Zone defense is a type of defense used in team sports, which is the alternative to man-to-man defense; instead of each player guarding a corresponding player on the other team, each defensive player is given an area, or a "zone", to cover.
A zone defense can be used in virtually all sports where a defending team is present.
Contents |
Frank Lindley, Newton, KS High School basketball coach from 1914 to 1945, was among the first to use the zone defense and other innovations in the game and authored numerous books about basketball. He finished his career with a record of 594–118 and guided the Railroaders to ten state titles and seven second-place finishes.
A description of a zone defense corresponds to the number of players on the front of the zone and works its way to the back of the zone. For example, a 2–3 zone is a zone defense in which two defenders are covering areas in the top of the zone (near the top of the key) while three defenders are covering areas near the baseline.
Other types of zone defense include:
When a team plays a zone, the defenders must keep their hands up and in passing lanes and quickly adjust their positions as the ball and the offensive players move around. Teams that successfully play zone defenses are very vocal and effectively communicate where they, the ball, and their opponents are or will be.
Teams playing a zone occasionally try to "trap" the ball handler, an aggressive strategy designed to "double-team" the player with the ball. While this tactic may cause a turnover, it leaves one or more players on the offense undefended.
Zone defenses were prohibited in the National Basketball Association prior to the 2001–2002 season. The NBA currently permits the use of zones; however, teams generally do not use them as a primary defensive strategy and no zone defense may feature an unguarded defender inside the free-throw lane (a violation of that results in a defensive three-second violation, which is a technical foul). Zone defenses are more common in international, college, and youth competition.
There are several reasons for a team to use a zone defense. Some are listed below.
Playing a zone entails some risks. Some are listed below.
While strategies for countering zone defenses vary and often depend on the strengths and weaknesses of both the offensive and defensive teams, there are some general principles that are typically used by offensive teams when facing a zone.
Zone defense in American football refers to a type of "pass coverage". See American football defensive strategy and zone blocking.
The zone defense tactic, borrowed from basketball, was introduced into Australian football in the late 1980s by Robert Walls and revolutionized the game. It was used most effectively by Essendon Football Club coach Kevin Sheedy.
The tactic is used from the fullback kick in after a behind is scored. The side in opposition to the player kicking in places their forward players, including their full-forward and center half forward, in evenly spaced zones in the back 50-meter arc. This makes it easier for them to block leading players and forces the kick in to be more precise, in effect increasing the margin for error which can cause a turnover and another shot at goal. As a result, the best ways to break the zone are for the full-back to bomb it long (over 50 meters), often requiring a low percentage torpedo punt, or to play a short chipping game out of defense and then to switch play as opposition players break the zone. The latter has negated the effectiveness of the tactic since the 1990s.
Another kick-in technique is the huddle, often used before the zone, which involves all of the players from the opposition team to the player is kicking in huddling together and then breaking in different directions. The kicker typically aims in whichever direction that the designated target (typically the ruckman) runs in.
Zone defense is a defense in art of war, mainly preferred if the invader is stronger than the defender and the defender is highly motivated. It replaced the line defense, a strategy which states that the army should barricade themselves in the way of the invading troops aiming to reach a target. Per line defense approach, if the defending army loses ground, it should withdraw until it reaches a certain place where all the friendly units can came together and secure themselves. Zone defense strategy states that the defender should hold the ground at whatever cost unless otherwise directly ordered. It also states that if a unit is ordered to withdraw, it should step back until the first safe zone, assuming that an army can fight everywhere if it is committed to the war. An example of zone defense is the Battle of Sakarya, where the Turkish Army defended its homeland against Greek invaders. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, commander-in-chief of Turkish Army summarized his doctrine as:[1]
There is no line defense, there is only zone defense. This zone is the whole homeland. Unless every single piece of the homeland is flooded with its citizen's blood, it cannot be abandoned to the enemy. Therefore, either small or big, every unit can be driven from its position. However, either small or big, every unit starts fighting again with the enemy at the first location it could stop. Any unit should not withdraw even if the friendly units are doing so. They have to insist and resist at their position until their end.
As part of their preparations for World War II, the French army built the Maginot Line, which was meant to stop the Nazi army in front of it.[2] However, the Nazi army found its way around this barricade by invading Belgium and the Netherlands. Although the Maginot Line was prepared for a heavy assault, it was never used, and France fell into Nazi hands during the Battle of France with less resistance.
The Viet Cong practiced zone defense in the Vietnam War As a result, the United States Army had to stop inside the Vietnam jungles.[3]
|