OPEN PRACTICE with Marisa Moseley: Skill Development, Perimeter/Post Drills & Breakdown Drills To Build a Dynamic Zone Defense

During this informative session, Coach Moseley shows various drills she uses to reinforce and refine the fundamentals for her team, as well as how they can be easily expanded into breakdown drills that flow into full-court situations for her tenacious 2-3 zone defense.  

Moseley showcases her experience and strong coaching background over the course of this open practice session, and viewers will become a better coach on the defensive side, especially if you play more zone defense, as a result. This video also highlights a variety of drills that she has obtained through the years that have made her players finish effectively at the rim.

Perimeter and Post Breakdown, Team-Skill Development

During the opening segment, Moseley breaks down specific elements of her offense. Post players quickly become a focus with teaching points on duck-ins and improving a post player’s ability to execute quick, effective moves in the post area are highlighted. Not to be ignored, the coach shows viewers how she teaches perimeter players and provides them repetitions for getting open on the wing and top of the key, while stressing the importance of strong passing. The perimeter-focus continues with an informative segment on UCLA screens and finishing at the rim.  

Moseley moves into team drills during the next segment and begins with the ‘Two-Line, Perfect Layup Drill.’ It’s in these segments where Moseley’s pedigree quickly begins to shine and you can see how her coaching background has shaped her current coaching philosophy. The segment ends with two more outstanding team drills that incorporate passing and boxing out in a modified, creative version of three-player weave.

Defensive Breakdown Into 5-On-5

In the next segment of practice, Moseley shows off a variety of breakdown drills for 2-3 zone defense. The video mainly highlights the work of the middle defender in the bottom of the 2-3. Viewers are then treated to closeout drills, coaching points for on-the-ball defense versus a high-post entry pass, and emphasis on how the middle defender should cover and defend low-post-to-corner ball movement. This segment provides especially strong insight on how to develop your players to play in a 2-3 zone defense.  

In the last team segment of this open practice, Moseley moves into an entertaining 5-on-5 session – showing defensive coverages with team breakdown drills and then moving smoothly into 5-on-5, defense-to-offense work. This section is especially valuable, as viewers will learn a variety of teaching points on adjustments and coaching points on the 2-3 zone defense. Practice ends with an informative ‘5-Spot Drill,’ which focuses on team communication, passing and finishing at the rim.  

Mosely makes this a must-watch basketball coaching video for coaches at all levels of competition by loading it chock full of highly valuable coaching information and skill-building, development work – and packaging it all together into an action-packed, entertaining Open Practice session!

69 minutes. 2022.