Home »
Misc »
How to enter zone in basketball
How to enter zone in basketball
7 Tips To Enter The Zone In Basketball
“In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose and focus your full attention on what's happening right this moment.” Phil Jackson
This state that’s summed up so perfectly by Phil Jackson is not some elusive state that’s only tested by few elite professional basketball players who give off a sense that this is some innate talent. In more cases than not, these players consistently perform at their optimal. Why? because they purposefully practice getting into what is known as the Flow State or as you may have heard it called, The Zone in basketball.
Some may confuse getting into the zone with memorizing the plays or spending hours of practice. Sure, this is a path that must be walked. But, where are you during these practices? Are you as Phil Jackson said; “focus your full attention on what's happening right this moment.![]()
” Or are you shooting hoops wondering what your friends are doing or thinking what you’re doing after practice?
“Everything just slows downs, you have supreme confidence. You get into the zone and just try and stay there. You don’t think of your surroundings. Everything becomes invisible. You're kind of locked in” Kobe Bryant.
The Zone is often described as the feeling of invincibility, where time slows down and the multitude of noise from the crowd, court, players all blur into one sound. This results in a razor focus on the game. Being in the zone allows the players to achieve their best performance on the court. The vast majority of Basketball players have different ways to get themselves into the zone, but very few are successfully consistent at hacking into it. The Zone is the same as what Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls ‘The Flow State’. His terminology comes from years of research on top performances from a multitude of disciplines. The word Flow was consistently used to describe how it felt when in the Zone.
Before I jump into the main part, I’m gonna explain the 8 Common elements when experiencing the flow state by Csikszentmihalyi:
1. Immediate Feedback
When you’re in the zone, your mind and body give feedback to your actions immediately. As soon as you have the opportunity to shot the ball or drive to the basket you’ll go for it directly and without hesitation. You won’t see anyone guarding you since your mind and body already knows what to do and where to go. The flow state allows you to react immediately because your mind is clear.
2. There is no fear of failure
A person in the zone won’t hesitate because he/she is afraid to fail. Other players might be better than you in shooting or they might be bigger and taller than you. These factors will put the sense of failure to others, but these won’t matter when you’re in the flow state. While you dribble the basketball, you don’t let failure get in your head, you go for it and make the basket.
All the worries you have in failing will disappear in the flow state. It gives you the confidence to give your best performance.
3. Your activities becomes autotelic
Most people play basketball just because they love it. While in the zone, the more you play the more it becomes fulfilling for yourself. This fulfillment is not about fame or money but something inside us. It gives satisfaction to what you’ve worked on the basketball court and the hours you spent at practice.
4. Your concentration is at its peak
We experience distractions not only physically but also mentally. These happen a lot on the basketball court, the noise of the audience, the intimidating players, or other teams taking the lead. All of these can get in our heads and affect our concentration. In the zone, our concentration is at its peak, our focus is on our actions and winning the game. It won’t matter how good the player guarding you when you’re in the zone distraction won’t matter.
Concentration allows us total awareness of our skills and actions.
5. The balance between challenge and skills
When the game is too easy, a player might not give the best of his/her abilities; if it’s too challenging his/her skill might not be enough. In the zone, you’ll experience the balance between challenge and skills. The game will not be boring and not too difficult when you’re in the zone. This will allow you to use the peak of your abilities whether it's handling the ball or guarding the other play. The balance gives you the best opportunity to have fun in playing but you take it seriously because it challenges you. Flow occurs between “too much” and “too little" in any sport, activity, or situation.
6. Effortlessness
Under the flow state, you are much more flexible and relax. Others may see a player in court looking tired, but they don’t realize he/she is in the zone. Your mind and body are in a harmony in the flow state, the strain of the game won’t affect you.
Your actions will not require too much effort and you do it smoothly. Decision-making is also effortless in the flow state. You can make decisions in seconds even if the game is hard.
7. Altered state of time
Time seems to slow down in the flow state or it could go fast. You might not notice you’ve been on the court the whole game. When the time comes for you to make the crucial game-winning shot time slows down allowing you to be completely aware of the situation. The perception of time is altered when you’re in the flow state.
