Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Building Full Court Scramble
Building Full Court Scramble
Building Full Court Scramble
Applying effective full court pressure is an excellent way of taking your opponent out
of their comfort zone in two simple ways. Its immediate effect is placing duress on the
ball handlers, potentially forcing dribbling on passing errors, well before they get across
half court and into the scoring area. In the long term, the effects of persistent pressure,
constant guessing, and an increase in tempo can cause additional physical and mental
fatigue on your opponent and give you a great opportunity for success.
Nearly eight years ago, Jim Larranga inherited a George Mason University men’s
basketball program that suffered through seven losing seasons including four last place
finishes in the Colonial Athletic Association. After implementing an intense style of
pressure defense that includes the Full Court Scramble, George Mason now has the most
wins in the CAA as well as four postseason tournament appearances in the past six years.
At George Mason, we believe that being successful at the Full Court Scramble requires
three inner qualities before our players ever step onto the floor. Our three-part philosophy
includes: attitude, commitment, and class.
First, everyone must have a positive attitude. Each of us makes a decision each day on
what type of attitude we will have. We emphasize enthusiasm, passion, along with hard
work in our program. There is going to be adversity, and how we bounce back is vital.
Secondly, everyone must be totally and unconditionally committed. We must work hard
to improve every day, no matter the circumstances. It is easy to work hard when things
are going well, but those who are totally and unconditionally committed work hard even
during tough times.
Thirdly, everyone must act in a first-class manner. We must represent the program with
pride and respect. We understand that our actions impact not only ourselves, but also our
teammates, coaches, university and family.
Once we deliver this philosophy to our team, we are ready to get on the floor and build
the Full Court Scramble.
On the court, the Full Court Scramble requires three essential fundamentals before we
practice our 5-on-5 situations. They are:
1. Apply extreme pressure on the ball handler
2. Anticipate the pass
3. Effectively trap the dribbler
In order to excel at these three fundamentals, we spend time each day in our pre-season
individual workouts as well as our team practices on drills that incorporate these
fundamentals. In addition, although we are developing our defense, the offensive players
in each drill must work hard to make game-line plays to make each drill effective.
1. In Diagram 1, the defender passes the ball to the offense and closes him with hands
high and quick choppy steps.
2. The offense then quickly zig-zags up the court with the defense closing guarding and
making him crossover at least three times.
3. At half court, the offense picks up his dribble and the defender immediately pressures
the dead ball by closing the space between them and
“mirroring” the ball with both hands. After a count
of two, the offense passes the ball to a coach at half
court.
Anticipation Drill
Diagram 2.
The “Anticipation Drill” works the defender to
quickly anticipate the direction of a pass. The defender is concentrating on deflecting the
basketball three times to get out of the drill.
1. In Diagram 3, the defender begins in the middle of the free throw line facing half
court. Two offensive players stand with their inside foot on the elbow, also facing half
court. A coach stands on the circle at half court, with a ball, facing the players.
Diagram 3.
tries to anticipate where the ball is
going and get a deflection. The
Diagram 4. coach can utilize pass fakes and no-
look passes to make it difficult.
Herding Drill
2. As soon as the dribbler begins in one direction, the two defenders try to “herd” him
into a trap. It is important that they do not get beat! They must use the sidelines as
another defender and work together.
3. In Diagram 5, the dribbler crosses over, the defenders close up the space between
them and force a trap. The trap must wrap up the dribbler and now allow him to step
through the trap.
4. Once the trap is made and after a two-count, the passer throws the ball to the coach at
half court. The defenders then sprint out of the trap, run the coach down, and either tip
the ball out of his hands or block an attempted lay up.
Now that we have built a strong foundation with our philosophy and drill work, we are
ready to work with our players 5-on-5 in our five full court scramble defense. Our five
full court defenses are:
By Eric Konkol
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
George Mason University
Applying effective full court pressure is an excellent way of taking your opponent out of
their comfort zone in two simple ways. Its immediate effect is placing duress on the ball
handlers, potentially forcing dribbling or passing errors, well before they get across half
court and into the scoring area. In the long term, the effects of persistent pressure,
constant guessing, and an increase in tempo can cause additional physical and mental
fatigue on your opponent and give you a great opportunity for success. (See Part I:
Building the Full Court Scramble in Vol. II/1st Quarter of ABQ)
Now that we have built a strong foundation with our philosophy and drill work, we are
ready to work with our players 5-on-5 in our five full court scramble defense. Our five
full court defenses are:
1. Full Court Man
2. Quick trap
3. Slow trap
4. Twist
5. 55
Full Court Man
Our Full Court Man sets up the rest of our scramble defenses. There are no traps in this
defense, but extreme pressure is placed all over the floor.
