How to Play a Box and 1 Defense

In basketball, a box and 1-style defense is a zone defense used in place of the normal man-to-man style to give the defensive team an edge. This style of play has mostly been seen in college, although the National Basketball Association has changed its rules to make zone defenses legal. If the opponent has a difficult matchup for your team or doesn't shoot well from the outside, the box and 1 defense can help you win.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Locate the "lane" of the side of the court your team will defend.

2. Spot one defensive man at each corner of the lane. These players will be playing a zone defense.

3. Instruct each player that his responsibility is to guard his zone. His zone is located from his spot on the court to the middle of the lane, and his spot on the court to the sideline.

4. Instruct the fifth defensive player, who will represent the "1" in the box and 1 defense, that his responsibility is to play man-to-man defense on the opposing player who has the ball. When the ball is passed, the "1" chases and double-teams the player with the ball.

5. Practice boxing out. In a zone defense, it's sometimes difficult to box out properly. When a shot goes up, each player must locate a man to block.

6. Tell your players to sag into the lane whenever the ball is on the opposite side of the court. If the ball is on the left side of the court, the players on the right should move one step closer to the lane in their zone.

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