8. Clarity of goals
In the flow state, you can see your goals clearly even if the situation is hazy. You are in control of your mind and body, therefore, you know exactly know what to do in the situation. When your teammate passes you the ball, you already know what to do. There will be no hesitation on your part because you focus on your goal.
“When you’re in that zone there’s nothing really the defense can do… It doesn’t matter who’s stick you because everything looks good.
” Gilbert Arenas
In the NBA, legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson were taught the art of mindfulness by author George Mumford. He may not be as famous as them but, George helped them achieved championships. A calm and clear mind is important not only for players but also for coaches to get themselves together and enter the zone in unity. George helped Phil Jackson with the idea of “five fingers, one breath, and one mind.” As you begin to be mindful, you let go of your ego and distractions, and entering the zone can become automatic.
Meditation is one strong method to develop mindfulness. After Phil Jackson’s stint with the Chicago Bulls, he went to Los Angeles to coach the Lakers. George Mumford also went to the Lakers, where he then taught Kobe Bryant the art of meditation. As the NBA’s greatest player, Kobe is one of the best examples of a player who enters the zone and wins not only games but championships. Meditating clears your mind from all the noise and you can focus on entering the zone.
The NBA can throw a lot of distractions and stress to players and coaches, so developing the ability to trigger a group flow in the Zone is the secret weapon to success.
Mindfulness has helped Kobe, Jordan, and Phil Jackson win championships in the NBA. They can get into the zone in the most crucial of games because they practice mindfulness. The ability to be in the zone is through consistent, purposeful mental and physical training with the intention to be in the Flow State/The Zone.
1. Training
Wisely pushing yourself in physical training and practice games weeks prior to the game is essential. Psychological toughness is important but physical training allows you to improve your skills on the court. If your abilities on the basketball court have been tested and practiced, you’ll be more confident mentally to be the best player. Consistent training and improvement will boost your mental resilience allowing you to be a well-versed player. You’ll feel more confident removing doubts and uncertainties about your performance with the ball and on the court.
2. Get a motto
If you have a motto for yourself, or you need to get one, repeating it before the game starts or when you’re in the court to assist you to feel more confident and stronger. Quotes or slogans from the best players in basketball are okay, in the NBA, coach Doc Rivers adopted “Mental Toughness” as his motto. You can also create your own motto or memorize words that hype you and gives you self-confidence.
3. Relax
Allow yourself time to relax before the game. A player is usually hyper and anxious and it can affect your performance when you’re on the court. Meditate, listen to music, or a quick nap before the game starts helps your mind get into the zone and relaxes your body before you step in court.
4. Visualize
Picture yourself playing in your best form and scoring the winning shot in the game. Visualization allows you to plan ahead on how to react to certain plays and difficulties. While you're in the court, visualization also helps you maintain muscle memory that improves the speed of your reflexes and makes critical decisions.
Practice visualizing during practices, before the start, and during timeouts in the game.
5. Forgive yourself
It’s normal to make mistakes; even the greatest basketball players cannot complete the play or miss the shot. Your confidence can be affected if you allow your failures to stay inside your head. Learn from your mistakes and move on and finish the game. Failures are lessons that make great players.
6. Be Autotelic
Phil Jackson hinted at being autotelic with his quote at the beginning “stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose and focus your full attention on what's happening right this moment.” Being autotelic means to do something simply because you love it, not for the potential reward. The goal for playing basketball is a reward in itself. Autotelic comes from the Greek words, autos meaning self, and telos meaning goal.
7. Conduct Mindfulness Meditations
There are plenty of basketball players who practiced meditation before and after the game to enter the zone.
In fact, meditation is one of elite athlete’s hidden techniques for optimum performance. Meditation allows you to conquer the most common ‘blind spots’ that tend to hinder sports performance. By practicing physical and mental meditations, you can be able to deactivate certain parts of your brain. The result is an improved ability to activate your subconscious and enter the zone where “Everything just slows downs, you have supreme confidence”
A study recently published by Fadel Zeiden found that as little as 4 days of meditation gives significant improvements in mood, stress levels, deep cognitive processing, efficiency, working memory, long-term memory, and improvement of sustained attention. Zeiden used a 20min meditation to attain these results. So by incorporating meditation into your training does not need to be time-consuming and overwhelming. But the results will open the door of your potential to enter the Zone and trigger the flow.
