The Basic 2 – 1 – 2 [tag]Zone Defense[/tag] (box with a man in the middle) “ It is one of the most commonly used zone defenses – especially when a team has smallish forwards and one very large person – who covers the middle. The 1-2-2 zone defense is a variation of the more commonly used 2-3 zone. 2-1-2 ZONE DEFENSE To follow are the features of our defense. X3 fronts the ball side low post defender and continues to prevent dribble penetration. Five (5) must maintain a good defensive stance with arms extended, this will make an entry pass into a target within the keyway very difficult. 3-2 Zone Defense With the 3-2 zone, you drop the point defender (X1) down on the free throw line. It will create constant overloads on each side of the court. This player is in a fantastic position to help the other four defenders in any position. Coach B says: 10/30/2019 at 8:09:46 AM. Because of the normal positioning of the players the 2-1-2 Zone Defence will need to have specific rules for initially guarding an offense that has a player filling the point position. 1 decides which player will cut by dribbling towards him, in this case he dribbles to 2 so 2 will cut and 3 will get a pass from 1. General Principles of Basketball Coaching, Intermediate Principles of Basketball Coaching, Advanced Principles of Basketball Coaching, The Seven Principles of Success against Zone Defence, Quotes for Coaching: Hard Work and Effort. X3 guards behind the high post offensive player. X4 and X5 collapse slightly into the lane to prevent possible high low action. 1. Though the 2-1-2 is great at preventing scoring in the paint and around the key, it is not a good defense against a team that shoots well from the outside. 2. This change in rotation of course provides a weaker long pass coverage initially, but as a result will resemble a standard zone press defence and be highly effective against any number of teams. The 2-1-2 zone defense includes two defenders near the high post areas, one defender slightly below the nail, and two defenders near the low post blocks. Major weak spots wings and center of floor. A key feature of the 2-1-2 Zone Defence is the Five (5) locking down the centre of the keyway. We see almost 90% zone at our middle school level and mostly the 2-3 zone. The players at the bottom of the 2-1-2 Zone Defence (Three and Four) will rotate towards the strong side of the floor as the ball is in the air. Our defense is divided in three sections:!First line: generally occupied by the playmaker and the shooting guard; they are responsible … The 3-2 zone defense is a disruptive half-court zone that forces the opposition out of their regular offensive structure and set plays. I see the majority of middle school teams using the 1 and 2 to guard all three spots on … This zone is a variation of the 2-3 zone and its main objective is to protect the middle of the paint near the basket. 2 - 1 - 2 Zone Major strength middle and low post. It is also an excellent defense to use if you want to fast break as it allows one man, usually X1, to break as soon as the offensive team shoots the ball. The offense is run out of a 1-2-2 set. This is an example of the 2-1-2 defensive rotations when the ball is in the high post. The 2-1-2 zone defense is also beneficial against teams that like to run a high post offense because the high post areas are always guarded by a middle defender. The 2-1-2 basketball zone defense is strong underneath against good pivot players. The reason this defense (or variations of it) is used is because it has several strengths. Insider Tips for Beating 2-1-2 Zone Defense Basketball October 17, 2012 August 12, 2016 adam.warner In this week’s team concepts feature, we take offensive principles learned in previous zone features and put them all together to successfully attack the 2-1-2 defense. You have to have a deep rotation to run the 2-1-2 hybrid zone defense, because the top two in the zone have to cover a lot of ground on defense. The play can be run to either side of the floor with the movements of the offense being the same, only reversed. Here is a simple, yet effective zone offense that you can use against any zone defense. I tend to use this against odd-man zone defenses such as 3-2 zone defenses and 1-3-1 zone defenses. Ultimately, this will be determined by how the offense is rotating and their style of play. Coach B says: 10/30/2019 at 8:09:46 AM. A team’s defensive transition can be formatted into a number of different zone defense options. We call it "zone-2" because we use a two-guard front (vs the 1-guard defensive front). The defense has shifted on the pass from 2 to 1 D2 has to cover the high post and now D1 has the ball. 2-1-2 Basketball Zone Defense, in this video I give a tutorial about the 2-1-2 Zone Defense and the 2 different ways you can run that zone defense. The 2-1-2 basketball zone defense is strong underneath against good pivot players. Make the zone defense … X1 stays in front of 3 or can deny the reversal pass back to 3. Required fields are marked *. Five (5) should look to be in an open stance facing the ball handler. Also see Zone Offense. 1. Switching to a 2-1-2 also has the benefits of moving an athletic, active defender into the middle of the zone… Because of this, you can also position your wing defenders out a little wider. This will allow the top player (One) to guard the ball handler and then on the first pass to either wing (Two) will defend the ball. Wings assume positions at the elbows and the baseline players are postioned just above the "blocks." The play can be run to either side of the floor with the movements of the … Playname: 2-1-2 zone offense. For purposes of this article, the diagrams show the offense being run against a 2-3 zone defense. In the diagram above Two’s (2) zone has been shaded to indicate the area the player must defend which in the 2-1-2 Zone Defence. The reason this defense (or variations of it) is used is because it has several strengths. Your email address will not be published. The Basic 2 – 1 – 2 [tag]Zone Defense[/tag] (box with a man in the middle) It is one of the most commonly used zone defenses – especially when a team has smallish forwards and one very large person – who covers the middle. Your defense is set-up in the shape of a “X” with two players up top, one in the middle, and two on the bottom. 