1. In Diagram 1, each defender is guarding their man while the ball is taken out. X3
attempts to deflect any pass that comes in. The rest of the defenders deny the inbound
pass but also try not to get beat with a long pass.
2. In the Full Court Scramble, we switch like size players. When O2 screens for O1, X2
switches and tries to deny O1.
3. In Diagram 2, the ball is inbounded to O1. X2 incorporates the “Nose on the Ball”
drill and applies pressure to O1 by turning him at least three times. The other defenders
are up the line, between the ball and their man, faking at the dribbler to make him think a
trap may be coming.
Diagram 1. Diagram 2.
Quick Trap
Quick Trap begins just like our Full Court Man. The first pass is denied, however, if a
pass is entered, the man guarding the ball out of bounds quickly traps the receiver.
1. In Diagram 3, X3 pressures the inbounder, X2 and X1 switch the screen, and the ball
is passed to O1.
2. In Diagram 4, on the pass, X3 immediately traps the pass receiver with X2. X1 splits
the space between O3 and O2 and anticipates the next pass looking for an errant one. X4
splits O2 and O4, X5 falls back with O5 and is the goaltender.
Diagram 3. Diagram 4.
3. In Diagram 5, the pass is made out of the trap to O3, X1 rotates to him. X3, who left
his man to trap, must now go to where his help came from and guard X2.
4. Now we are in our basic Full Court Man. X1 applies “Nose on the Ball” on O3. X2
denies O1 from getting the ball and the other defenders are up the line, between the ball
and their man, faking at the dribbler to make him think a trap may be coming.
Slow Trap
Slow trap is used to trap a dribbler the very moment he dribbles. This is the fundamental
developed in the “herding drill.”
1. In Diagram 6, X3 pressures the inbounder, X2 and X1 switch the screen, and the ball
is passed to O1.
Diagram 5. Diagram 6.
2. In Diagram 7, X2 switched on to O1 and forces him to the middle. X3, drops back and
plays between the ball and O3 just like he would in our Full Court Man. Once O1
dribbles, X2 and X3 immediately “herds” him until a trap is formed. Once again, X1
splits the space between O3 and O2 and anticipates the next pass looking for an errant
one. X4 splits O2 and O4. X5 falls back with O5 and is the goaltender.
3. In Diagram 8, the pass is made out of the trap to O3, X1 rotates to him. X3, who left
his man to trap, must now go to where his help came from and guard X2.
Diagram 7. Diagram 8.
4. Now we are at our basic Full Court Man. X1 applies “Nose on the Ball” on O3. X2
denies O1 from getting the ball and the other defenders are up the line, between the ball
and their man, faking at the dribbler to make him think a trap may be coming.
Twist
Twist is use to completely deny the opponent’s inbound pass from going to the point
guard. This forces one of the other players to make a move to receive the first pass and is
a terrific way to force a five-second violation.
1. In Diagram 9, just as the ball is taken out by O3, X3 “twists” and double teams by
face guarding O1 with X2 who switched the screen.
3. Now we are in our basic Full Court Man. X1 applies “Nose on the Ball” on O2. X2
denies O1 from getting the ball and the other defenders are up the line, between the ball
and their man, faking at the dribbler to make him think a trap may be coming.
"55" is our only zone press. Unlike our man-to-man presses, this gives our players
specific spots to run to when converting from offense to the Full Court Scramble. We
look to deny the first pass, but if a pass is received, we trap it.
1. In Diagram 11, the defense is set in our "55". X4 is always on the ball, X3 is on the
left, X2 on the right, X1 in the middle, and X5 is back and the goaltender. X4 pressures
the inbounder, X2 and X1 switch the screen, attempt to deny the first pass, but the ball is
inbounded to O1.
