Player 1 starts the move by passing the ball to player 2. Just as the first pass is being made player 3 runs diagonally in court in preparation to receive the ball from player 2.
Player 2 passes the ball to player 3 who has a shot from the edge of the key.
Meanwhile player 1 should have run up court and is positioned ready to receive the rebound if player 3's shot misses.
Begin with cones on the floor to help players understand where they should run, but as players grow in confidence pick up the markers so that players are moving more freely.
Players rotate positions in a clock-wise position.
Once the basket has been scored the ball is passed back to the first cone, ready for the drill to repeat.
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.
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