Check out and hack the flow state aka the Zone in basketball using the courses I am giving you for free! This is packed with tutorials, physical and mental meditations.
SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE COURSES HERE
Plus bonus extra courses, tips & content sent to you regularly for free.
References:
Consciousness and Cognition. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/consciousness-and-cognition/
Delice Coffey | Basketball Psychology Articles. (n.d.). How to Get Into the Zone. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.sportspsychologybasketball.com/2012/08/how-to-get-into-the-zone/
Ireland, K. (2015, October 15). How to Get in the Zone Before a Basketball Game. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/541679-how-to-get-in-the-zone-before-a-basketball-game/
Ireland, K. (2015, October 15). How to Get in the Zone Before a Basketball Game. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/541679-how-to-get-in-the-zone-before-a-basketball-game/
Lee, M. S. (2015, June 15).
Michael Jordan's Mindfulness Meditation Coach: The Secret Weapon of Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and You. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-sandler-and-jessica-lee/michael-jordans-mindfulne_b_7523748.html
Meditation Increases IQ - 4 Days of Meditation Improves Cognitive Efficiency. (2016, March 10). Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.i3mindware.com/increase-iq/mindfulness-cognitive-efficiency/
Peterson, D. (2010, June 02). How Do Athletes Get 'In the Zone' of Peak Performance? Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.livescience.com/32620-how-do-athletes-get-in-the-zone-of-peak-performance.html
Rodic, D. (2016, April 18). Kobe Bryant, The Beatles and a Child Chess Prodigy - My Experience Practicing Their Most Important... – The Mission. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://medium.com/the-mission/kobe-bryant-the-beatles-and-a-child-chess-prodigy-my-experience-practicing-their-most-important-390b16ab82b4#.p7vwwb4k4
Rudick, D.
(2015, May 27). This mindfulness teacher gets results (just ask Kobe) - The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2015/05/27/this-mindfulness-teacher-gets-results-just-ask-kobe/mMYGHRJSziVp4DLq2gAzcJ/story.html
Zone | Kuroko no Basuke Wiki
Zone
Type
State
Users
Daiki Aomine
Taiga Kagami
Atsushi Murasakibara
Seijūrō Akashi
Ryōta Kise
Zone (ゾーン Zōn) is a term referring to a player's state when they reach their maximum potential. It is a superlative of regular concentration and focus. The conditions to enter this state vary from each person.
One fundamental requirement to enter the zone is also to have an extreme amount of love and passion towards the game. Furthermore, the player must be highly talented, rejecting potential candidates such as Himuro.
This term is frequently used in not only real-life basketball games, but also in other sports as well when a player is on a very good streak of form during a particular game.
So far, only Aomine, Kagami, Murasakibara, Akashi and Kise have achieved this state. During the Winter Cup finals; Hayama, Mibuchi, Nebuya and Mayuzumi were all one step close to entering the zone as well due to Akashi's influence, but did not enter it.
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Users
- 2.1 Aomine's Zone
- 2.2 Kagami's Zone
- 2.3 Murasakibara's Zone
- 2.4 Akashi's Zone
- 2.4.1 Rakuzan High's "Zone"
- 2.4.2 Vorpal Swords' "Zone"
- 2.5 Kise's Zone
- 3 References
Description
Aomine opens Zone's gate
According to Midorima, only prodigies can use the zone and even top players that are focused without the Zone can only utilize up to 80% of their potential during a game. When a player enters the Zone, their eyes will be shown emitting currents of electricity, indicating the player's deep concentration. The colors of the electricity is the same color as their eyes (i.
e. Aomine has blue eyes while the electricity is also blue). The vision of the player becomes fully monochrome and their hearing is completely filtered.