2. In Diagram 12, on the pass, X4 immediately traps the pass receiver with X3. X2
aggressively splits the space between O3 and O2 and anticipates the next pass will be
back to X3. X1 splits Ox and O4. X5 falls back with O5 and is the goaltender.
Diagram 11. Diagram 12.
Eric Konkol just completed his third season as a member of Jim Larranaga’s coaching
staff at George Mason. His responsibilities include recruiting, game preparation, scouting,
evaluation of players, and breaking down game tape. Konkol previously was an assistant
on Buzz Peterson’s staff at Tennessee and Tulsa. He is a graduate of the University of
Wisconsin at Eau Claire and earned a master’s degree in sport management at Tennessee.
Questions?
You can email the author at:
EricKonkol@AmericanBasketballQuarterly.com
BAYLOR UNIVERISTY'S
PRESS OFFENSE
By Matt Driscoll
Assistant Coach,
Baylor University
Included are some basic sets of the Press Offense. This will be our basic set vs. man or
zone.
Most of the time we will go to our 14 Triangle set, but this gives us good early movement
and the potential for an easy basket on the other end. The inbounder must clear the lane
and basket. Never throw the ball to the offense below the block (trap area). Later in the
year, add cut and replace with your bigs coming to front court. (See Diagrams 1A-1-D)
Diagram 1A. Diagram 1B.
C. 3 man will take a dribble then hit the 4 man flashing back up the sideline... 5 man will
bail out help side on pass back to 3 man...2 man will fill middle where 5 man vacates
then quickly get back to the ball side deep spot...1 man will become the middle relief
(Diagram 1-C)
D. If we haven’t been able to make a forwardadvancing pass, we will now ask our 1, 2, or
3 man to get the ball across half court in a triangle formation... the 2 man is looking for
an open area anywhere in the middle of the floor... 4 and 5 man are going to space to the
front court staying stretched (Diagram 1-D)
A. If the 1 man is being dogged, the 2 man must always be ready to walk his man to the
middle of the floor then change direction quickly out to the wing (Diagram 2-A)
B. 5 man will look for an opening in the middle... 4 man is diagonal...1 man is up the
sideline...2 man must pass fake first up the floor...normally we will reverse to 3 man
(Diagram 2-B)
C. 3 man will take a dribble then hit the 4 man flashing back up the sideline... 5 man will
bail out help side on pass back to 3 man...1 man will fill middle where 5 man vacates
then quickly get to the ball side deep spot...2 man will become the middle relief
(Diagram 2-C)
D. If we haven't been able to make a forward advancing pass, we will now ask our 1, 2,
and 3 man to get the ball across half court in a triangle formation...1 man is looking for
an
open area anywhere in the middle of the floor... 4 and 5 man are going to space to front
court staying stretched (Diagram 2-D)
Press Offense - 14 (4 man)
This will be our basic set vs. man or zone. Most of the time we will go to our 14 Triangle
set, but this gives us good early movement and the potential for another basket on the
other end. Inbounder must clear the lane and basket. Never throw it to the offense below
the block area extended (See Diagrams 3A-3D).
A. If the 3 man can't hit the 1 or 2 man he must run the baseline and pass to the 4 man...4
man is walking his man into the middle then making a quick change of direction to the
outside open area...3 man will hit 4 man (Diagram 3-A)
B. 1 man is going ball side hard toward the sideline... 3 man is filling behind... 2 man is
going deep diagonal. If 4 man can hit 1 man, we're successful...normally, we reverse the
ball back to the 3 man (Diagram 3-B)
C. 3 man will take a dribble then hit the 2 man flashing back up the sideline...5 man will
bail out deep ball side...1 man will fill middle where 5 man vacates...4 man will become
the deep diagonal (Diagram 3-C)
D. If we haven't been able to make a forward advancing pass, we will now ask our 1, 2,
and 3 man to get the ball across half court in a triangle formation... the 1 man is looking
for an open area anywhere in the middle of the floor... 4 and 5 man are stretching deep to
create space (Diagram 3-D)
Diagram 5A.
Diagram 4.
