Basic Zone Defense - eBasketballCoach

Discover 10 Proven Drills and Plays To Lock Down Your Opponents and Win More Games!

The Easiest Way To Build an Effective Zone Defense

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What's Inside?

Inside this one-of-a-kind resource, you'll discover how to build an effective zone defense from the ground up.

It's jam-packed with game-tested drills and plays that will transform your team into a defensive powerhouse!

Here's a sample of what's covered:

Bump the Cutter Drill: Learn how to stop offenses from sending cutters through the lane and finding weak spots in your zone (this is essential!)

Four Out Box out Drill Rebounding is often the biggest weakness of a zone defense. This fun drill trains kids to see the shot go up, find an opponent, box him out, and secure the rebound

Halfcourt Shell Drill: My all-time favorite team defense drill. Teaches your kids how to position themselves properly in the zone, close out under control, and communicate with their teammates

Anticipation Drill: Want to play an aggressive style of zone? This drill trains your defenders to anticipate passes, and get into passing lanes from deflections and steals!

Circle Closeouts Drill: An outstanding drill for developing rock-solid closeouts on shooters, and improving communication in your half court defense

Take the Charge Drill:Part of protecting the paint in a zone defense is being willing to rotate over and take the charge when necessary. This drill will help players learn the proper footwork and body positioning to complete this play safely.

Three Point Closeout Drill:Protecting the 3-point line is a vital part of effective zone defense. Players need to learn to close out on shooters under control, preventing open shots and cutting off penetration.

2-3 Zone Defense: Use this when you want to force your opponent into settling for outside jumpshots. A great scheme for shutting down penetration and discouraging post-ups

3-2 Zone Defense: This scheme extends the zone out towards the 3-point line and makes it difficult for offenses to swing the ball from side to side. Perfect for playing against dangerous guards and wings.

1-3-1 Zone Defense: An aggressive trapping-style defense that looks to force turnovers and get out in transition.

To shorten the learning curve and really make sure you and your players "get" this stuff immediately, every play is explained with detailed diagrams and simple coaching tips and pointers.

You'll get step by step details and illustrations explaining:

The goal of the play and how you'll use it to score

Detailed responsibilities for each position, 1 through 5

Reads, options and counters to help you outsmart opposing coaches

How to Radically Improve Your Practices

1. Download Drills & Print

Save the PDF file directly to your computer or mobile device, you can access directly on your device or print.

2. Stress-Free Practices

Run a fun, effective and stress-free practice!

3. Work Less. Win More.

Our plans improve player confidence & performance. Thousands of players, coaches & parents report back with more wins while doing less work.

Changing Coaches Lives Across the Country

Showed me which fundamentals to work on at every practice, and how to incorporate new concepts. For inexperienced coaches, it's a good introductory how to. And it has good info for the more experienced coach looking for new ideas.

David Coenen

7th grade Appleton North Girls Basketball Club, Appleton, WI

Our team went from having a four win season to going 18-4! Thanksgiving Preseason Champs, Runner up in the League Championship, & The Elementary Citywide Champs! The plans made my practices easy to run & gave the players skills to use in game time situations.

Willie Warren

Johnsontown Road Elementary, Louisville, Kentucky

With your help, I coached my 6th grade elementary team to an undefeated season (11-0) and winning the Elk Grove Unified School District Basketball Championship. We defeated every opponent by 15 points or more, averaged 54 points per game & our opponents averaged only 31 points per game against us.

Joel Quiban

John Ehrhardt Elementary School, Elk Grove, CA

The drills were easy to follow, and included great ways to teach fundamentals. The kids love all the different drills. We went undefeated and won the Rotary League championship!

Alejandro Burciaga

Oxnard, CA