2 will get 2 screens from 4 and 5 while cutting. The 2-1-2 Zone Defence is very good against a two guard faced offense or an offense that looks to exploit the middle of the keyway. Also see Zone Offense. In the 2-1-2 Zone Defence the on-ball defenders can be slightly more aggressive in their approach to guarding the ball as they will always have the Five (5) player in a very short help position. The Matchup Zone “matches up” your best defender against your opponents best player, with the added support of a zone defense throughout the rest of the field. The 2-1-2 Zone Defence is a common formation seen on many basketball courts across the globe. The positions are easily interchangeable and if your 4 and 5 man can shoot from outside it can really stretch the defense. This will help defending the high post, but allows the point guard some open shots. 1 - 2 - 2 Zone Major strength outside shooting. X5 closes out on the corner player while X4 continues to guard the basket and prevent lob passes over the top. 2-1-2 Zone 2-2-1 Zone 2-3 Zone Pressure Run and Jump 1-2-1-1 Zone Man-to-Man 1-3-1 Zone . I tend to use this against odd-man zone defenses such as 3-2 zone defenses and 1-3-1 zone … I see the majority of middle school teams using the 1 and 2 to guard all three spots on the perimeter and do not have the 3 or 4 come up to guard and bump down, assuming that kids at the middle school level can not shoot outside. The section below contains the basic defensive rotations of the 2-1-2 zone defense. 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 (a zone) to cover.. A zone defense can be used in many sports where defensive players guard players on the other team. A team’s defensive transition can be formatted into a number of different zone defense … Against offences that look to spread the baseline players the 2-1-2 Zone Defence is less effective and will require significant rotations to cover receiver spots. X1 and X2 attempt to trap the ball to force a pass out towards the perimeter. We see almost 90% zone at our middle school level and mostly the 2-3 zone. These players cover the high post elbows out to the free throw line extended areas near the three point lines on each respective side. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a08b49d207d86832b60c4e45a7ca73ea" );document.getElementById("f1b99d29b0").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); FBC: A Philosophy of Creating Best Practice Driven by Results, © Functional Basketball Coaching 2012-2016. The main difference is that the 1-2-2 zone defense is a great defense against teams that score a majority of their points from the perimeter, whereas the 2-3 zone provides more inside presence. In his day, Coach Dean Smith considered this the most difficult of the straight zones to attack. One of these options is the 1-2-2 Halfcourt Press. This player is in a fantastic position to help the other four defenders in any position. X2 continues to guard at the right side high post. DIAGRAM 1: The initial set begins out of a 1-2-2 set. "Zone-2" - "Runner" Offense Like the 3-2 zone attack, we attack this zone from the corner, as this puts pressure on the low defenders. With the 3-2 zone, you can still cover the wing the same as in the 1-2-2 zone … 2 - 3 Zone Major strength along baseline and low post. You have to have a deep rotation to run the 2-1-2 hybrid zone defense, because the top two in the zone have to cover a lot of ground on defense. In the 1-2-2 Zone the point is position at the top of the circle. 1 has a few options here. X4 and X5 are responsible for covering the low post and helping X3 to slow down or completely prevent dribble penetration. 2-1-2 ZONE DEFENSE To follow are the features of our defense. This zone is a variation of the 2-3 zone and its main objective is to protect the middle of the paint near the basket. If the ball was reversed back to the Point Position then One (1) would move to guard the ball and Two (2) would fall in behind to guard the next pass in either direction. The 2-1-2 Zone Defence is very good against a two guard faced offense or an offense that looks to exploit the middle of the keyway. X3 stands a step behind X1 and X5 to stop any dribble penetration. The 3-2 zone defense is a disruptive half-court zone that forces the opposition out of their regular offensive structure and set plays. Here are 6 2-1-2 offense set plays. This is an important movement and position. The top two players are also the ones … The 2-1-2 zone defense includes two defenders near the high post areas, one defender slightly below the nail, and two defenders near the low post blocks. Two (2) can either remain guarding the player in the wing position or push back towards the high post. Here is a simple, yet effective zone offense that you can use against any zone defense. It is especially strong in the rebounding triangle area. This change in rotation of course provides a weaker long pass coverage initially, but as a result will resemble a standard zone press defence and be highly effective against any number of teams. Like with all zone defences each player has a defined area they are responsible for defending, called a zone. A key feature of the 2-1-2 Zone Defence is the Five (5) locking down the centre of the keyway. 