No zone philosophy

Aberfeldie Jets supports a no zone philosophy in the U10-U14 competitions. Aberfeldie Jets encourage coaches of U10-U14 to observe man to man defence principles instead of playing a zone defence. Support for the no zone philosophy was passed at the KBA junior domestic competition meeting on 28 August 2017.

Zone defence is defined as any defence played in the half court which does not incorporate normal man to man defensive principles. The no zone philosophy applies only in the half court. Zone presses and trapping defences that fall back to man to man principles inside the three-point line are not discouraged in a no zone philosophy. The only exception is when a team has less than five (5) players on the court.

In terms of the philosophy, it is exactly that, a guiding principle for behaviour that is presently unenforceable. Unlike the fall back (mercy) rule which is enforceable and written into the bylaws the no zone philosophy is currently an unwritten agreement that junior clubs have bought into and agreed to encourage their coaches to support; Aberfeldie Jets agreed to ask our Coaches not to teach or play zone. The next step will be to get it incorporated into the bylaws that are currently being reviewed.

Coach Mac has a good article about not playing zone here and the NBA in conjunction with USA Basketball has also written about it here.