Zone defense
Encyclopedia
Zone defense is a type of defense, used in team sports
, which is the alternative to man-to-man defense
; instead of each player guarding a corresponding player on the other team, each defensive player is given an area known as a "zone" to cover.
A zone defense can be used in virtually all sports where defensive players guard players on the other team.
is a zone defense in which two defenders are covering areas in the top of the zone (near the top of the key) while three defenders are covering areas near the baseline.
Other types of zone defense include:
When a team plays a zone, the defenders must keep their hands up and in passing lanes and quickly adjust their positions as the ball and the offensive players move around. Teams that successfully play zone defenses are very vocal and effectively communicate where they, the ball, and their opponents are or will be.
Teams playing a zone occasionally try to "trap" the ball handler, an aggressive strategy designed to "double-team" the player with the ball. While this tactic may cause a turnover, it leaves one or more players on the offense undefended. The undefended player(s) are generally schemed to be on the opposite side of the court, away from the ball, so any attempt to pass the ball to them would result in the ball either traveling a long distance through the air or being relayed by a third offensive player, allowing the defense to recover. Good ball handlers can also try to "split" the trap by bringing the ball through the space in the middle of the two trapping defenders, creating an instant advantage for the offense.
Zone defenses were prohibited in the National Basketball Association
prior to the 2001–2002 season. The NBA currently permits the use of zones; however, teams generally do not use them as a primary defensive strategy and no zone defense may feature an unguarded defender inside the free-throw lane (a violation of that results in a defensive three-second violation, which is a technical foul). The Dallas Mavericks
are an example of an NBA team that regularly uses zone defenses; during the 2011 Playoffs
, their zone defense was credited with slowing down offenses, forcing opposing players to recognize which defense they were playing. Zone defenses are more common in international, college, and youth competition.
Frank Lindley, Newton, KS High School
basketball coach from 1914 to 1945, was among the first to use the zone defense and other innovations in the game and authored numerous books about basketball. He finished his career with a record of 594–118 and guided the Railroaders to ten state titles and seven second-place finishes.
refers to a type of "pass coverage". See American football defensive strategy and zone blocking
.
and revolutionized the game. It was used most effectively by Essendon Football Club
coach Kevin Sheedy.
The tactic is used from the fullback
kick in after a behind is scored. The side in opposition to the player kicking in places their forward players, including their full-forward
and center half forward, in evenly spaced zones in the back 50-meter arc. This makes it easier for them to block leading players and forces the kick in to be more precise, in effect increasing the margin for error which can cause a turnover and another shot at goal. As a result, the best ways to break the zone are for the full-back to bomb it long (over 50 meters), often requiring a low percentage torpedo punt, or to play a short chipping game out of defense and then to switch play as opposition players break the zone. The latter has negated the effectiveness of the tactic since the 1990s.
Another kick-in technique is the huddle
, often used before the zone, which involves all of the players from the opposition team to the player is kicking in huddling together and then breaking in different directions. The kicker typically aims in whichever direction that the designated target (typically the ruckman
) runs in.
, where the Turkish Army
defended its homeland against Greek invaders. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
, commander-in-chief
of Turkish Army summarized his doctrine as:
, the French army built the Maginot Line
, which was meant to stop a German attack in front of it so that a repeat of the devastations of World War I
in northern France could be avoided. However, the German army found its way around this barricade by invading Belgium and the Netherlands. Although the Maginot Line was prepared for a heavy assault and its construction had drawn a lot of funds away from other defensive measures, it was never used, and France fell into Nazi hands during the Battle of France
with far less resistance than the Germans had encountered during World War I.
The Viet Cong practiced zone defense in the Vietnam War
. As a result, the United States Army
had to stop inside the unfamiliar Vietnamese
jungle
s that offered the Viet Cong ideal conditions for guerrilla warfare.
Team sport
A team sport includes any sport which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal which is usually to win. This can be done in a number of ways such as...
