Players start off with their own space on the court.
On the coach's first whistle players sprint on the spot, standing with wide feet and their arms outstretched as if defending.
Players sprint on the spot, with minimal leg raise - emphasis on fast feet.
On the coach's second whistle, players follow the coach's signal (right or left with their arm).
Players move in the crab position in the direction of the coach's signal until the third whistle.
Coach should vary the time between whistles and change direction several times.
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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