3 tips for running multiple offenses and defenses

This question comes from Coach Joe:

Q: I was looking for an effective but simple way in which to signal and change things on the court. You know something that would not interrupt the natural flow of the game.

A: I have two answers for this question describing two different kinds of situations.

1. If you are looking to run multiple defenses and are looking for a way to change defenses without disrupting rhythm, I think that the simplest way to do so is to run different defensive looks on made/missed shots and made/missed free throws.

This is a seamless way to run multiple looks.

Example 1: You could run a man to man defense on made shots and a 2-3 zone on missed shots.   Most teams can do this with very little practice.

If you like to extend your defenses, you can easily expand out to where you can run as many as 5 different defenses on any two defensive possessions…

Example 2:

• 2-2-1 fullcourt press falling back into a 2-2-1 halfcourt press on made shots.
• Man to Man on missed shots.
• 1-2-1-1 fullcourt press falling back into a 1-2-2 zone on made free throws.
• 2-3 zone on baseline out-of-bounds.

Good, experienced teams can continue to add several more looks in a number of ways – examples include running different looks based on the type of shots you make – run one defense on made 3 point shots, another on lay-ups, another on dunks, etc, etc.

Obviously you want to start simple and build to where you’re getting into more complicated combination like this. Once your team develops the proper awareness and communication, it isn’t very difficult to run multiple looks like this.   In Example 2, the only areas that really require good recognition are making sure that you get into your press on made shots and that you get back in to man to man on misses or turnovers. The other situations (1-2-1-1 press, 1-2-2-zone, and 2-3 zone) don’t ever occur unless there is a break in the action (out of bounds situation or your team shooting free throws) – meaning you’ll have time to communicate exactly what you need to get across and adjust.

In order to run several looks like this well, you need to practice the transitions in practice – starting a scrimmage from a made free throw, or adding in one transition (with the defense switching into it’s fast break offense and vice verse)  to each possession during your halfcourt offensive work, for example. This type of work is absolutely invaluable to team success

2. If you are looking for ways to make impromptu changes during the action – my suggestion is simply to practice without a whistle for the purpose of getting your team accustomed to responding to your voice. This can take some time, and for coaches who are accustomed to using a whistle there can be an initial frustration period where players are slow to respond to your instructions. The benefit of this approach – coaching a team that is tuned in and responds to you, even in a loud, hectic environment – is well worth the initial frustration, in my opinion.   The downside, for me, is that sometimes early in the season people think I am a raving lunatic because I tend to be extremely vocal on the sidelines making sure that we are focused for the full 32 minutes. (-: Still, by mid-season, I can usually spend most of the game seated (sort of) quietly in the bench, and we are able to make all of the adjustments that we need to make.

2-a. Another tactic that I use to adjust early in the season with almost every team I coach, including varsity, is to use substitutions to correct breakdowns in execution – sometimes a player will come out for as little as 10 seconds before I put him or her right back in the game – this is not a way to adjust as much as it is a way to maintain a high level of execution.

Filed Under: Basketball Coaching Tips

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