This will be a nice option to go to at the end of a game to get the ball in the hands of our
best free throw shooter. 2 man has to make a quick change of direction to move deep... 4
and 5 man set a double staggered for the 1 man... 1 man has a choice reading his defender
– he can turn down the screen or go under the double or over the double (Diagram 4)
This is a common offense vs. presses. The 1, 2 and 3 man will form a triangle staying 15
– 18 feet apart at all times. The triangle will sometimes have 2 in the back court or 1.
That is the beauty of this press offense; the fact that it is very flexible. Inbounder must
clear the lane and basket. Never inbound
to the offense below the block area
extended. (See Diagrams 5A-5D)
Matt Driscoll
Assistant Coach Matt Driscoll is in his second year on Coach Scott Drew’s Baylor staff.
Previously, Driscoll spent five years as an assistant to Clemson Coach Larry Shyatt from
1998-2003. Prior to his years at Clemson, Driscoll was an assistant coach for Shyatt at
Wyoming. A 1992 graduate of Slippery Rock, Driscoll can be reached at
Matthew_Driscoll@baylor.edu.
SNAKE BITE
PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES TO IMPLEMENTING THE RUN & JUMP
"SNAKE" DEFENSE
In naming our trapping style run & jump defense, “snake”, we had to look at the
significance of the code name itself and question if it fit the philosophical approach to
what we were trying to teach. Snakes are legless reptiles, some of which have a
venomous bite which they use to kill their prey before eating it. Other snakes kill their
prey by constriction, for example strangulation, which causes suffocation. At Pasadena
City College, we love to take advantage of our quickness and aggressive defensive style
of play. The run & jump defensive pressure is one of several defensive niches that we use
to take our opponents out of their rhythm, while causing indecision and disrupting their
offensive structure, thus causing an offense to suffer asphyxiation. This is a condition of
severe lack of oxygen, and in the absence of remedial action (such as effective dribbling
and passing) can very rapidly lead to unconsciousness and
even death, otherwise known as offensive confusion.
Defensive teammates away from the ball must be aware of all the holes and quick enough
to make the necessary switches in the rotation. There are no lay-ups given because the
determined defenders away from the ball don’t allow anyone to get open. We get into our
run & jump by applying tough full court man -to -man pressure. You can influence the
dribbler toward the sideline by overplaying him to one side, but our defenders must
possess the ability to deny all passing lanes while being intelligent enough to turn the
dribbler to the jumper side to allow the double team to happen.
In our defensive sliding drills we emphasize turning the dribbler with a run and slide drill,
daily. We are always preparing our players for the mindset needed to bite in the run &
jump. Because we are playing straight man-to-man defense, teams generally do not
design a press break offense against us. We want the ball handler to be convinced that he
can beat us up the floor, one on one. We have to be cleaver enough to sell that concept to
our opponent by mixing up the run & jump on various trips down the floor, luring the
dribbler into a false sense of
security. Dribblers that try to push the ball up the floor at a high speed are even more
vulnerable to the run & jump, and that’s just the way we like it. We love those impatient,
"streetball-tape-watching" ball handlers whose egos won’t allow them to pass the ball up
the floor, with patience, control and deliberate ball fakes as well as precision (the way we
subsequently teach our offensive pressure releases). That’s not a knock on the producers
of those street-ball mix tapes and shows. I hope they keep
making them over and over. That’s more opportunities for the
snake defense to bite those non-fundamental ball handlers
where it hurts, but enough of that for now!
Just like a snake who waits for the most opportune time to
attack, we bite with a quick double team as our defender
either forces the dribbler to one side or we take advantage of
our opponent’s inability to space themselves properly on the
floor. In that instance our jump comes when offensive players
get too close to the man bringing the ball up the floor. When
one or more offensive players are close enough to each other,
our defender not guarding the ball can leave his man and
jump the offensive player with an aggressive double team. In
that scenario our defenders are taking what the offense gives
them.
