
When most coaches hear 1-3-1 protection, they almost definitely consider an extended and athletic group taking part in round within the half courtroom forcing lob passes and trapping within the corners.
Nonetheless, the 1-3-1 will also be utilized in a full-court setting as a press.
Whereas the positions and rotations are considerably totally different than a 1-3-1 half-court zone, it’s a reasonably straightforward press to implement to create difficulties for the offense.
As well as, there are quite a few alternative ways you possibly can run it.
That means that every one groups can discover a model of the 1-3-1 full-court press that matches your personnel or have a number of methods to run it relying in your state of affairs.
Aim of the 1-3-1 Full Court docket Press
On the most simple degree, the purpose of the full-court 1-3-1 press is to get the offense to a facet and lure the ball alongside the sideline close to half courtroom.
Even when the press doesn’t trigger a turnover, it ought to outcome within the offense being pressured to decelerate to get the ball previous half courtroom, affecting their rhythm and effectiveness.
Strengths
1. Means that you can disrupt tempo
The 1-3-1 forces groups to work to get the ball previous half courtroom. As a substitute of having the ability to rapidly advance the ball with the dribble or sideline cross, they are going to be pressured to reverse the ball and take their time to get it throughout mid-court safely. It will waste a part of their shot clock and likewise take them out of their offensive rhythm.
2. Means that you can strain the ball
Because the press has three defenders throughout the center and a group participant defending the basket, it permits the highest defender to essentially try to strain the basketball with out the worry of getting burned. This strain can fatigue the opponent and result in some live-ball turnovers over the course of the sport.
3. Not an excessively dangerous press
With a continuing basket defender, the 1-3-1 full courtroom press ought to be capable of restrict straightforward seems to be by the offense. Even when they’re able to break the strain successfully, there’ll nonetheless be a goaltender within the lane able to contest any potential shot.
Weaknesses
1. Bigger groups can throw excessive to interrupt the press
With the setup of a full courtroom 1-3-1 press, there’s ample area within the entrance courtroom for the offense to area out to. Due to this fact if they’ve taller and stronger gamers, it’s attainable for them to throw excessive of the 2nd line into their offensive half, avoiding the traps and establishing a quick break for themselves.
2. Fatigue for the highest defender
The highest participant within the 1-3-1 press must be very lively and doubtlessly guard from sideline to sideline. If the offense chooses to repeatedly throw the ball backwards and forwards as they break the press, it’s attainable this defender turns into very worn out within the course of. This may be particularly damaging if that is additionally one in every of your prime offensive gamers as properly.
3. Only one participant again to cowl the basket
Whereas the goaltender spot is almost definitely going to be your tallest participant able to alternating photographs, that’s nonetheless only one defender. Regardless of how good of a shot blocker this participant could also be, if the offense is ready to get a number of gamers transferring towards the basket after breaking strain, they may have the benefit.
Preliminary Setup and Tasks