The basic requirement for entering the Zone is to have unwavering passion towards basketball. This requirement goes along with having to meet the user's independent conditions, in most terms, desperation of winning or the thrive for competition. During Seirin's quarterfinals against Yōsen, Aomine further reveals that a second requirement is needed to enter the Zone that is talent. Aomine explains that while Himuro is a very good player, he is only as the best an ordinary man can be and thus, is incapable of entering the Zone.[1]
When the player reaches the bottom, they reach 100% of their potential
It is also mentioned that entering the Zone a second time will be much harder, as the user becomes naturally dependent on using the Zone having to know the existence of it. This was proved when Kagami was desperately forcing himself to enter the Zone for a second time, but to no avail.
Daiki Aomine states that to enter the Zone, one must not think of entering the Zone, as wavering thoughts will only disrupt the flow of concentration. Kagami was later able to enter the Zone after completely letting go of the desire for it and play his hardest instead.[2]
Nearing the Winter Cup finals, Aomine revealed more information about the conditions of entering the Zone to Kagami during their 1 on 1 before the game against Kaijō High. He notes that everyone has a different "trigger" for entering the privileged state of the Zone. If you are incredibly focused on the game you can pull the trigger entering it. For Kagami, his trigger is apparently 'the will to fight for his friends, his team'.[3]
The downside of the Zone is that the stamina of the user is quickly drained. The player cannot stay in that state for the entire match, creating a time limit where the user's Zone will weaken before they are forced out of the clear mental state. However, Kagami has been shown to surpass his time limit when he has proper motivation like fighting for his teammates.
In order to overcome the stamina drain during the last quarter of the match against Rakuzan, Kagami reserved using the Zone for specific moments during offense in order to conserve stamina.
Second door guarded by the gatekeeper
Being in the Zone is like sinking into water. The more the user uses the Zone, the more they sink. Once they hit the bottom, the user uses 100% of their potential. Underneath, there is a second door, even beyond it. Aomine describes this as a "Zone beyond the Zone", which is much stronger. However, this door is guarded by a mysterious gatekeeper standing in front of it. If a user wants to open the second door to the Zone, they would have to pass the gatekeeper and open the gate.[4]
What lies beyond the second door.
Direct Drive Zone
When Kagami understood the true meaning of the Zone beyond the Zone, his gatekeeper was revealed to be actually Kuroko.[5] Behind the door is the entire Seirin team, which means if opened, the teammates of the Zone user can perfectly sync their actions with the latter through simple eye contact, thus allowing them to perform team play at the speed of the Zone, which surpasses even Akashi's predictions.
It is noted that Aomine could not open the second door due to his lack of team play and promotion of individual play as an ace. When a player opens the second door, it is known as Direct Drive Zone, the Zone's true form.[6] In contrast to the monochromatic vision of a zone user individually, the surroundings become totally dark with different colors of light flashing around and the teammates glow with the color of the zone user while the zone user himself retains the electricity in his eyes. However, instead of a red color scheme for Kagami's zone, it becomes orange, which signifies a stronger form in light. Also, the ball emits lightning due to the high speed ball rotation in this zone.
Users
Aomine's Zone
Aomine (Anime)Aomine (Anime) | Aomine (Manga)Aomine (Manga)
Aomine in the Zone
When Aomine finds a worthy opponent, he will reach his full potential. Under this influence, he is "in the Zone", which means that nobody else can stop him unless they are in the Zone as well.
[7]
Only the very best of the elite players are granted permission to enter the Zone, yet Aomine casually forces his way in. Opening the gate to the Zone means opening the gate to your full potential, the full 100% of one's capabilities and abilities. In Aomine's case, his speed doubles at the least to the point where he can effortlessly break past a double-team, and his power increases drastically. His ability to score from anywhere escalates tremendously and Aomine's skills becomes even more overwhelming.[8]
Because of Aomine's past victories, he hadn't been this much pressured more than in the match against Seirin High, more specifically, Kagami. He started to enjoy playing against his first real opponent in some time and this feeling of enjoyment and excitement opened the gates of the Zone for him.[9]
The difference between his Zone to Murasakibara's is that he accidentally entered Zone while it seems that he entered through his own will.
Kagami's Zone
Kagami (Anime)Kagami (Anime) | Kagami (Manga)Kagami (Manga)
Kagami in the Zone
When Kagami is in the Zone, his reflexes, speed and especially jumping power and strength are greatly augmented. Kagami accessed the Zone for the first time when he was under the pressure of losing to Tōō again and wanted to protect everyone against the ace of Generation of Miracles, Aomine.
