How to Run a Zone Offense, Man - Man Style

I had been running a motion offense against a zone defense for about 10 years(now retired). This approach has been successful for me over the years. This offense works best with patient passing and hard cuts.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    
   ILL #1

   To start this offense, the point guard must clearly define which side he want to start the play. Illustration 1 shows the point guard heading to the right wing.

2. 
    
   ILL #2

   The right side wings screen down. These screens are more like postups. They engage their wing defenders, then Cutter #1 comes across the lane. Cutter #2 delays his cut to see what the defense does and then cuts to the open spot. If neither cutter is open, they will replace the right side wings and the posts will replace to the left side. Now the floor is balanced and ready to start your motion offense again.

3. 
    
   ILL #3

   I have marked 6 areas that I would concentrate my plays in: 2 blue; 2 red; 1 green; 1 black. Good scouting will help you decide which areas you would like to work in. Using a variety of drills, I would utilize both sides of the court, to simulate our offense. I would even use an extra player on the zone defense to increase the difficulty for the shooters.

Tips & Warnings

• I have found that the most important factor of this offensive approach is patient passing. When I was coaching the Lorain County Community College Women's team, this offense gave us an advantage over more seasoned teams. I would disguise it by intially running a 4 OUT - 1 IN zone offense. We would make a couple of passes and then attack a side. I even used a Highpost offense with this set.
• Use screening drills that emphasize posting up.

[rephillips]

on 12/16/2008 I loved this article....very helpful

[Mike1]

on 12/16/2008 This article was very helpful. I have incorporated this approach in my gameplan and so far it has proven successful.