Multiple Pressing Defenses
Mark Harming
Chamberlain High School
Girls Basketball
General Overview
•2-2-1 Zone Press (box)
•1-2-1-1 Zone Press (diamond)
•Full-court Man to Man (jump and run)
•½ Court Zone Trap
–2-2-1
–1-3-1
Personal History
•
•
•
•
•
First year - 1996 McLaughlin
Second Year - add Box press
3rd Year - Wessington add Diamond
Byron Hand – 2-2-1 Half court trap
Troy Wanner- DRSM – FC Man to Man
• Currently we use all four types
Reasons for multiple presses
1. Keep your opponent guessing
2. Dictate to them
3. Different presses are successful against
different teams
4. Helpful in late game situations
5. Additional benefit – since you run them
all, you practice against them all, and will
help you in running your press break.
2-2-1 Zone Press
•
Advantages
1. Easiest to learn
2. Least risk
3. Don’t need to be
super fast or athletic
•
Disadvantages
1. The middle is wide
open
2. You do need 2 quick
guards
3. Don’t always get a
trap
4. Not real aggressive
2-2-1 Zone Press
Teaching Points
x
1. Make them inbounds to the corner
2
2. Force the ball to dribble to the
sideline…overplay and do NOT
allow them to dribble middle
3. Halfcourt defender on ballside will
come forward and trap.
1
3
4
4. Opposite side will rotate to that
spot, and take first pass ahead
5. Opposite Guard Takes away
anything to the middle.
6. #5 plays the safety man –don’t get
beat deep!
5
1-2-1-1 Zone Press
• Advantages
1. Aggressive – affects
team mindset
2. Should always get a
trap
3. Puts pressure on
them to make
something happen
• Disadvantages
1. Vulnerable – if
beaten
2. You need the right
personnel
3. Need a good
“safety”
1-2-1-1 Zone Press
• Teaching Points
1. Pressure the
inbounds
2. #4 must trap the ball
on entry
3. #3 (halfcourt) takes
away first pass
ahead
4. Off-ball Guard takes
first pass to the
middle
5. #5 Plays Safety
Position
x
4
1
2
3
Full Court Man (Jump and Run)
• Advantages
1. Never know where
the trap is coming
from
2. Very versatile – Can
play many ways
3. Intimidating
• Disadvantages
1. You need to have
the talent to run this
well
2. Vulnerable – if
beaten
3. Can be broken by a
great ball handler
4. Hardest to learn and
teach
Full Court Man (Jump and Run)
• Teaching Points
1. Pressure the inbounds, but don’t give up
the “homerun”
2. “On-Ball” -make them put it on the floor,
either direction.
3. All players- must watch ball, and if
ballhandler comes within 3 strides of
them….leave their man and trap.
4. Other players must rotate, and cover and
recover…. Communication is key!
5. If the ball is ahead of you… Sprint!
½ Court Trap (1-3-1)
• Advantages
1. Good for a “change
of pace”
2. Can get some easy
turnovers
3. Don’t need too much
team speed
• Disadvantages
1. Tough to trap a good
ball-handler
2. Leaves open quick
shot from the
baseline
3. Tough to rebound
out of
½ Court Trap (1-3-1)
• Teaching Points
1. Point (#1) Force the
ball to a side.
2. Wings (#3 & #4)
Will trap on ballside,
opposite will take
first pass to the
middle.
3. Interceptor (#2) will
take first pass ahead
4. #5 will play safety
x
1
x
3
4
2
x
x
x
5
Using Multiple Presses
• Year to Year different teams will have
different strengths…stronger in one press
than another
• You can still use them all, just change up
which one(s) you use the most
• It becomes easier to teach, and for them
to learn if you use them all each year
Practicing Multiple Presses
• We introduce at least 2 before the first
game (usually the 2-2-1 and another)
• Over Christmas Break, we add the third
one.
• By the second half of the season, we have
added the fourth one.
• District and Region opponents…will
usually see only one or two in our games
with them.
• We work on a different pressing or pressbreaking skill daily.
• “Pressing Defense” Drill
– 10 minute drill
– The varsity will defend the jv.
– I make a lay-up and call out a defense
– The Varsity must set up that defense, if they
get a steal, they try and score…if they score I
may call a different defense
– Basically, they have no idea what defense will
be run next, every time it goes through the
hoop.
– We will rotate players in and out…but it will
stay Varsity vs JV the whole time
Switching during a game
• Out of a timeout, running the half-court
trap just one time
• Late in the game, need a foul or a steal,
run the 1-2-1-1, or the jump and run.
• Switch from one press to another while
shooting a free throw (tell your “halfcourt”
player)
• Run a different type of press each quarter.
Final Thoughts
• Not every team can be pressed. But the
threat of it, will cost them some practice
time, and the more they have to prepare
for the better for your team.
• If your team has learned all of these, you
can pull one out late in a game, and
surprise an opponent.
Any Questions?
Thank You
E-mail: mark.harming@k12.sd.us