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How to Coach and Teach a Trap In-the-Corners Basketball 1-3-1 Zone DefenseThis half-court defense is different than the conventional 1-3-1 Zone and much more efficient in my view. Most coaches have player #4 cover both corners on the baseline. That means that #4 must be tall, quick and alert. Even if you are fortunate enough to have such a player possessing these qualities, the defense will become more ineffective as the game progresses. Weariness takes its toll. That is not the case with this this version of the 1-3-1 because player #5 covers the ball in the left corner and player #4 covers the right corner. This is a ball defense. That is to say, whenever the ball is on the perimeter, 3 defensive players are between the player with the ball and basket. If you can get all five players to keep their arms extended and waving, this defense looks impossible to penetrate. The key is to keep the hands up and all players move with the flight of the ball. That's why it's called a ball defense. A good way to impress your players on the importance of keeping the arms extended is to have 5 defensive players in their respective positions with the rest of the team in an arc about mid-court. Out loud, tell the 5 defensive players stand still with their arms hanging at their sides. Point out to the rest how easy it looks to a ball handler. Frankly the gaps look big enough to drive a Mack truck in there. Next, have the 5 defensive players fully extend and wave their arms. There appears no place to go and if #5 is a kid with long arms..... you don't. Another word of caution, never allow your players to slap, or grab, at the ball once the trap is sprung. The fact the player is in the corner, he already is half-way surrounded by the side and base lines. Your players should be taught to close up on the opposite sides with hands up. Try to make the opponent lob a pass out of the corner. Meanwhile, the other 3 defensive players look for the interception. Players who can't keep their hands up or follow your rules need to be on the bench. They sure couldn't keep there, either. Easily taught to players at any level, this is a tried and true defense. It should be part of every defensive strategy. I always liked to use several defenses in a game and this eventually became the principle defense. You can show it early in the game and for those teams without much player movement, you can switch to man-to-man and some teams never realize you made the switch.
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