Here’s a transient take a look at how the 1-3-1 full-court press is about up and likewise the order through which you must start assigning gamers positions.
High Defender
That is crucial place on the press, so it must be the primary spot that you simply assign.
This defender should be athletic and in a position to cowl a number of floor back and forth. Moreover, if they’re taller and longer, that’s even higher since it would forestall the offense from seeing reversal passes simply and drive them to throw excessive, gradual lob passes.
This participant ought to begin someplace across the prime of the 3-point line within the backcourt if not a bit inside it, relying on the place the offensive gamers begin.
Their isn’t a lot to disclaim the inbounds cross as it’s to strain the ball as soon as it’s handed in.
As soon as the ball has been thrown in to a facet, this prime defender’s job is to maintain it on that facet of the ground. He does this by opening up utterly to the offensive participant’s facet. This positioning helps to push this participant to dribble up the sideline and prevents a straightforward reversal cross.
Because the offense will get close to half courtroom, it’s the prime defender’s job to assist the wings lure the ball handler close to the half courtroom line.
Center Defender
Relying on the way you run your 1-3-1 press, this is perhaps the 2nd most essential defender.
This participant should even be very athletic and in a position to cowl lots of floor. Their size shouldn’t be as essential, however their quickness should be wonderful. An added bonus is they’re good at anticipating the place the offense’s subsequent cross will go to allow them to try to get some interceptions.
This participant will start someplace across the heart circle, however might scoot up as wanted to match up with an offensive participant.
The primary accountability of the center defender is to maintain the ball from going to the center of the ground. Offenses will all the time look to get the center to the center to keep away from traps and break down the strain, so protecting the ball away from this space is important for the 1-3-1 full courtroom press to be efficient.
Because the ball nears the trapping space, the center defender rotates towards the ball-side sideline to remove any passes up the ground. If they’re late and the cross will get accomplished, they will cease the ball and get a 2nd lure set with the ball-side wing.
Again Defender
Whereas most coaches will simply routinely stick their put up participant right here, that doesn’t essentially must be the case.
This participant must be your greatest defender on the rim, not simply your tallest. Additionally it is a spot you possibly can put a much less cellular participant since they don’t need to do lots of transferring back and forth and as a substitute simply keep within the paint to guard the basket.
The much less cellular this participant is, the nearer they need to keep close to the basket. Both means, this participant ought to by no means go previous the highest of the important thing within the entrance courtroom.
Their purpose may be very easy: shield the basket and stop straightforward baskets.
This participant ought to by no means depart the lane space to attempt for a steal or something until they’re ABSOLUTELY SURE they may be capable of make the play. Being fallacious and never making the play will possible end in a layup for the offense.
Wing Defenders
Superb wings within the 1-3-1 press are lengthy gamers who make it troublesome for the offense to throw penetrating passes up the sideline due to their size.
They’re additionally good at setting traps close to the half courtroom line with out fouling. They need to be pretty athletic and in a position to cowl an honest quantity of floor.
The wings ought to start even with the center defender, someplace across the half courtroom line. They need to be huge sufficient in order that they will minimize off the sideline with out getting burned.
The principle responsibly of the wing defenders is to get traps set close to the half courtroom line. It might be both within the entrance courtroom or the again courtroom relying on the place the ball will get stopped.
Moreover, these gamers should NOT quit the sideline within the again courtroom. If the highest defender is engaged on protecting the ball to a facet, meaning these wings should forestall the ball from being dribbled up the sideline with no lure getting set.
Lastly, the wings should shield the center of the ground when they’re on the weak facet. As the center participant goes out to remove the sideline cross, the weak facet wing should substitute them to maintain the ball from attending to the center.
Find out how to Run the 1-3-1 Full Court docket Press
Inbounding


On the cross to 1, X2 instantly will get contained in the ball and positions his shoulders parallel with the sideline to affect the ball handler to remain on that facet of the ground.
X1 works to get in entrance of two to maintain the ball from the center of the ground.
X3, X4, and X5 all keep of their spots, able to rotate because the ball will get superior up the ground.
Advancing


As 1 begins dribbling the ball up the ground, X2 continues to remain proper on his inside shoulder and steer him towards the lure with X4. X4 can retreat a pair steps to behave like there received’t be a lure earlier than attacking the ball and getting it stopped. X4 should not quit the sideline.
As X4 steps up for the lure, X1 leaves the center to remove the sideline cross to five. It is a far rotation, so they should anticipate it properly to get there quick. Their aiming level must be for the hip of 5 so in the event that they arrive late they will get behind him and cease the ball.
X3 rotates to the center as X1 leaves it. He ought to already be dishonest that means because the ball is on the other facet of the ground, making it a shorter rotation for him.
X5 stays within the paint ready for the worst-case state of affairs of the offense breaking the press simply and attacking the basket.
Again Court docket Entice


On the lure by X2 and X4 close to the half-court line, the remaining gamers ought to work to disclaim any additional penetrating passes.
X1 ought to deny the cross up the sideline to five. Once more, this can be a far slide for him to make, so on the very least they want to have the ability to attain out their prime hand and knock the ball out of bounds.
X3 ought to do every little thing he can to maintain the ball out of the center of the ground. He has to concentrate on the place the offensive gamers are positioned to remove essentially the most harmful participant in the course of the ground. His rule must be to begin on the prime of the important thing and work his means up, staying with the deepest participant.
X5 ought to once more stay contained in the 3-point line. If there’s a deep participant close to the lane, he can step close to him. Nonetheless, if there’s first rate ball strain, that cross shouldn’t be a gradual, lobbed cross, so he doesn’t must all-out deny it.
On this primary lure, the one cross that the offense ought to see out there is a reversal cross within the again courtroom.
Reversal


