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Archives by Tag '1-3-1 Zone Defense'

1-3-1 Zone Defense: Basic Half-Court Slides and Traps

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Back in May we broke down the basic principles, rules, and player roles for the 1-3-1 Zone Defense, an effective system used brilliantly by coach Steve Klaas at Adams Friendship (WI) High School. This week, we’re going to take the defense one step further by implementing basic half-court slides and traps. Follow along as Coach Klaas walks through proper player movements before running through sets at full speed.

Key 1-3-1 Slides

Overview: Start in a 5-on-5 half court setting with the ball up high. We will begin in “13” where 1 and 5 are back protecting the basket. Meanwhile, the wings are just off of the foul line and ready to explode if necessarily.

The Basics of “13″: If the ball comes across half court, the 1 would have great ball pressure. The baseline runner (aka player 4) is a step off the baseline and ready to explode to the corner. The wings on each side are ready “to be like pistons.” Player 5 has one rule. He must stay between the ball and basket at all times. Never vary this rule. Also, player 1 has one rule. He must stop ball reversal, if he can.

Teaching Point: If you are playing good defense in this set, you are always going to have four people ballside, The 5, 1, 4, and wing player will always be ballside.

Tips: Adjustments always need to be made. If you can force the ball to one side and keep it there, then you will be far more successful. Also, remember that the rule for the wing is to make ball reversal difficult.

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Skips and Corner Traps

Let’s say there’s a cross-court pass to the corner. In this case, player 4 must sprint corner to corner. He doesn’t stop. Meanwhile, the high wing player comes down and pressures on his upper hip. If the opponent drives baseline, the 4 is coming to help and the wing is there to make a natural trap. The key here is to get aggressive pressure defense that has great team help. Also, if the ball skips to the corner, the help is there to take care of inside and outside threats.

Tips: Always be looking to deflect the ball. During the live simulations below, notice how this defense forces the ball around the perimeter and limits inside looks.

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The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Dominating 1-3-1 Zone Defense.” To check out additional videos highlighting defensive drills and systems, simply visit our basketball library.

Key Rules and Coaching Points for Effective 1-3-1 Zone Defense

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

This week’s defensive concepts feature focuses on key rules and guidelines for effective 1-3-1 zone defense. With Adams Friendship (WI) High School head coach Steve Klaas leading the way, you’ll learn about essentials when it comes to zone defense personnel, player positioning, defensive implementation, and overall philosophy.

Essential 1-3-1 Coaching Points

In basketball, something happens when everyone knows exactly where they’re supposed to be at all times. For Coach Klaas, his steams have had success in the past because they always know where to be. Let’s begin by revealing how the defense is numbered in order to keep it simple.

Player 1 is our best athlete. He is taller and has long arms. We want him in a position to cover the entire floor. Next, the 2 and 3 players serve as the wing personnel. Player 2 is on ballside and usually smaller, quicker, and loves to pressure the ball. Our weakside wing is bigger and a better rebounder. Next, Player 5 is our strongest player and plays between the ball and the basket, where we need strength. Finally, Player 4 is our baseline runner and does just that, sprinting from corner to corner.

Rules of the 1-3-1 Zone Defense

1) Every player must stay in a stance for the entire defensive possession. In this simulation, the offense starts throwing the ball around. Keep watching to see if the squad can stay in a defensive stance the entire time. This is something your team should work at, push, and strive for.

2) Read the eyes of the passer. This is similar to what any good defensive back would do. And because we are reading the eyes of the offense 3) We will move while the ball is in the air. We don’t rest on defense. Check out the game footage of Adams Friendship to see just how active the team is on the defensive end of the floor.

4) Look to deflect. To help with this, turn your thumb down so you can control the deflection. Keep in mind, the person who deflects the ball is often not the one who steals it. Instead, we expect someone else to pick it up. Therefore, mirror the ball. The ball should always be pressured.

5) Everyone goes to the boards mad. When the ball is shot, everyone knows where they are supposed to be. Note: Player 1 never blocks out. He goes immediately to the weakside board. In fact, because of this tactic, he might just end up being your squad’s leading rebounder.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Dominating 1-3-1 Zone Defense.” To check out more videos featuring defensive drills and systems, simply head over to our basketball library.

Filed in Basketball • Tags: 1-3-1 Zone Defense, Basketball Coach eNewsletter, Defensive Systems, Zone Defense

Tips and Strategies for Implementing the 1-3-1 Trapping Defense

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The 1-3-1 Trapping Defense has been an effective scheme for Bob Huggins and his programs for decades. In this week’s team development feature, Coach Huggins will break down some of the key concepts, movements, assignments, and overall coverage for the 1-3-1 Defense. This turnover-inducing defensive scheme — which divides the court in half — relies heavily on ball pressure and trapping. Be sure to follow along and see which concepts you can take away and then implement with your own squad this season.

Slide Defense Overview

For the wing players in the 1-3-1, it’s key that they don’t let the offense get the ball into the middle of the floor. The goal here is to keep the ball on one side of the floor. For the wing defender, you must close on the outside shoulder of the nearest offensive player to prevent movement. Get up in their face so they can’t skip the ball. Get your hands up and try to get the opponent to drive into our help defense.

Be cautious of closing too far on the outside of your opponent. Don’t give up the straight line drive. With our help in place, it will funnel the offensive player to the baseline/wing and not straight at the basket. Remember, we are keeping them on one side of the floor and forcing low percentage looks.

If the ball goes into the near corner, the wing defender now must guard the high side and then turn and defend the inside. The wing player must also defend the first pass wherever it goes on his/her side of the floor.

Sprint to Help Defense

A major goal with this defense is to shrink all gaps. We want it to seem for the offense that there is nowhere for them to go. So, how exactly do we do that? First, we must always have ball pressure. We must make the passing lanes longer so the ball stays in the air.

Next, we are always line to the ball. The ball can go over, under, or around me, but it can’t go through me. Meanwhile, hands are always high and active and we also want to discourage direct passes.

Finally, don’t go over the top of the post. Always go in the direction of the ball.

***Stay tuned for more features incorporating key concepts and drills with the 1-3-1 Trapping Defense in the coming weeks.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Bob Huggins: Full Court 1-3-1 Trapping Defense.” To check out more defensive drills and systems, click here.

Filed in Basketball • Tags: 1-3-1 Zone Defense, BasketballCoach eNewsletter, Bob Huggins, Defensive Systems, Trapping

Learn the Michigan 1-3-1 Zone Defense and the Two Guard Front Offense!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Wednesday, December 1, 2010

We have recently released two new basketball DVDs titled How to Run the Michigan Two Guard Front Offense and the The Michigan 1-3-1 Zone Defense & Drills.

Tom Jicha, head coach at Sunset High School (FL), shares his interpretation of the Two Guard Front Offense, which is based on the offensive system made famous by John Beilein at West Virginia and now at the University of Michigan. This perimeter-based offense is designed to provide scoring opportunities for smaller teams that lack a “true post” player. In over 4 hours of instruction, Coach Jicha introduces his three main sets: motion, shuffle and chin and blends them together to form one of the most difficult to defend offenses in the game today.

Dennis Felton, the former University of Georgia head coach, had the opportunity to learn the John Beilien Michigan 1-3-1 Zone Defense from the ground up. Coach Felton unveils an overview of this innovative defense, drills, and the inner workings of this secret defense.

Purchase The Michigan Basketball 2-Pack today and Save $10!