Simple Zone Set - Out of 4 out

Zone Offence for some teams is difficult to unlock; I personally have coached many fast paced, downhill attacking sides that when the paint is covered by a zone they go to water. Three areas I see teams fall away against a Zone. 

a) Slow your pace; teams begin to allow the zone to get back instead of chasing it up the court

b) Ball movement; passing occurs but tends to be either on one side of the floor, instead of                     cross/breaking the split line.

c) Lack of outside shooting threat

Now we don't all have a team of downtown bombers to unlock a zone, and zone philosophy for me began when coaching Under 12 Victorian Championship League WAAAAAAY back before the 'No Zone Rule' was in play, and we would face zone, after zone, after zone. And at Under 12 Level the reality of a consistent shooter from 3 point range is not possible nor is it a high percentage shot to be taking. 

HIGH POST - is the center point of attack, how we get there for me is all in the art of coaching/playing.

Why high post? 

- its a threat, and is always closed down by 2 players 

- forces defenders off the baseline

- preferred scoring shot off the elbow 

- high percentage pass to low post

How do we get there; I've seen a 3-1-1 with a high post already installed, witnessed guards rotating in off the first cut, 3-2 set where post player from opposite side flashes into high post. 

I was always after something that matched my transition game, and could be easily masked as part of our 'General' Sets 4 out 1 in. 

December 2019 Baylor University is playing UConn Women, its a packed house at Baylor and the place is rocking. Baylor with its twin towers went zone early in the game while UConn struggled from range, and that is when I saw this simple design set come into action. It ticks the boxes we spoke of above, encourages ball to move from side to side and I feel can be taught quickly and effectively to all ages and skill level that can perform a DHO/Pitch. (UConn go on to lose)

Counters: It is repetitive, so some counters/ reads are needed by the offence here is a couple I've introduced. 

1) 3 Man reads the over play off the DHO and onside dribble to drive hard to elbow

2) 3 Man instead of cutting screens zone for 2 to attack the nail 

3) On denial of DHO Entry, 1 keeps and exchanges with 3 instead and then reverses the ball

4) On denial of DHO Entry, 1 fakes to 3 and turns and passes to 2 and then 1 becomes the high post             cutter