Perimeter Plays vs Zone

By: Sylvia Hatchell - UNC

Originally Published in: WBCA Offensive Plays & Strategies - Human Kinetics

Objective
To capitalize on great shooters at the wings.

When to Use
Against all zones.
To flatten a zone into a 2-3.

Key Personnel
You need excellent shooting guards at the wings.

Execution

1. 1 dribbles between the two players at the top of the zone. 2 and 3 move up the sideline slightly to be open for a pass, and 4 and 5 post up. 1 passes to whoever is open or dribbles back out to try again (figure 1).
   
2. If 2 or 3 receives the ball (in this case 2), she must read the defense. If 5's defender stays low, the wing has an open shot. If the defender comes out on 2, 5 should be open for a post feed. The wing also can skip the ball to the opposite wing, or if the defender at the top of the zone drops to cover the wing, 1 should cut into the open space for the pass (figure 2).

Points of Emphasis

Having players in the corners forces any zone to flatten out into a 2-3 formation. The ball on the wing creates a dilemma for 5's defender. If the defender goes out to guard 2, 5 should be open for a post feed. If she stays on 5, 2 has the open shot.

Objective
To have more offensive players in an area than there are defenders, presenting a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 situation.

When to Use
Against all zones.

Key Personnel
The 1 needs good range from the corner. The 4 and 5 should work well from both the elbow and the block. The 2 and 3 should have three-point range and be able to drive to the basket and make crisp skip passes.

Execution

1. 1 passes to 2 and then cuts to the ball-side corner through the center of the lane while 3 moves to the top of the circle (figure 1).
   
2. 2 can shoot, drive, or pass to 1 in the corner, 5 posting up, 4 in the high post, or to 3 at the top of the key (figure 2).
   
3. If 1 receives the ball and doesn't shoot, she can pass to 5 posting up, to 4 who's posting up or cutting to the basket, skip it to 3, or pass back to 2, who has the same options as before (figure 3).
   
4. If the ball reverses, from 1 to either 2 or 3, 1 cuts to the opposite corner, 4 and 5 cut diagonally to the opposite elbow and block, respectively, and 2 spots on the perimeter midway between the wing and the top of the circle, and the play continues (figure 4).

Point of Emphasis

The 1 will usually be wide open in the corner.