Zone Offense Concepts

Zone Offense Concepts

By: Rollie Massimino - Head Coach Northwood University

Provided By The National Association of Basketball Coaches - NABC

Over the course of my coaching career, we have worked on zone concepts rather than specific plays. When utilizing these concepts, our program's specific objectives for the season were to get easy baskets; get inside to secure second shots at the basket; and to rebound and defend. It is crucial that everyone knows their role in the offense, that we execute well with solid shot selection, and get into a fast break tempo.

To break down the attack, the individual players must practice a swing step concept and be comfortable with their positions on the floor. As a team, we have to develop a flow of the offense, know defensive slides and how to attack the back people on the defense.

Why does anyone play zone? It may be effective if your team is in foul trouble or can be an equalizer in matching up against an opponent. The zone can make for a shorter game, help to control the clock and take away from an inside game. It also opens up options to move the ball; move people; and allows choices of playing all pattern, part pattern and part motion, all motion or freelance.

Some basic zone rules to know and practice regularly with these concepts include the need to penetrate and fill the natural gap of the zone with the dribble; look for the post man at all times; split the defense; use offensive fakes with the basketball and move up to holes in the defense. Players should be in a shooting position when receiving the basketball; look for a passing lane; be patient; and remember, when rebounding, 70 percent of all balls bounce to the opposite side of the hoop on shots taken. Weak-side action should be initiated by the post, who should look opposite and reverse the ball. One man must always be cutting behind the defense and zone, then come from behind to the middle. Timing is a key and players must move to open areas rather than exploit the seams while forcing the offense on the defense. Practice the zone rules when the ball is at the wing and corner with four men on one side of the floor. You must make the defense react and try to have two defenders play our lone man on the weak side of the floor. It's important to use the triangles, go against the grain and skip pass opposite. Zone cuts should be all angles and the initial alignment, along with dribble penetration, is very important.