, which is the alternative to man-to-man defense
Man-to-man defense
Man-to-man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in American football, association football, and basketball in which each player is assigned to defend and follow the movements of a single player on offense. Often, a player guards his counterpart , but a player may be assigned to guard a...
; instead of each player guarding a corresponding player on the other team, each defensive player is given an area known as a "zone" to cover.
A zone defense can be used in virtually all sports where defensive players guard players on the other team.
Zone defense in basketball
A description of a zone defense corresponds to the number of players on the front of the zone (farthest from the goal) and works its way to the back of the zone. For example, a 2–3 zone2-3 Zone Defense
The 2–3 zone defense is a defensive strategy used in basketball as an alternative to man-to-man defense. It is referred to as the 2–3 because of its formation on the court, which consists of two players at the front of the defense and three players behind .-How to play a 2–3 zone defense:The...
is a zone defense in which two defenders are covering areas in the top of the zone (near the top of the key) while three defenders are covering areas near the baseline.
Other types of zone defense include:
- Match-up zoneMatch-up zone defenseMatch-up zone defense is a type of defense used in the game of basketball. It is commonly referred to as a "combination" defense, as it combines certain aspects of man-to-man defense and zone defense...
, a hybrid of man-to-man defense and zone defense where players apply man-to-man defense to whichever opposing player enters their area. John Chaney, former head coach of Temple UniversityTemple UniversityTemple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, is this defense's most famous proponent. - Box-and-one in which four defenders are in a 2–2 zone and one defender guards a specific player on the offense. A variant of this is the triangle-and-twoTriangle and Two DefenseThe Triangle-and-Two Defense is a particular type of defense used in basketball.The Triangle-and-Two is a hybrid between a man-to-man defense in which each defensive player is responsible for marking a player on the other team, and a zone defense in which each defensive player is responsible for...
, in which three defenders are in a 2–1 zone and two defenders guard two specific offensive players. This scheme was invented by the late National Basketball Hall of Fame coach and former Temple University head coach Harry Litwack. - 1–3–1 Half Court Trap1-3-1 defense/offenseThe 1-3-1 defense and offense is a popular strategy used in basketball.The 1-3-1 zone defense is a defensive basketball formation. It was originally utilized by Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee. This defense is named for its formation since there is one defender at the point, three defenders at the...
where a quicker but long-limbed forward (at the 1 spot) guards ball handlers and attempts to disrupt quick passes as the guards have to pass around the wingspan of the larger forward. The center stands around the free throw line with a guard protecting the low post. The other two players stand on either side of the center with all 3 players keeping their arms stretched out. From many aspects this works more like a man-to-man defense, as players wear down quicker and it is tough to shoot from the perimeter over a tall forward. This zone requires a single player to be the ball defender.
When a team plays a zone, the defenders must keep their hands up and in passing lanes and quickly adjust their positions as the ball and the offensive players move around. Teams that successfully play zone defenses are very vocal and effectively communicate where they, the ball, and their opponents are or will be.
Teams playing a zone occasionally try to "trap" the ball handler, an aggressive strategy designed to "double-team" the player with the ball. While this tactic may cause a turnover, it leaves one or more players on the offense undefended. The undefended player(s) are generally schemed to be on the opposite side of the court, away from the ball, so any attempt to pass the ball to them would result in the ball either traveling a long distance through the air or being relayed by a third offensive player, allowing the defense to recover. Good ball handlers can also try to "split" the trap by bringing the ball through the space in the middle of the two trapping defenders, creating an instant advantage for the offense.
Zone defenses were prohibited in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
prior to the 2001–2002 season. The NBA currently permits the use of zones; however, teams generally do not use them as a primary defensive strategy and no zone defense may feature an unguarded defender inside the free-throw lane (a violation of that results in a defensive three-second violation, which is a technical foul). The Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
are an example of an NBA team that regularly uses zone defenses; during the 2011 Playoffs
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
, their zone defense was credited with slowing down offenses, forcing opposing players to recognize which defense they were playing. Zone defenses are more common in international, college, and youth competition.
