A handful of Zone Offense ideas from Coach Tony Miller to add to your playbook down the stretch this season and into the off-season.
What’s your plan for zone offense? Your opponents (and opposing coaches) are planning on you not having a plan.
So, you must have a plan. But how do you even start to come up with one? Some coaches may struggle with this. Start by asking yourself a few questions: Are you a quick hitter coach? Continuity offense? What areas do you like to attack?
Here are some resources that hopefully can be of help to your team down the stretch of this season, and heading into the off-season.
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ZONE OFFENSE IDEAS
Winthrop Eagles: Pin Up vs 2-3 Zone
I love screening both levels of the zone. This action from Winthrop screens on both levels and multiple players in the second level. Quite a combo.
Kansas Jayhawks: Screen, Roll, Lift vs 2-3 Zone
Kansas uses a little misdirection with this 2-3 quick hitter. When 5 screens the outside of the zone, the zone shifts to the right side of the floor. If 5 rolls hard, x3 will be left to choose to guard 5 or 3. In Frame 2, x3 takes away 5 on the roll, leaving 3 open as he lifts towards the wing.
Kansas Jayhawks: Middle Screen Quick Hitter vs 3-2 Zone
Overloading the zone and outnumbering the defense is always a great option against the zone. Two defenders (x3 and x5) are left guarding three offensive players (1, 2, and 4). Bill Self with another gem.
Florida Gators: Overload vs 3-2 Zone
Again, we screen multiple players in the zone. In Frame 2, x4 tries to anticipate the action coming to their side of the floor. Because of 5 rolling hard to the rim, no one is left guarding 4. If x4 stays home, a quick skip or relay to 2 results in an open 3PA.
Share Your Favorite Zone Offense Ideas
Don’t panic the next time you get zoned. Hopefully these ideas help get you started on developing your larger zone offense plan. Got any actions, concepts or hidden gems we missed here? Tweet to @tonywmiller or @fastmodel and we’ll make sure to spread to knowledge. Good luck coaches!
For more plays and drills from Coach Tony Miller, check out his PlayBank page.
Dr. Tony Miller is the men’s assistant basketball coach at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. In addition, he serves as the director of BJU’s sport management degree program.
January 3, 2023: Kansas head coach Bill Self yells instructions to his team during the second half of an exhibition game against Pittsburg State at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Credit Image: © Rich Sugg/Kansas City Star via ZUMA Press Wire)
