Zone defence basics

Setup

1. Attack: GD with the ball in the defensive third, WD and C beside them, WA and GA in the centre third.
2. Defence: ga and c guard the front of the zone, wa the middle and wd the back.
3. Each defender owns a space, not a player.

How it runs

1. Attackers try to move the ball through the centre third into the goal third.
2. The zone slides together toward the ball; the back defender reads the long pass.
3. Defence scores a point for an intercept or a held ball; attack scores for a catch in the goal third.
4. Swap roles after five attacks.

Coaching points

• Move together on the pass, not after the catch.
• Talk: call the ball side and who takes the runner in your space.
• Front of the zone: arms up at 0.9 m to make the passer lift the ball.
• Back of the zone: stay deep and read the lob.

Common mistakes

• One defender chasing a player out of their space and opening a hole.
• The zone sliding late, after the ball has landed.