Advantages of playing a zone defense
There are several reasons for a team to use a zone defense. Some are listed below.- The opposing team has a player or players too quick (in the case of guards) or too big (in the case of forwards or centers) for a man-to-man defense to be effective.
- Many zones pack defenders in the lane but allow the offensive team to take long-range shots. If the opponents are poor long-range shooters, a zone can be very effective.
- Unless trapping is involved, zone defenses typically do not involve aggressive pressure on the ball handler and allow the offensive team to pass the ball around the perimeter, leading to more time being used by the offensive team before a shot is attempted. Therefore, teams wanting to slow down the tempo of a game will often choose to play zone.
- A poor defensive player can often be "hidden" in a zone because teammates can more easily help if he or she is beaten.
- If players are in danger of fouling out (especially forwards or centers, who typically guard the lane), using a zone helps to take the pressure off them.
- Playing a zone is usually less tiring than playing man-to-man, so fatigued teams are more inclined to use zones.
- Some teams play a zone when the opponents inbound the ball under the basket to help prevent easy scores off of screen plays.
- Against teams with inexperienced guards, trapping zones can disrupt the offense and force turnovers.
Disadvantages of playing a zone defense
Playing a zone entails some risks. Some are listed below.- Zones tend to be weak on the perimeter, so they are not very effective against teams with good outside shooters.
- Zones have gaps (areas that are not well-covered by defenders) that can be exploited by teams that pass well or have guards capable of penetrating the zone.
- If a team is behind in the game, playing a zone is a poor strategy because zones usually allow the offense to take more time off the clock on each possession, which limits the time remaining for the losing team to reduce the lead. It also reduces the chances of stealing the ball from the attackers and attempting a quick counterstrike across open field. This is not always true, there are pressure zone defenses that can often cause quicker shots by the opponent or result in turnovers
- When a shot is attempted, it is often harder for players in a zone to find counterparts to box out for the rebound, which sometimes results in an offensive player getting an easy offensive rebound.
- Zone defenses require a commitment to scheming and practicing zone, both from coaches and players. While most players are familiar with playing zone defense, they are sometimes not expert in the nuances of the zone, such as spacing, which require familiarity and experience. When man-to-man teams switch to the zone defense, it is sometimes seen as a gimmick that is easily exploited by disciplined teams.
Attacking a zone defense
While strategies for countering zone defenses vary and often depend on the strengths and weaknesses of both the offensive and defensive teams, there are some general principles that are typically used by offensive teams when facing a zone.- Many popular zones (such as the 2–3 and 1–2–2) have a gap in the middle of the lane. Getting the ball in this area can be very effective because the defense is often forced to "collapse" on the ball handler, freeing up other players for open shots. To exploit this gap, many teams assign a forward to operate in the "high post" area near the free throw line to catch and distribute the ball. A forward in the high post area can also set screens on the players at the top of the zone to allow penetration by the guards.
- Quick passing is an important element of attacking any zone. The defense will shift as the ball moves, but if the offense can move the ball faster than the defense can react, open shots can result. Quick passing against a zone often leads to open three-point shotThree-point field goalA three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s, and zone defenses are less effective against teams with good three-point shooters. - Dribble penetration is very effective in breaking down a zone. If a guard can dribble into the gaps in the zone, multiple defenders must converge on the ball. The ball handler can then often pass to an open teammate for a shot. This strategy illustrates why preventing dribble penetration is important in playing an effective zone defense.
- Passing the ball to the interior of the zone can have similar effects as dribble penetration: as the defense collapses, a quick kick-out to the perimeter can result in either an open shot or continued quick passing, as the defense is now imbalanced.
- Short Corner: Attacking the "Short Corner", or baseline area behind the defense outside the lane, against a 2-3 zone puts the defense in rotation and opens up the mid post.
- Screening the backside of the zone: this opens up weakside shooters off a skip pass or ball rotation.