In the match against Yōsen during the quarter final round of the Winter Cup, Kagami activates the Zone for the second time. This time, he is even capable of shooting a 3-pointer without fearing to miss and with perfect accuracy. Whilst in the Zone in this match, Kagami can jump even higher and is also capable of overpowering Murasakibara who specializes in strength (even blocking a full-powered Thor's Hammer) and render Himuro's Mirage Shot useless.
Before the finals of the Winter Cup, Aomine also revealed to Kagami that his condition to activate the Zone is when the latter is in a state of desperation to fight for his teammates, this being Seirin.
[10] Kagami, upon acknowledging Aomine's advice, is then capable of activating the Zone right at the start of the match.[11]
It is also noted that Kagami can execute his signature move, the Meteor Jam only while in the Zone. This is because Meteor Jam requires an extreme amount of jumping power to throw the ball into the basket and ball control with his left hand.
Murasakibara's Zone
Murasakibara (Anime)Murasakibara (Anime) | Murasakibara (Manga)Murasakibara (Manga)
Murasakibara in the Zone
According to Aomine and Kise, in terms of ability, he meets the talent required to enter the Zone, but unfortunately, he would never be able to because he was assumed to not have the most basic term needed: the love for basketball. However, such assumptions were proven wrong when Murasakibara surprisingly did enter the Zone. At the brink of despair and exhaustion against Seirin High in the quarter-finals of the Winter Cup, including Kagami already in the Zone, Murasakibara opened the gates of the Zone.
His power grew substantially and his strength along with speed became greater than before.[12][13] This is proven when Kagami in the Zone still needed Kiyoshi's assistance in order to block Murasakibara from executing Thor's Hammer (though Kagami's Zone was coming to an end).
After the match, Murasakibara claimed to quit basketball, but broke down in tears not soon after. Making it clear he does have passion for basketball, Murasakibara enters the Zone extreme conditions .[14]
Akashi's Zone
Akashi (Anime)Akashi (Anime) | Akashi (Manga)Akashi (Manga)
Akashi in the Zone
Akashi had knowledge of the Zone before witnessing the match of Seirin vs Tōō during the Winter Cup, but after seeing Aomine enter it, Akashi was surprised at his potential and he searched for his own trigger to entering the Zone and finally found it. After he defeated Mibuchi, Hayama and Nebuya on a three-on-one battle, Akashi states that his trigger is when he stops relying on his teammates to win and instead decides to grasp victory by himself.
[15] His Zone would only be used as a trump card during situations where Rakuzan would surely lose.
When Akashi entered the Zone during the fourth quarter of the finals game against Seirin, his speed and reaction time increased drastically.[16] He combined it with the Emperor Eye to stop Kagami who was also in the Zone. While in the Zone, Akashi's speed and agility is immense being able to outrun even Kagami while he is in the Zone on a fastbreak, and dribble passed several defenders taking the ball coast to coast. However, Seirin managed to stop Akashi with the combination play of Kuroko and Kagami, where Kuroko uses his Quasi-Emperor Eye to predict Kagami's movements and move in the opposite direction to intercept Akashi. This Emperor Eye tactic was used to stop Akashi twice which resulted in him being shocked and unfocused leading to him losing his Zone.
Rakuzan High's "Zone"
Rakuzan (Anime)Rakuzan (Anime) | Rakuzan (Manga)Rakuzan (Manga)
Rakuzan in the "Zone"
When Akashi's real self surfaced, he started using his Emperor Eye to perfect the passes to his teammates.
