Form a line of 3 people next to each other. Have a 4th player stand about 12 to 15 ft away facing the other 3 players.
Player 4 starts out with a ball & Player 1 also has a ball. Player 4 passes the ball to Player 3.
After Player 4 has released the ball, Player 1 passes the ball to Player 4. Player 4 then passes the ball to Player 2, and simultaneously, Player 3 passes it to Player 4.
Then Player 4 passes the ball to Player 1. Simultaneously, Player 2 passes the ball to Player 4.
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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