1 - 3 - 1 Zone Major strength across free throw line and down middle. X4 takes a step into the lane to guard the basket, prevent potential lob passes over the top of the zone, and to gain potential defensive rebounds. Major weak spots wings and center of floor. Every zone defense has weaknesses. After 2 has used the screen of 4, 4 will cut to the free throw line. For purposes of this article, the diagrams show the offense being run against a 2-3 zone defense. Also, this is a good zone to use against teams with poor outside shooting skills and it can also help increase defensive rebounding opportunities. 4) 2-2-1 or 2-1-2 press back to 2-3 zone. 1 - 3 - 1 Zone ... Sharp accurate passing is a key ingredient in attacking any zone defense. The 2-1-2 Zone Defence provides invaluable support to perimeter players with a defensive player always positioned in a strong help position. 3-2 Zone Defense With the 3-2 zone, you drop the point defender (X1) down on the free throw line. If one wing defender moves out towards the three point line, the opposite wing defender moves in towards the mid-line of the court near the free throw area. We call it "zone-2" because we use a two-guard front (vs the 1-guard defensive front). X5 steps out to the short corner to front the low post entry pass into 5. With Five (5) in such a strong help position it is advised to have Two (2) remain on the wing offensive player. The offense is run out of a 1-2-2 set. Our defense is divided in three sections:!First line: generally occupied by the playmaker and the shooting guard; they are responsible for the external frontcourt and the high post. Your email address will not be published. The main reason for this is that the 3-2 zone hard denies the wings … The 2-1-2 Zone Defence is a fantastic choice if your team has a good shot blocker or you are playing against an offensive team that looks to run players through the middle of the keyway. The 2-1-2 spaces the floor and clears the lane for cuts or drives to the basket. Links Site Map Bibliography Readers Write Legal Notices : How to Coach and Teach the Basketball 1-2-2 Zone Defense. This is an example of the 2-1-2 defensive rotations when the ball is in the corner. In turn, this rotation would enable One (1) to move back ready for a skip pass or quick ball reversal. Insider Tips for Beating 2-1-2 Zone Defense Basketball October 17, 2012 August 12, 2016 adam.warner In this week’s team concepts feature, we take offensive principles learned in previous zone features and put them all together to successfully attack the 2-1-2 defense. Set up in a two-one-two. Defenders must keep the arms and hands extended and shift while the ball is in the air on all passes. 2 - 1 - 2 Zone Major strength middle and low post. Have the 4 at the high post, 5 and 3 will play on the block. The 2-1-2 also allows you to easily transition into a different formation if you cannot get a shot. Major weak spots wings and middle. X1 and X2 are responsible for guarding the offensive perimeter players and stopping ball penetration into the middle of the zone. We can also use this against the 1-3-1 zone defense, or any 1-guard zone defensive front. The main reason for this is that the 3-2 zone hard denies the wings from the top of the key and forces the opposition to initiate offense with a skip pass to the corner or to play through the mid-range. X1 closes out and defends the ball while X2 replaces at the right side high post. All other players within the 2-1-2 Zone Defence rotate back to their initial starting positions. Since most zone offenses deploy a two guard front against a 1-2-2 zone, the 1-2-2 can easily switch to a 2-1-2 zone on the first pass matching the offensive alignment. Here is an example of the 2-1-2 defensive rotations when the ball is on the wing. Matchup Zone (2-1-2) A Matchup Zone defense combines the best features of both a Zone defense and a Man-to-Man defense. The 2-1-2 Zone Defense is a compact zone designed to protect the middle of the paint by utilizing the strengths of man-to-man and zone defenses. Because of this, you can also position your wing defenders out a little wider. It is especially strong in the rebounding triangle area. The top players will then fall into the standard 2-1-2 Zone Defence positioning. In the diagram, if the ball is passed to the long corner there is a choice to be made about the playing position of Two (2). It is also an excellent defense to use if you want to fast break as it … In instances where the offense looks to spread the baseline players a 2-3 Zone is a better option, but allow the middle player in the base of the zone to float higher than the two players on either side. With Fist, trap a dribbler in the corners, or out of control primarily up the sideline (run, glide, run), the next defender up the sideline comes up and takes a charge (up the middle of the court, help but don’t come, fake and slow him up, chase from behind, which is … It will create constant overloads on each side of the court. Additionally, X5 is in a good position to close out on the player located in the corner if necessary. We can also use this against the 1-3-1 zone defense, or any 1-guard zone … The take some of the confusion out of this situation, one possible option is to have the players in the top of the 2-1-2 Zone Defence (One and Two) start in an “i formation” initially when guarding a ball as it comes into the half court. "Zone-2" - "Runner" Offense Like the 3-2 zone attack, we attack this zone from the corner, as this puts pressure on the low defenders. The 2-1-2 zone defense is popular in basketball, particularly in youth basketball. 2. X3 is responsible for guarding the high post area and preventing dribble penetration if the ball moves to the wing areas. Major weak spots middle and corners. As the strong side is initiated the Five (5) moves to the edge of the keyway. This will help defending the high post, but allows the point guard some open shots. Playname: Offense vs 2-1-2 zone.