That way, those in his team no longer needed to worry about receiving the passes, since Akashi calculated the trajectory, speed and strength of said passes to the point those who received them could think of their next move and start moving before even touching the ball, and thus, Akashi's teammates could improve their performance, though not to the usual 100% granted by the Zone, but to 90% of their ability, as stated by Riko.[17] The Rakuzan players did not enter the Zone, but were one step before entering it
Vorpal Swords' "Zone"
In game against the Jabberwock, Akashi and several other characters claimed that he could easily enter his teammates into the Zone because they all have high rates and get perfect passes from him. Unfortunately, they did not have the opportunity to enter this state collectively, as Nash Gold Jr. prevented Akashi from doing so several times.[18][19]
Kise's Zone
Kise (Anime)Kise (Anime) | Kise (Manga)Kise (Manga)
Kise in the Zone with Perfect Copy
Kise enters the Zone during the third quarter in the game against the Jabberwock.
Kise was able to do this after remembering the words of Kasamatsu before the match started. Those words were to win, not for revenge, but, to prove everything their senpai's have done for the sport.
Midorima stated that Kise, with the conjunction of his Perfect Copy, is the overwhelmingly strongest player on the court, even surpassing Silver in terms of speed and strength. However, he also mentioned that this combo won't last very long due to the fact that both the Zone and Perfect Copy drain a lot of stamina from the user.
While in this state Kise is able to both handle Silver on his own and keep Jabberwock at bay. He was even able to turn a seventeen-point difference into a ten-point difference, with only letting the opponents score twice before becoming severely fatigued and substituted out for Akashi.
References
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 165, page 16
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 164, page 3
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 232, page 17
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 261, page 16
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 270, page 16
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 270, page 17
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 134, page 4
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 134, page 13
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 133, page 8
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 232, page 16
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 232, page 17
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 168, page 6
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 168, page 9
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 169, page 11
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 260, page 15
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke chapter 260, page 17
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke, chapter 268
- ↑ EXTRA GAME chapter 4
- ↑ Kuroko no Basuke LAST GAME
Offense vs.
zone defense | Basketball coach
Attack against zone in basketball has fewer development options compared to attack against personal defense. The fact is that such a defense scheme cuts off many different combinations in the attack. Barriers against the zone are ineffective, one-on-one play becomes more difficult, it is impossible to use the difference in mass or level of play, since the safety net and doubling work easily in the zone. However, there are combinations and ways to "hack" the opponent's zone defense.
The first step when playing against a zone is to understand that simple team interactions will be much more useful than fancy individual actions. Of course, no one cancels one-on-one, sharp entries into the three-second period or throws, but first of all, you should scatter the zone defense with passes and movement, and not dribbling. This is the axiom of attack against the positional defense of the enemy. Now let's try to explain why.
The platform is a rectangle in its configuration.
With five players on the court, the defensive team distributes them in a 3-2, 2-3, 2-1-2, and so on. The front and back lines are asymmetrical, so you can always find an empty spot. If the zone is in a 3-2 formation, then the back line is less staffed, and vice versa. Every zone defense has weaknesses. In order to use this, in the attack you need to quickly pass, allowing you to get the ball just in the “problem” places. Of course, defenders will move and re-form depending on where the ball is and how the attacking players are positioned. However, the ball travels faster than any player can run, so the success of the "zone open" depends on the speed and accuracy of these passes. By forcing the defenders to constantly move, you will firstly tire them out, and secondly, you will get a chance to use an additional couple of moments while they regroup. Experienced zone defenders know that they are stretched to create additional gaps in the defense, however, there is nothing they can do about it, since the only way out for them is to rebuild as quickly as possible and intercept the ball.
The ideal attack against a zone defense looks like this: transition from defense - taking positions - quick passes around the perimeter of the site with a possible load of center players - a sharp entry into the zone, beating or throwing an open position .
Now let's look directly at the vulnerabilities of zone protection in various configurations. Zone 3-2 (three above, two below) is the least protected in the corners of the site. Attack against such a configuration of defenders should be developed in this direction. An example of a successful zone breakdown is a combination simply called "overload". The figure below shows that in the upper right corner there is an advantage of 3 attackers (blacks) against two defenders (whites). This is achieved by simply running across the player's endline from the bottom left corner and passing to the edge. Also, any of the small players in the clearing (including the point guard) can run into the corner of the site.