History of basketball zone defense
- See: "External links" (below)
Frank Lindley, Newton, KS High School
Newton High School (Kansas)
Newton High School is the public secondary school in Newton, Kansas, USA. It is the only secondary school for USD 373, and has 1,358 students. The school's campus and Cedar tree surrounded parking lot make it a distinctive landmark in NW Newton, Kansas....
basketball coach from 1914 to 1945, was among the first to use the zone defense and other innovations in the game and authored numerous books about basketball. He finished his career with a record of 594–118 and guided the Railroaders to ten state titles and seven second-place finishes.
Zone defense in American football
Zone defense in American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
refers to a type of "pass coverage". See American football defensive strategy and zone blocking
Zone blocking
Zone blocking is a technique in American football that is a simple and effective scheme for creating lanes for running plays.In a zone blocking scheme, fleet-footedness and athletic ability trump size as desirable qualities in offensive linemen...
.
Zone defence in Australian rules football
The zone defence tactic, borrowed from basketball, was introduced into Australian football in the late 1980s by Robert WallsRobert Walls
Robert Walls is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who now works primarily as a television commentator and newspaper columnist on the sport. On 22 June 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.- Carlton :...
and revolutionized the game. It was used most effectively by Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
coach Kevin Sheedy.
The tactic is used from the fullback
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
kick in after a behind is scored. The side in opposition to the player kicking in places their forward players, including their full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
and center half forward, in evenly spaced zones in the back 50-meter arc. This makes it easier for them to block leading players and forces the kick in to be more precise, in effect increasing the margin for error which can cause a turnover and another shot at goal. As a result, the best ways to break the zone are for the full-back to bomb it long (over 50 meters), often requiring a low percentage torpedo punt, or to play a short chipping game out of defense and then to switch play as opposition players break the zone. The latter has negated the effectiveness of the tactic since the 1990s.
Another kick-in technique is the huddle
Huddle
In sport, a huddle is when a team gathers together, usually in a tight circle, to strategise, motivate or celebrate. It is a popular strategy for keeping opponents insulated from sensitive information, and acts as a form of insulation when the level of noise in the venue is such that normal...
, often used before the zone, which involves all of the players from the opposition team to the player is kicking in huddling together and then breaking in different directions. The kicker typically aims in whichever direction that the designated target (typically the ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
) runs in.
Zone defense in art of war
Zone defense is a defense in art of war, mainly preferred if the invader is stronger than the defender and the defender is highly motivated and knows the ground better than the offender, especially when they are defending their own core territory. It replaced the line defense, a strategy which states that the army should barricade themselves in the way of the invading troops aiming to reach a target. Per line defense approach, if the defending army loses ground, it should withdraw until it reaches a certain place where all the friendly units can come together and secure themselves. Zone defense strategy states that the defender should hold the ground at whatever cost unless otherwise directly ordered. It also states that if a unit is ordered to withdraw, it should step back until the first safe zone, assuming that an army can fight everywhere if it is committed to the war. An example of zone defense is the Battle of SakaryaBattle of Sakarya
The Battle of Sakarya , also known as the Battle of the Sangarios , was an important engagement in the Greco-Turkish War and Turkish War of Independence....
, where the Turkish Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
defended its homeland against Greek invaders. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
, commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of Turkish Army summarized his doctrine as:
Comparison of zone defense and line defense
As part of their preparations for World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the French army built the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
, which was meant to stop a German attack in front of it so that a repeat of the devastations of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in northern France could be avoided. However, the German army found its way around this barricade by invading Belgium and the Netherlands. Although the Maginot Line was prepared for a heavy assault and its construction had drawn a lot of funds away from other defensive measures, it was never used, and France fell into Nazi hands during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
with far less resistance than the Germans had encountered during World War I.
The Viet Cong practiced zone defense in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. As a result, the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
had to stop inside the unfamiliar Vietnamese
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
s that offered the Viet Cong ideal conditions for guerrilla warfare.
See also
- Box-and-one defense
- Man-to-man defenseMan-to-man defenseMan-to-man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in American football, association football, and basketball in which each player is assigned to defend and follow the movements of a single player on offense. Often, a player guards his counterpart , but a player may be assigned to guard a...
- Zonal marking
- Lacrosse strategy #Defense in settled situations