PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy or idea of any press is to rattle you, make you rush or play to a pace that you are unaccustomed to playing. The pressing team wants you to take bad shots, throw bad passes, make violations, therefore upsetting your poise and causing you to play differently than you normally do. Here again, we must impress upon our players that we will control tempo, we will not rush, but rather, we will set the pace and play to our advantage. Most teams that press want you to run and shoot--why play their game? Use reverse psychology--play your game.

ORGANIZATION
The first objective is to organize ourselves (coaches), then the team. If you are not ready mentally and physically, you and your team will be in for a tough time. Therefore, be ready by planning effectively what you intend to do.

METHOD OF ATTACK (Two Theories)
Fast Break--Beat it down the court before the defense can get set or organized.
Controlled Attack--Planned attack which you deliberately try to slow the defense down. The attack should be simple, using the whole court.

OBJECTIVES
Inbound Ball--Advance ball, get it over 10-second line without losing it. Penetrate as much as defense will allow.
Set-up Pattern--Go into your regular attack, keep in mind offensive and defensive balance.
Score--We must look to score; some teams forget to shoot and lose their momentum.

GENERAL IDEAS
Organize Quickly--Place your men quickly in their proper places, and determine beforehand when they can perform best.
Your attack should be simple and use the whole court. Determine what kind of zone press they are playing and when are they applying it, e.g., after field goal, foul shots, etc. Are they pressing half-court, three quarter, or full court.
Be Calm--Don't rush. You have plenty of time--5 seconds to get the ball inbounds and 10 seconds to get the ball over mid-court. In the event you make an error, don't make two. Rather than throw the ball away, settle for a jump ball. Again, be aware of opponents changing their zone press alignment, e.g., from 1-2-2 to a 1-3-1 and check area where pressure is being applied.
Three Looks--As you catch the ball, turn around and look. Don't dribble right away.
Look up--See if teammate is open.
Look before you dribble--Rather than dribble, pass.
Look before you pass--Make sure you have a good idea of the passing lanes. Try to keep the ball off the floor.
Practice--Set aside, each day, time to work against the zone press. Start the first week of practice and incorporate into your daily practice plan. It should become second nature to your players.

Launch Attacking Zone Presses