As a result, an attacker from the corner can make an open throw, pass to the center or side (if one of the defenders comes to him). In a word, there will be an opportunity to play an extra player. You can overload both sides of the site, and if the attack did not work out during the first formation, you can continue to scatter the enemy’s zone and attack from the other side. Ideally, a good zone should react quickly and read the potential combinations of the opponent, reorganize in a coordinated manner in order to prevent “overload”, but these are questions of basketball skill. Another way to create danger for the zone defense is to pass the point guard to the side (to the 2nd or 3rd number) and abruptly enter the opponent's three-second zone and move towards the corner. Here you can get the ball both at the entrance and make an attack, and then from the corner.
Against the zone 2-3 , overload is played mainly by small players, since the points on the perimeter at 45 degrees become vulnerable points of this configuration.
The key here is to quickly spread the passes of the two players who are at the top of the zone and attack from an open position, load a big one for a one-on-one or rush in one of the forwards. The 2-3 zone is usually chosen as a defensive formation in games against teams with very strong centers, or weak shots from all players. Pay attention to the picture below and it will become clearer why you can use this particular method of opening the zone. If you transfer the ball to one of the sides of the court, then the top defenders will automatically move to this side, exposing a huge piece of the court to attack the player on the perimeter at 45 degrees. In addition, you can also raise the big one to the free throw line and create an additional overload of players in the area of \u200b\u200bthe perimeter and free throw line. In fact, the attack gets the advantage of one or even two players. There are precedents when a very extraordinary, but extremely effective technique was used against the 2-3 zone.
A player with a good long-range shot ran deep under the basket and analyzed the situation on the court. At this time, the ball was scattered between the remaining four attackers (2 from above and 2 from below). After that, he made a sharp exit to the perimeter into the free zone and made a throw or went into the passage at his discretion. Perhaps this is an extreme option, but the idea needs to be caught: on the perimeter at 45 degrees, free space is sure to form if 3 small and 1 large will actively scatter the ball.
Against the zone defense of the defense, it is very effective to use fast attacks before the enemy has time to build defensive redoubts. Also, setting barriers can be of great benefit, but not with the aim of freeing the player (you know, barriers are ineffective against the zone), but to immobilize the enemy. The fact is that it is extremely important for the zone to move quickly around the court, so cutting off at least one player from occupying the desired position and securing partners provides great opportunities for making an undisguised ring attack.
Come up with your own combinations against zone defense, hone team interactions, and work out both with those who are familiar with these combinations and those who are not. This way you can understand how useful these schemes will be in a real game.
So let's sum up . There are far fewer offensive options against a team that has put up a zone defense than against a personal one. However, each zone has weaknesses that can be exploited. In particular, it is very effective to play "overload" against a zone defense - creating a quantitative advantage in an attack in a certain area of the site. The key point to pay attention to when breaking down a zone defense is to spread the ball quickly to create clear spaces before the opponent regroups.
We continue training with our basketball coach!
Rule 3, 5, 8, 24 seconds in basketball and their violations
Hello, dear visitors of basketball-training.org.ua! Today I want to tell you about the most important basketball rules related to playing time.
These rules are quite simple to understand and apply, however, as practice shows, many players do not interpret them quite correctly, which causes a lot of controversy.
So I decided to write an article that will dot the "i" in questions 8, 5, 3 and 24 seconds in basketball rules . Let's start with the three second rule.
Rules of Basketball: 3, 5, 8 and 24 Seconds
Rule of Three Seconds
Quoting Official Basketball Rules:
A player must not remain in the opposing team's restricted area for more than three consecutive seconds while his team is in control of a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is running.
An exception must be made to a player who:
- Attempts to leave the restricted area.
- Is in the restricted area while he or his partner is in the act of shooting and the ball is leaving or has already left the player's hand(s) on a shot for a field goal.
- Dribbling in the restricted area for a shot for a field goal while in the restricted area for less than three (3) seconds.
To be considered outside the restricted area, the player must place both feet on the floor outside the restricted area.
Something to watch out for: You can stand in the 3-second zone until the ball has gone to the opposing team. You can stay in the zone if your partner is throwing the basket. Well, to get out of the zone, you need to go out with both feet (and not one, as is often the case).
