Full-court zone press

Setup

1. The pressing team (bibs) sets a 2-2-2: gs and ga on the throw-in, wa and c behind them in the third, wd and gd sitting in the centre third.
2. The other team takes a backline throw-in from the GK with GD, WD, C, WA and GA free to move; shooters wait at the far end.
3. Coach calls 'zone' or 'man' before each rep so the press has to set or not on the call.

How it runs

1. GK has 3 seconds to throw in. gs and ga angle the throw to one sideline; nothing goes up the middle.
2. When the ball lands on the sideline, the nearest two trap it (both at 0.9 m) while wa, wd and gd close the down-the-line and the cross-court pass.
3. Release triggers: the zone holds until the ball is lobbed, goes back to the GK, or crosses the transverse line; then every defender picks up the nearest player one-on-one.
4. A turnover is played on to a shot at the other end. 6 reps per side in sets of 3, with 90 s rest between sets.

Coaching points

• Front two: open the body to show the sideline. The zone decides where the ball goes, not who has it.
• Trap with hands over the ball and a wide base, two defenders at 0.9 m each, never by reaching in.
• Back line reads the thrower's eyes and the height of the ball: a lob gives about a second to take off early.
• Talk on every pass: 'ball', 'line', 'release'.

Common mistakes

• Front two standing too flat, so the first pass goes straight up the middle.
• Trapping defenders closing inside 0.9 m and giving away a penalty pass.
• Holding the zone shape after a trigger and leaving a free player on the release.