Zone offense

Purpose

Against a 2-3 zone, two possible passes across the court test when to reverse the ball and whether a shot or post entry is available.

Set it up

Ten players: five attackers against a guided 2-3 zone, one ball. Use manageable passing distances and declare when play can become live. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
2. Enter to a wing and observe the zone’s shift.
3. Pass across the court only through a clear route to the opposite receiver.
4. That receiver checks whether a second pass across the court, a shot or an interior pass is available; reset instead of forcing the return.
5. Rehearse from the other side and then let guided defenders choose whether to recover or stay.
6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

• Two skips do not guarantee an opening; defenders can anticipate or recover.
• Read the pass and the post target together. Use a controlled trajectory that clears the defender without exceeding the passer’s range.
• Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Variations & provenance

• Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
• The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.

Purpose

A high-post catch creates a possible pass to a legally positioned low-post target.

Set it up

Four players: wing passer, high post near the free-throw line, low post near the basket and guided low-post defender, one ball. Work one group in the lane at a time. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
2. Wing enters to the high post, who catches balanced and faces the basket.
3. Low post establishes position without grabbing or displacing the defender and presents a visible target.
4. Read the target and help: deliver a controlled high-low pass only with clear catching/landing space.
5. If the entry is unavailable, use a balanced shot, reversal or reset. Rotate all four roles.
6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

• A post player gets between the defender and the ball using legal position, not a pin or shove.
• Pass to a catchable space suited to the receiver; a forced lob or above-rim catch is not required.
• Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Variations & provenance

• Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
• The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.