Diagram 2. Special bites
The run & jump is an exciting means of applying defensive are at the mid-court
area because the offense
can not throw in the
backcourt.
pressure and is particularly effective against teams with poor dribblers. However a key
element to the success of the run & jump is our ability to help and recover. We realize
that we are leaving one man open for a moment but we are ready to give help when
needed and recover back in our rotations. When the opportunity presents itself, we run &
jump but we never gamble. We like to think our opponents are the one’s gambling by not
spacing themselves properly. Though we use the code name, “snake”, and symbolically
referring to our run & jump traps as bites, we are also like piranhas on the kill for the
ball. We often change our code names but the symbolism is the same: we are antagonistic
predators seeking to provoke an attack on our opponents. (See Diagrams 1-4)
Screening Drills
at Kansas State
By Deb Patterson
Head Women's Coach
Kansas State University
At Kansas State University we prefer to be very diverse in both our offensive and
defensive systems. I believe one of the greatest elements of basketball is the extent to
which coaches and players can be creative in their approach to the game. There are a
wide variety of highly effective offensive systems and styles of play utilized by programs
in the Big 12 Conference. We see
systems that are predicated on the
three-point shot, some committed to a
power game, some who run various
motion offenses, pro sets, the triangle,
4 around 1, 1-4 high, basic high-low
offense, just to name a few. Whether
offenses are designed for playmakers,
great athletes, utilization of the full 30 Diagram 1A. Diagram 1B.
seconds, quick hits, or to hide and
minimize weaknesses the reality is
there are a variety of ways to play.
Last season in Big 12 games, Kansas State ranked first in scoring offense, FG%, 3 pt. FG
%, assists, 3 pt. FG’s made, scoring margin, assist/turnover ratio, FG% defense and 3pt.
FG% defense. We finished 11th however in offensive rebounds and 5th in steals. In other
words, our system and personnel led to a high level of efficiency each possession.
Offensive rebounding and steals are two great offensive weapons. As we all know,
offensive rebounding can turn the worst possession or the ugliest shot into gold. The
fewer offensive rebounds, the greater the pressure on each possession to be perfect.
As our rebounding numbers from 2003-04 illustrate, it’s important to consistently analyze
and measure all factors that potentially contribute to offense. Needless to say, we all want
our players rebounding the ball at a high level. The obvious starting point is by making it
a priority of thought and action every day at practice.
These drills should enhance any offense you run. Players learn to talk, watch, read and
react to both the defense and their teammates.
Progression:
1. No defense
2. Add one defender on the cutter (not the screener).
Offense makes the correct read and then screener reacts to a second ball
3. Add a second defender
4. Work live 2 on 2 (no switching) with one ball. Scores will not come on every screen.
Space the floor and try again and again.
Drill 10: Flair with Chaser/Drag In her eighth season as head coach at
Backdoor Kansas State, Deb Patterson has catapulted
10A. If defense locks on and goes with K-State into the national spotlight by
player.... making back-to-back NCAA Tournament
appearances. She has also helped produce a
top six program nationally in home
attendance and lead several players to All-
America honors. You can reach her at
The Closeout betten@ksu.edu.
Cincinnati's On Ball Defense
By Laurie Pirtle
Head Women's Basketball Coach
Univeristy of Cincinnati
At the University of Cincinnati we spend a great deal of time developing the basketball
skills of our players. We teach
offensive, defensive and rebounding
techniques that develop our players
into the best they can be. However, for
the purpose of this article the focus
will be on drills that enhance on ball
defense.
Diagram 3. Diagram 4.
The skill development requires technique, work ethic and repetition. The closeout
technique involves breaking down or chopping your feet towards the offensive player
while being disciplined not to jump or lunge at them. Developing an instinctive closeout
requires work ethic during proper repetition.
Utilizing repetitive breakdown drills to simulate game situations will prepare your
players for the many aspects of defending the ball. Our breakdown drills include, but are
not limited to: rolls, skips, skips with a bump screen, screen the screener and half court
closeouts. Additionally, during our closeout drills we incorporate a variety of offensive
skills for the player to defend. For example, during the closeout drill a coach will
designate or remind the defender whether the offensive player is a shooter, driver or
driver/shooter. This enables the defender to adjust their closeout according to thestrengths
of the offensive player.
Skip Closeout: The skip closeout involves two offensive players on the wings, one
defensive player under the basket and a coach under the basket with a ball. The coach
rolls the ball to either wing while the defensive player closes out on the ball (see
Diagram 4). O1 can look to score but preferably skips to O2 (see Diagram 5).
O2 can drive forcing the X1 to help
and recover (see Diagram 6)
Ultimately O2 skips the ball to O1.
The wings continue to repeat this skip
action a few times with the drill ending
when O1 attempts to score while the
X1 tries to stop her (see Diagram 7).
