Basketball Defense - 3-1-1 Zone Press

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net

Before reading this page, first see the page on "Transition Defense". Read the information on full court defense.

The 3-1-1 zone press features three defenders across the free throw line area, one just beyond the 3-point line in the center, and one down-court in "prevent" (see Diagram A). This press matches up well against teams that use a three-across, or 3-up, press offense.

There are two ways of playing the in-bounds pass. In the first method, the in-bounds pass is not contested, but allowed to an offensive player near the corner (try to deny a center pass). The middle and outside defender on the ball-side immediately trap the ball-handler, while the other three defenders cover the gaps between the other four offensive players, trying to deny or intercept the pass (see Diagram B). In covering the gaps, the defenders should stagger, or position themselves halfway between two passing lanes. They should watch the ball-hander's movements and eyes in order to anticipate where the pass will go. Once they see the commitment in the passer, they should quickly move into that passing lane and get the interception.

A second method has one of the three front line defenders guard the passer, and then stay with the passer after the in-bounds pass has been made. This is to prevent the pass back to the offensive player who in-bounded the ball. The other two front line defenders trap the ball, and the other two defenders play the gaps between the offensive players.

The defenders must stay ahead of the ball. If the ball gets ahead of any defender, he/she must sprint back immediately to stay between the ball and the basket. If the press gets beaten, all defenders must sprint back to the paint and protect the basket. Once the break is stopped, they can fan out into their zone or man-to-man assignments. Playing the gaps. Diagram B. There are 4 passing lanes to the offensive players. The 3 defenders not involved in the trap (X3, X4 and X5), stagger themselves between those lanes, and look for the interception.

3-2 Adjustment: Diagram C. If the offense is successful in passing up the sidelines (on either side of X4), then adjust your zone defense to a 3-2 zone, bringing X5 up, and have X4 and X5 play just inside the mid-court area. This of course is more of a gamble, because no defender is back in "prevent". The weakside mid-court player must have "back" responsibility in preventing the lay-up. For example, is the ball is being advanced up the offense's right side of the floor (X2 and X4 are defending on the ballside), then X5 has the "back" responsibility. All defenders must really hustle back any time the press is broken.