8 second rule
Let me quote the basketball rules again:
Whenever:
- Player gains control of a live ball in his backcourt
- On a throw-in, the ball touches or the ball is legally touched by any player in the backcourt and the team of the player taking the throw-in continues to have control of the ball in their backcourt, that team must bring the ball into their frontcourt within eight (8) seconds.
A team kicks the ball into its frontcourt when:
- The ball, which is not controlled by any player, touches the frontcourt.
- The ball is touched or the ball is legally touched by an attacker who has both feet in contact with his frontcourt.
- The ball is touched or the ball is legally touched by a defender who has part of his body in contact with his backcourt.
- The ball touches an official who has part of his body in the frontcourt of the team in control of the ball.
- During a dribble from the backcourt to the frontcourt, the ball and both feet of the dribbler are in contact with the frontcourt.
The eight (8) second count continues from whatever time remains at the point of stoppage when the same team that previously had control of the ball is awarded a backcourt throw-in as a result of:
- Ball out of bounds.
- Injuries of a player of the same team.
- Jump ball situations.
- Double foul.
- Compensation of the same penalties against both teams.
What we pay attention to: both feet must go to the side of the opposing team, otherwise you will lose the ball.
You can also throw the ball at the referee to avoid breaking the 8 second rule (just kidding, of course).
The 24 second rule
Before you read what is written below, you can read a very interesting article about how 24 seconds saved the NBA from discouragement: link.
And now let's turn to the original source published by the Basketball Federation (FIBA):
Whenever:
- Player gains control of a live ball on the playing court
- On a throw-in, the ball touches or the ball is legally touched by any player on the playing court and the team of the player taking the throw-in continues to have control of the ball, that team must shoot for a field goal within twenty-four seconds.
To consider a shot for a field goal taken within twenty-four seconds:
- The ball must leave the player's hand before the twenty-four second device signal sounds and
- After the ball has left the player's hand, he must touch the ring or enter the basket.
When a shot for a field goal is taken just before the end of the 24 second period and the 24 second device signal sounds while the ball is in the air:
- If the ball enters the basket, no offense occurs, the signal is ignored and the hit counts.
- If the ball touches the ring but does not enter the basket, no offense occurs, the signal is ignored and the game continues.
- If the ball does not touch the ring, a violation occurs. However, if the opposing team gains immediate and obvious control of the ball, the signal is ignored and play continues.
All restrictions related to hitting and ball interference must be taken into account.
If the referee stops play:
- For a foul or violation (but not for the ball going out of bounds) committed by a team not in control of the ball
- For any other reason related to the team not in control of the ball
- For any reason unrelated to either team, possession of the ball must be awarded to the same team that previously had control of the ball.
If the throw-in is administered in the backcourt, the twenty-four second clock must be reset to 24 seconds. In the event that the face-off is administered in the frontcourt, the twenty-four (24) second device must be set as follows:
- If there are 14 seconds or more remaining on the device when the game is stopped for 24 seconds, then the readings on the device should not be reset, and the countdown should continue from the time it was stopped.
- If the twenty-four second device has thirteen seconds or less left when the game is stopped, the device must be reset to 14 seconds.
However, if, in the opinion of the referee, the opposing team will be placed at a disadvantage, the twenty-four (24) second count shall continue from the time of stoppage.
If the 24 second device signal sounds in error while either team is in control of the ball or neither team is in control of the ball, the signal is ignored and play continues.
However, if, in the opinion of the referee, the team in control of the ball has been disadvantaged, play shall be stopped, the 24 second clock shall be corrected and the ball shall be awarded to that same team.
Well, here the explanations will be superfluous, and so it is painted in great detail.
5 second rule
And this is the most interesting rule, often called " close player ". Almost none of the amateur players know about it, it is not judged in the framework of streetball tournaments (if you want to know more about the rules by which 3v3 are played in the Ukrainian Streetball League, read the Rules of Streetball) and in the USA it does not exist at all! So, what is its specialty?
Close Player
Definition : A player who is in possession of a live ball on the playing court is considered to be closely guarded when an opponent is in an active defensive stance no more than one meter away.
A closely guarded player must pass, shoot or dribble within five seconds.
Actually, if you defend tightly with a player for 5 seconds, but he did not start the dribble, the referee should whistle a violation.