The players rotate after every
possession. Diagram 9. Diagram 10.
Screen the Screener Closeout: This drill requires six players and a passer. It begins as a
3 on 3 drill with an offense and defense on the ball side box, offense and defense on the
weak side box and offense and defense
at the free throw line. The coach is on
the wing with the ball (see Diagram
10) .O1 sets a cross screen on X2 for
O2 (see Diagram11). O3 sets a down
screen on X2 for O2 to curl to the free
throw line and the coach looks at
O1who used the cross screen but
preferably passes to O2 who has curled
to the free throw line (see Diagram
12).
The most successful women's basketball coach in Cincinnati history, Laurie Pirtle is now
into her 19th year as head coach for the Bearcats. In the past seven seasons, Pirtle has
guided UC to six winning seasons, six 20-plus win campaigns and seven straight post
season appearances. A three year starter for Ohio State, Pirtle graduated in 1980. She can
be reached at laurie.pirtle@ uc.edu.
Harvard University's
Combination Drills
By Kathy Delaney-Smith
Head Women's Basketball Coach
Harvard University
COMBINATION DRILLS
I am always interested in finding new combination drills. I look for drills that will
accomplish a lot in a short period of time. The drills described below are among my
favorites. You will be able to practice multiple parts of the game, adjust the drills to meet
your team’s needs and keep the intensity level high. Players love these drills.
CONTINUOUS 3 ON 3
Needed: 4 teams of 3
This is a drill that you may already use, but we’ve added a few variations. It’s a great
conditioner that simulates offensive and defensive transition better than most. By keeping
the teams the same throughout the entire drill, you can keep score and maintain a high
level of competition. You can adjust this drill to fit your particular needs. We saw great
improvement in our transition decision-making and shot selection. This drill practices 3
on 2’s, 2 on 1’s, and most fast break situations.
There are four teams of three. Team 1 starts by playing offense against Team 2. Team 3
positions two outlets on the sideline at the three-point arc extended and another outlet at
the hash mark. Team 4 is positioned at the opposite 3-point arc extended and hash mark.
Team 1 attacks Team 2 until there is a change of possession (basket, rebound or turnover)
(See Diagram 1)
Team 2 (defensive team) takes the ball
out of bounds and outlets the ball
quickly and accurately to a member of
Team 3 at the 3-point arc on the same
side of the floor. The two other
members of Team 3 may not move or
head down court until the outlet pass is
caught. A designated coach is in
charge of making sure that these two
do not leak out, as it results in Diagram 1. Diagram 2.
uncontested lay-ups, which defeats the
purpose of the drill. Team 3 tries to
fast break against Team 1, who has
sprinted back and is defending the
break. (See Diagram 2)
CONTINUOUS 3 ON 3
Needed: 3 teams of 3
In order to make this drill more of a conditioner, play with only three teams of 3. This
time, the team throwing the outlet pass sprints to the other end to fill the outlet positions.
(See Diagram 5)
• No one may head down the floor until the outlet is received - there will be a natural
tendency to leak out, so we put a coach in charge of that. We use this drill to practice 3 on
2’s and 2 on 1’s and setting up - not the uncontested fast break lay up!
• The team throwing the outlet pass after a score, turnover, or rebound must do so quickly
and accurately. Since they are not throwing to their own team, it is a little awkward in the
beginning. If they are quick enough and accurate enough to help create a lay-up at the
other end, we award those points to both teams. This really helps!
• If you want to work on offensive rebounding in transition, award 2 points for an
offensive rebound.
This gets very interesting!
Team 1 offenses Team 2. Team 3 has two players at half court, and two players at the
opposite end. (See Diagram 6)
Once there is a turnover, rebound, or basket made, Team 2 takes the ball out of bounds on
the endline (except on the rebound when the play stays live) and passes to a teammate in
the backcourt. Team 1 may press in the backcourt. If they get a steal, they go for the
score and press again. Once the ball crosses half court, the Team 3 players at half court
must touch the jump circle and play defense. Team 1 fills two defensive spots in the key
and the other two go to half court. (See Diagram 7)
CONTINUOUS 5 ON 5 ON 5
Needed: 3 teams of 5
This is a good drill if you have a large team and you want to include everyone. We will
use coaches to fill in if there are not enough players. We like to practice our zone
offenses this way. You can accomplish a lot in a short period of time and there are no
players standing around.
