read.

If one defender has matched a player it is often a good idea to attack the inside leg of the next defender. Here you are trying to make two defenders guard one. Notice that the next player in the zone offense, #2 red has isolated the lone defender, #1 blue, by playing behind her back shoulder. This subtle movement forces #1 blue to keep backing up and making a larger space for #1 red to attack on offence. It also causes confusion for #1 blue and #3 blue as to who will cover the next pass. We create a 2 on 1 If #3 blue has to guard the wing pass.

In this diagram #2 red has not isolated #1 Blue on the defence. She is playing in front of the defender. It makes a smaller space for #1 red to penetrate and an easier recovery for #1 blue. We have not created a 2 on 1 situation or confusion for the defence.

This same situation occurs when the ball is on the wing. In the diagram to the left

Note: some coaches teach players to attack the outside shoulder of the next defender. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method.

If you can attack the inside leg of the defender you can actually make this player move opposite to the way she will eventually want to recover. The down side is that you may now have a more difficult pass through the defender. It is imperative that the pass receiver move to break any three in a row (passer-defender-receiver). If you attack the outside shoulder of the defender you will have any easier pass to the next player. The downside is that the defender is moving in the direction she wants to go. A good zone defender can quickly stunt and recover to guard the next player.

Dribble pullIf a player is being defended she can dribble the ball in the direction of the next defender. If this original defender follows she is being pulled out of position. A pass back to this area is very effective.

Dribble pushIf in dribbling the next defender picks up the ball handler the most obvious pass is to the player ahead of her in the direction she is dribbling.

This dribble push pull action is extremely effective when used out of the corners. This is because the zone is already stretched to the maximum when the ball is in the corner.

Perimeter cutting

Dribble entryA special type of dribble push is a shallow cut entry into the offence. Here the player on top dribbles the ball to the wing. This usually ensures the top defender guarding the ball. The wing player who was dribbled at shallow cuts to the double gap position at the top.

When dribbled at some times the wing player can cut away. This is effective if we know this player is a good corener 3 point shooter.

ReboundingRebounding can be a positive for a zone defence since it usually will have players in assigned areas to rebound the ball. It is negative if the offense overloads or seals the defensive rebounders out of the rebounding hotspots.

One of the worst things offensive rebounders vs. a zone do is fight the back of the defender. One of the most called offensive fouls is a player jumping over the back of a defender. Even if the player gets the ball clean it is often called.

Here defender #4 has established excellent rebounding position. She has the rebounding hotspot in front of her. Offensive player #4 is playing with fire trying to push her from this far out.

One arm rebounderInstead of fighting the backs try to become a one arm rebounder. Fake one way and get to the side where you have the greatest chance to have the hot spot.

Sneak out and come back inIf she anticipates the shot #4 can go baseline. Very often the defender will let her go. If she times it right she can sneak back in to have established prime position in the hot spot.

Duck and diveWhen #4 does not have position she drags defender #4 to the middle. This opens up a window for #3 to fill. This is very difficult to defend.

Seal inIf the defender is caught under the basket it is good to seal the person in. You do not have to push them out of the way, you have the position.