6 Players with 2 balls. The Coach decides whether to start the practice going clockwise or anti-clockwise. If you are one of the two middle people (players 1 & 2) then you change with each other once you have passed a ball. If you are on one of the corners then once you have passed your ball you exchange places with the person on your diagonal, e.g. Player 4 exchanges with player 5.
The ball screen produces almost half of all professional offensive possessions, yet most teams still teach it as a memorised play. The modern approach trains the read - giving players a framework to decide based on what the defence does, not what the coach called.
The closeout is the most repeated defensive action in modern basketball. With fouls per game climbing in the 2025-26 season, coaches must teach defenders to contest the three without surrendering the drive or putting shooters on the line.
The 2-3 zone defence remains one of the most effective defensive systems in basketball when coached and executed properly. This guide covers the fundamentals of running a 2-3 zone, including player roles, rotations, and when to deploy it for maximum impact.