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Archives by Tag 'Zone Defense'

2-3 Zone Defense: 4 Effective Drills to Prepare for Game Situations

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pick up four essential defensive drills that have become staples for Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse men’s basketball program. The following drills focus exclusively on the 2-3 zone and place a particular emphasis on the footwork, movements, and techniques of the top two guards in the alignment based on different offensive schemes.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 1

This is a great drill for the guards to learn how to play the wing players and not give them easy access to the high post. The drill will have three offensive players going against two defensive players. The ball comes all the way down the court and the players must get into their typical positions in this defense.

The emphasis here is square on the top two defenders making the right reads and adjustments based on the schemes of the offensive guys. The high post offensive player is often played by a coach and he’s just there to make it realistic. The ball does not get entered to the post player yet.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 2

Now every play is going to end with a shot. The defensive players must work on positioning and boxing out based on where the shot takes place. For instance, one player must bust it across the lane to the other side while his teammate must get to the middle. Positioning is very important and players must run to their spots.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 3

Next, the players must react and move based on the high post player receiving the ball. Eventually a shot will go up. This is basically combining the two drills above.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 4

Finally, the defenders work on how to defend a backscreen set at the foul line by the offense. Players must anticipate this and get over the top. To help, look to get a hand in on top. Coaches, be sure to place a major emphasis on footwork and technique.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice with Jim Boeheim.” To check out more videos in our All Access library, click here.

All Access Syracuse Basketball: Zone, Rebounding, and Screening Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, July 11, 2012

In the latest edition of All Access, we take you Syracuse, New York for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a Syracuse men’s basketball practice. Follow along as head coach Jim Boeheim and his coaching staff leads the squad through high-intensity zone, rebounding, and ball screen drills.

Learn the effective drills that help put the Orange at the top of the college basketball polls every season. Then look for ways to incorporate these drills and strategies with your own squad this year to encourage development in offensive and defensive skills.

2-3 Zone – Guarding the Perimeter and High Post

This game-like zone drill starts in transition and designed as a 3-on-2 drill with three offensive players (one PG and two perimeter guys) and two up-top defenders. The defenders are working on defending the perimeter and high post as the ball is worked around the edges. As the ball is moved, they too must move and change positioning based on where the ball is located on the floor.

After several reps, the players switch out. Notice how the hands of the offensive players are always up. These players are also constantly moving. Meanwhile, teammates are communicating nonstop. Eventually, the coaching staff gets into how to play proper angles and how to force the offensive players into a trap versus wide open looks or open drives to the basket.

Rebounding Drill

In this particular rebounding drill, a player starts out in the middle of the lane facing the basket. Next, a coach takes a ball and slams it up against the glass. The player, already in ready position, rebounds the ball strong and makes a power move to the hoop and finishes with a layup or dunk. On the third rep, players then grab the rebound and race the other way as if going from defense to offense on the trasition break.

Ball Screen Drill

Players are now working in a 4-on-4 setting. This effective drill all starts with a ball screen up top. The defense must play it right and communicate while the offense must look for balance and a drive to the hoop.

After the man with the ball goes off the pick, he then immediately heads to the basket down the lane. In the lane, two defenders are awaiting must step up and play him. Additional offensive players on the wing are now open for a shot as well.

You’ve got a ton of real game situations occurring at once here. The offense can implement a lot of give and go’s, pick and rolls, and drive and dish plays. Meanwhile, the defense can practice how to defend ball screens and other offensive strategies effectively.

Also, notice how the offensive players not involved in the screen balance the floor and look to get into open spaces. This way, they can always be threats or help for teammates.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice with Jim Boeheim.” To check out more videos in our All Access library, click here.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: All Access Basketball Practice, Issue #40, Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Men's Basketball, Zone Defense

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

New Lacrosse DVD featuring Scott Tucker!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Friday, March 2, 2012

We have recently released two Lacrosse DVDs featuring Scott Tucker. He is the Limestone College Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach and Synapse Sports National Coach of the Year. The names of these two new Lacrosse DVDs are:

The 33 Zone Ride

Force more turn overs and keep the ball on your offensive end

Give up fewer goals off of fast breaks

Control the tempo of the game

The Backer Zone Defense

Force your opponent to change their offensive game plan

Use The Backer Zone Defense to split the field in half to put more pressure on the ball

Discover how cutting off the adjacent pass can slow down ball movement

Use The Backer Zone Defense in man up or man down situations

See how to rotate and cover to better defend the middle cuts

Buy the Scott Tucker Defense 2-Pack and save $10!

Scott Tucker Defense 2-Pack

Filed in Lacrosse • Tags: Lacrosse DVD, Limestone College, Scott Tucker, Zone Defense

Key Tips and Drills for Attacking Zone Offenses

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

With Rutgers University head men’s basketball coach Mike Rice as your guide, learn how to maximize your zone offense efficiency and train your players how to become instinctive to attacking zone defenses. The goal here is that after mastering these drills, your players should become better players against zone. Plus, they’ll be able to read defenses better and react to them, making them complete players for any system.

4 on 3 Passing

Efficient passing is a necessity when it comes to attacking the zone. As a team, you want to attack the paint, collapse the defense, and then finish the play from there. While this is a great passing drill for anything really, it is especially helpful for reading the defense. For coach Rice, if Rutgers is about to play a zone team, this is the drill that the squad starts out practice with. It gets players to keep their heads up, make ball fakes, play low, and understand who is open.

Four players start out on the blocks and elbows and three other players begin in the middle of the paint. One defender is closing out to the ball, and the other two players play how they want but must get in the passing lanes. The only rule is that the defense has to play the ball and be active. Coach Rice often implements the rule that after eight passes, if the defense deflects the ball, they put a point on the board.

Gap Shooting

Start with three lines of players around the arc. The drill begins with a pass to an adjacent player, he makes a shot fake or ball fake, and then immediately gets into a gap. Coach Rice will often use coaches or even chairs so that players can effectively get into the gaps.

Next, players will kick out the ball to an adjacent player. From there, players can either fade and pivot or go behind their teammate from there. Once the ball gets to that third player, he/she will shoot it. A coach will also have a ball on the side and will pass to the middle player for a shot. The only person that doesn’t get a shot here is the player who started the drill.

Tips for Zone Offense: Don’t be lined up exactly where the defense lines up. Remember, a possession in basketball comes down to whether your guys can make better decisions than the opposing players. You do this through drills so it eventually becomes instinctive.

The drill eventually moves into “Next Pass Shooting.” Any of the three offensive players can start out the drill this time. But this time, there’s only one penetration, then a shot fake, a next pass, another pass, and shot. According to Coach Rice, sometimes we over-penetrate, so we need to practice making the drive and short kick.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Mike Rice: Zone Offense and Zone Concepts.” To check out more videos focusing on zone basketball, simply head over to our basketball library.