Defensive Strategies 2
ZONE DEFENCE
In Zone Defence the object is not to follow players around the court, but to cover an area of the court.
When the ball or a player enters your “zone” it is your responsibility to deal with it. This defence
requires discipline to hold your area and also good communication between the team as opponents
move through the zones. The Zone Defence allows you to place players in key areas of the court, (tall
players close to the basket, smaller, faster players on the outside) in this way you keep your strengths in
the areas you need them. In most variations the tallest player is the “centre” and plays in the middle of
the Zone, the next tallest “forwards” play to the side of the basket, and the smaller “guards” play at the
top of the Key.
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This diagram shows a 2-1-2 Zone Defensive
line up. The circles mark out approximately
the areas covered by each player. The players
would move around their zone depending on
the position of the ball. In this example the
ball is on the right near the baseline. All the
players have moved to the right of their zones
and are in position to help. They will also be
in a position to cover players near the ball.
Those attackers further away are not an
immediate danger and can be reached quickly
if the play changes sides. All the players keep
their arms up and make themselves as big as
possible in an effort to cut down gaps in the
zone. As the ball is passed into a zone the
defender in that area moves quickly to put
pressure on the ball and the other defenders
adjust there positions in their own zone to
offer help.
There are a number of variations in Zone Defence that can be used depending on your own
strengths/weaknesses or those of your opponents. For example a 1-3-1 Zone is useful to counteract a
Team with a good post player. A 2-2-1 or box and 1 is a good defence to counteract a good long range
shooter while keeping the advantages of the zone.
In all the formations of Zone Defence the principles are the same
1. Pressure the ball in your zone
2. Be big and close the gaps
3. Good communications.