We do not press in the back court with 5 players and we do not set up a transition
situation (although you could). We just work on our zones (offensive and defensive).
(See Diagram 8)
We will do some form of these drills almost every day all year. I am a big believer in
goals and /or consequences. We try to make everything we do competitive and the
players respond well to this. Any particular offensive situation you are trying to work on
can be included in these drills by awarding more points to them (i.e. double points for
executing a pick and roll, post move etc.) You will be surprised how hard your players
will work to get those points! The other benefit is you are also practicing defending those
situations.
Kathy Delaney-Smith
Now in her 23rd season as the head coach of Harvard women’s basketball, Kathy
Delaney-Smith is the winningest women’s basketball in school’s history. Entering this
season, Delaney-Smith’s coaching record at Harvard is 335-240 with a 203-97 record in
the Ivy League. She is a graduate of Bridgewater State College and a member of its
Athletic Hall of Fame. She can be reached at delaneys@fas.harvard.edu
By Ron Reed
Men's Head Coach
Ohio University-Southern
With the success that teams have had playing zones against the 2004 Olympic team,
coaches will see more zones this year. Since 1974, my teams have run the motion
offense. I have been blessed/cursed by taking over programs in poor shape; in every
situation we started out with one and sometimes no scorer. We were patient in our motion
offense and teams recognized that the way to beat us was to use the zone.
An assistant of mine, Steve Barriger, suggested the use of the “New Zone Offense.” Over
the years, it has become effective against the zone with only one scorer. The “New Zone”
offense will work against all zones since after the first pass most zones are the same.
Here are some set plays for the “New Zone Offense” that may be helpful to you and your
team (See Diagrams 1-8).
Diagram 1. Diagram 2.
#1 Best ball handling guard #4 breaks up and out to foul line
#2 Best scoring guard extended
#3 Best perimeter scorer #2 passes to #4 and runs the circle to
#4 Forward opposite elbow
#5 Post #5 rolls to the ball side block
#1 replaces #2
#3 holds on the block
Diagram 3. Diagram 4.
#4 pass fakes to #5, shot fakes (Zones must #4 reverses the ball to #1 and cuts
respect shot fakes and pass fakes) through to the corner (#4 must cut
under #3 and then to the deep corner)
#1 receives the ball, if #2 is open at
the elbow
then take the shot... if #2 is not open at
elbow he steps out on the perimeter to
receive the pass from #1
Diagram 5. Diagram 6.
After receiving the pass #2 will make a pass fake #2 will reverse the ball to #1 as #1
to #4 (#2 will not pass the ball to #4 even if he is receives the #5 sets a screen on
open can not score) defensive man “D”
#3 times the ball reversal to #1
#3 comes off #5’s screen to the corner
for a
wide-open shot
#5 after he screens “D” will post-up
and
seal “D” out looking for the ball
Diagram 7. Diagram 8.
If #3 does have a wide-open shot, he takes it. If The offense is run to the opposite side.
not, he looks inside for #5, if he can’t get it inside
(don’t force it) #3 will reverse the ball to #1, #1
will (can) drive the ball in the gap in the zone and
reverse the ball to #1 and the offense is reset.
I have found over the years you can incorporate the motion offense principles using the
“New Zone” but coaches will find if they run the pattern, the elbow shot will be there.
The post will open up and the scorer, #3, will get great looks. Even though this offense is
designed for only one scorer, if both #4 and #3 are
scorers, it enables the offense to be run to either side.
This offense has been good to our teams over the years,
even in college, with the 35-second clock. Coaches need
to emphasize the basic fundamentals against zone such
as pass fakes, shot fakes, and driving the gaps to make
two defensive players play one man. As coaches look at
different zones they will find the “New Zone” offense
will be effective against all of them. Diagram 9.
Head Coach at Ohio University-Southern, Ron Reed has coached for 39 years, He has 20
years of high school coaching experience in Kentucky, was head coach at Milligan
College and an assistant at both Morehead State and Mississippi. This fall he starts his
sixth year at Ohio University-Southern.
Questions?
You can email the author at:
RonReed@AmericanBasketballQuarterly.com