1. Multiple Pressing Defenses
Mark Harming
Chamberlain High School
Girls Basketball

2. General Overview 2-2-1 Zone Press (box) 1-2-1-1 Zone Press (diamond)
Full-court Man to Man (jump and run)
½ Court Zone Trap
2-2-1
1-3-1

3. Personal History First year - 1996 McLaughlin
Second Year - add Box press
3rd Year - Wessington add Diamond
Byron Hand – Half court trap
Troy Wanner- DRSM – FC Man to Man
Currently we use all four types

4. Reasons for multiple presses
Keep your opponent guessing
Dictate to them
Different presses are successful against different teams
Helpful in late game situations
Additional benefit – since you run them all, you practice against them all, and will help you in running your press break.

5. 2-2-1 Zone Press Advantages Disadvantages Easiest to learn Least risk
Don’t need to be super fast or athletic
Disadvantages
The middle is wide open
You do need 2 quick guards
Don’t always get a trap
Not real aggressive

6. 2-2-1 Zone Press x Teaching Points Make them inbounds to the corner
Force the ball to dribble to the sideline…overplay and do NOT allow them to dribble middle
Halfcourt defender on ballside will come forward and trap.
Opposite side will rotate to that spot, and take first pass ahead
Opposite Guard Takes away anything to the middle.
#5 plays the safety man –don’t get beat deep! 2 1 3 4 5

7. 1-2-1-1 Zone Press Advantages Aggressive – affects team mindset
Should always get a trap
Puts pressure on them to make something happen
Disadvantages
Vulnerable – if beaten
You need the right personnel
Need a good “safety”

8. 1-2-1-1 Zone Press Teaching Points Pressure the inbounds
#4 must trap the ball on entry
#3 (halfcourt) takes away first pass ahead
Off-ball Guard takes first pass to the middle
#5 Plays Safety Position 4 x 1 2 3

9. Full Court Man (Jump and Run)
Advantages
Never know where the trap is coming from
Very versatile – Can play many ways
Intimidating
Disadvantages
You need to have the talent to run this well
Vulnerable – if beaten
Can be broken by a great ball handler
Hardest to learn and teach

10. Full Court Man (Jump and Run)
Teaching Points
Pressure the inbounds, but don’t give up the “homerun”
“On-Ball” -make them put it on the floor, either direction.
All players- must watch ball, and if ballhandler comes within 3 strides of them….leave their man and trap.
Other players must rotate, and cover and recover…. Communication is key!
If the ball is ahead of you… Sprint!

11. ½ Court Trap (1-3-1) Advantages Good for a “change of pace”
Can get some easy turnovers
Don’t need too much team speed
Disadvantages
Tough to trap a good ball-handler
Leaves open quick shot from the baseline
Tough to rebound out of

12. ½ Court Trap (1-3-1) Teaching Points
Point (#1) Force the ball to a side.
Wings (#3 & #4) Will trap on ballside, opposite will take first pass to the middle.
Interceptor (#2) will take first pass ahead
#5 will play safety x 1 x 3 4 2 x x x 5

13. Using Multiple Presses
Year to Year different teams will have different strengths…stronger in one press than another
You can still use them all, just change up which one(s) you use the most
It becomes easier to teach, and for them to learn if you use them all each year

14. Practicing Multiple Presses
We introduce at least 2 before the first game (usually the and another)
Over Christmas Break, we add the third one.
By the second half of the season, we have added the fourth one.
District and Region opponents…will usually see only one or two in our games with them.

15. We work on a different pressing or press-breaking skill daily.
“Pressing Defense” Drill
10 minute drill
The varsity will defend the jv.
I make a lay-up and call out a defense
The Varsity must set up that defense, if they get a steal, they try and score…if they score I may call a different defense
Basically, they have no idea what defense will be run next, every time it goes through the hoop.
We will rotate players in and out…but it will stay Varsity vs JV the whole time

16. Switching during a game
Out of a timeout, running the half-court trap just one time
Late in the game, need a foul or a steal, run the , or the jump and run.
Switch from one press to another while shooting a free throw (tell your “halfcourt” player)
Run a different type of press each quarter.

17. Final Thoughts
Not every team can be pressed. But the threat of it, will cost them some practice time, and the more they have to prepare for the better for your team.
If your team has learned all of these, you can pull one out late in a game, and surprise an opponent.

18. E-mail: mark.harming@k12.sd.us
Any Questions?
Thank You