How to Coach Youth on the 2-3 Zone Defense

The 2-3 zone defense is one of the most common zone defenses basketball coaches use to protect the paint and cover up the weakness of one or more defenders in man-to-man play. The basic formation of a 2-3 defense features the point guard and shooting guard defending the perimeter and the three big men (center, small forward and power forward) guarding the area closer to the basket.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the five players in their assigned positions, as they wait for the offensive side to reach their side of the court. All players must know this position and return to it as soon as their attack is over, so practice on quick returns as well.

    • 2

      Explain the concept of guarding space instead of individuals on zone defense. Prevent players from rushing to the offenders, leaving their part uncovered. Defenders must never stick to an offender, but move as a part of a whole.

    • 3

      Focus on closing the route to the basket by practicing on penetrations. Go for the trap, using the point guard and shooting guard to mark the offensive point guard. This way the offender can either pass to the side (your forwards must be prepared for such a pass) or lose the ball.

    • 4

      Force the offense to numerous passes at the high post to find a clear shot, wasting valuable seconds. For passes to the sides, let the forward with the closest guard mark the shooter, while the guards must get opponents opposite the basket.

    • 5

      Assign specific rebound positions. As Victorino Cunha, FIBA instructor for Africa, suggests, 90 percent of shots rebound in or next to the paint. As soon as the shot is taken, each player must take his designated position, covering both the area near the paint and the high post.

    • 6

      Work on the defensive three-second violation to help players avoid forgetting themselves in the paint. The three-seconds rule applies to offensive players as well, so until there is a need to guard an opponent actively, there is no reason -- at least for the small and power forward -- to stay under the basket.