If the lure within the again courtroom is any good, then the reversal cross need to go backwards to three. That is essential as a result of it would give the defenders extra time to finish their subsequent rotations.
X2 doesn’t wish to instantly flip and chase the cross. As a substitute, he ought to run to the place the dribbler goes to go, once more attempting to remain on the within and maintain the ball on a facet of the ground.
The opposite 3 defenders rotating want to aim to maneuver as 1, as their rotations will depart gamers open briefly till they get the place they’re going.
X3 sprints towards the sideline to get it minimize off and get a lure set. On this reversal, there’s likelihood he might want to try to get the lure set simply previous the half courtroom line within the entrance courtroom due to how far he has to rotate throughout the courtroom.
X1 should dash all the best way throughout the ground to get to the opposite sideline and deny 4. And X4 should depart the primary lure and rotate to the center to remove the cross to 2.
Due to the gap many of those rotations are, there’s a good likelihood the offense could possibly full a cross up the sideline to the entrance courtroom.
However that doesn’t the press is over. It simply means the protection must get a lure set within the entrance courtroom.
Entrance Court docket Entice


If the cross is accomplished up the sideline, it’s X1’s job to instantly get in entrance of it, get the ball stopped, and minimize off the sideline.
Then X3 should flip and dash as quickly as he sees the ball go previous his head to chase it down and full the lure. The faster X3 can change route and get there, the higher the lure will probably be.
X5 seems to be round and takes away any potential cross towards the basket. If there is no such thing as a one in that space, he stays there ready for a late cutter or drive.
X2 and X4 are chargeable for taking away any reversal passes. X2 takes the upper one and X4 rotates down to remove something decrease.They need to be mindful there is no such thing as a must deny something into the again courtroom since that will probably be a turnover anyway.
Aggressive Press Variation


In case you’re trying so as to add some extra strain and get your opponent to select up their tempo and play sooner than they wish to, this extra aggressive 1-3-1 full courtroom press can do the job.
The preliminary setup of the press is identical as the unique model besides everyone seems to be 10 – 15 ft nearer to the basketball at the beginning.
The highest participant’s function is just about the identical, besides he actually makes an attempt to push the offense to catch the ball close to the nook on the inbounds cross.
On the inbounds cross to 1, X2 and X4 instantly rush in to lure the basketball. Their job is to offer most ball strain with out fouling. They aren’t trying to get a steal from this spot, however simply make 1 uncomfortable.


The 5’s job is MUCH totally different on this model of the 1-3-1 full courtroom press. He rotates over to remove any sideline cross up the ground.
Since most groups will try to rapidly reverse the ball to the inbounder stepping in, X3 sprints in to disclaim that cross. X1 then turns into a security in the course of the ground.
X1’s obligations are to remove any flash to the center of the ground, whether or not that comes from in entrance of or behind him.


If the offense is ready to reverse the basketball to the inbounder, then the protection has 2 choices for the way to maintain the strain on.
Both X2 bumps X3 off and turns into the highest of the press once more. Or X2 can as a substitute dash to the other facet of the ground and depart X3 on the ball on the highest of the press.
X5 would then rotate to the center of the courtroom and the press can be again to regular and able to lure once more as soon as the ball will get handed out of the center.


It is a very excessive danger, excessive reward sort of press that may yield lots of turnovers in a rush.
However since it’s also very dangerous, it’s essential your gamers know that if the offense completes a penetrating cross to the center, they need to dash again and arrange their half courtroom protection.
Conclusion
The 1-3-1 full courtroom press could be a very efficient press that may successfully take an offense out of its rhythm with out permitting many straightforward baskets within the course of.
However you too can trigger lots of live-ball turnovers with it, particularly when you have lots of lengthy, athletic defenders who can strain the basketball and anticipate passes.
If urgent your opponent with a less-risky strategy is one thing that pursuits you, contemplate implementing the 1-3-1 full courtroom press earlier than your subsequent recreation.