Four Essential Tips For Basketball’s 1-3-1 Zone Defense

• By Grant Young

The 1-3-1 zone defense in basketball is effective for several reasons: 

1. Strong Perimeter Defense: The formation features one player at the top, three across the middle, and one at the back. This setup allows for aggressive pressure on the ball handler and limits open shots from the perimeter. The top defender can rotate quickly to contest outside shots or redirect the offense. 

2. Interior Protection: With three players in the middle, the 1-3-1 is particularly strong against drives to the basket. This congestion makes it difficult for opposing players to penetrate, forcing them to rely on jump shots or tough passes. The player at the back serves as a last line of defense, ready to contest any shots taken close to the rim. 

3. Transition Opportunities: When executed well, the 1-3-1 creates opportunities for fast breaks. If the defense secures a rebound, the top defender can quickly move the ball downcourt, exploiting any disorganization in the opposing team’s transition defense. 

4. Forced Off-Ball Movement: The structure of the zone can force opposing teams to make quick decisions. Players must move off the ball and look for gaps, which can lead to rushed shots or turnovers if they’re not careful. This unpredictability can disrupt an opponent's offensive rhythm. 

5. Adaptability: The 1-3-1 can be adjusted to counter specific offensive strengths. For example, if an opponent is particularly good at shooting from the corner, defenders can shift their positioning to apply extra pressure in that area. 

6. Creating Turnovers: The zone naturally encourages teams to pass the ball around the perimeter. If the offense becomes too focused on finding an open shot, they may neglect ball security, leading to mistakes and turnovers that the defending team can capitalize on. 

All of this is proof that when implemented correctly, the 1-3-1 zone defense can be a versatile and effective strategy. And since there’s a slim difference between a good and great 1-3-1 zone, we’ve taken vital lessons from three basketball coaches who have seen success with the zone to help you improve your own team’s zone abilities. 

Bryan Gates - You Have to Have a Man

In 2023, Bryan Gates became an Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. In his professional coaching career that has spanned 30 seasons, Coach Gates has worked within the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Idaho Stampede franchises. 

Coach Gates’ ‘Zone Defense Concepts’ course details a crucial concept about running any zone defense that often gets misunderstood. 

“In my opinion, you have to have a man,” Coach Gates says of each defensive player in a zone. What he means by this is that, while a zone defense obviously is different from a man-to-man defense, each player should always have awareness of where the offensive players are on the court, and which one of them is closest and the biggest threat to their zone responsibility. 

This is especially important when knowing which player each defender needs to close out to in the case of them taking a jump shot, and which player each defender needs to box out when a shot goes up. 

The same goes with pick and roll coverages, you remain true to whichever your core pick and roll coverage, adapt to ensure that no play gets left open, and make a closeout and box out when need be. 

Ronnie Hamilton - Vs. High Post or Weak Side Flash

Ronnie Hamilton enters his first season at the University of Louisville as an assistant coach in 2024-25. Hamilton arrives at Louisville after spending the last two seasons as an assistant at LSU. Hamilton came to LSU after four seasons at Ole Miss, where he worked primarily with the guards and helped Rebels earn All-SEC honors four times.

Coach Hamilton’s ‘The Complete Guide to the 1-3-1 Defense’ course discusses that when the defense is setting up as the offense is dribbling up the court and a post player flashes up to the elbow or the free throw line, it’s up to the middle defender to get in the passing lane and stop that entry pass from occurring.

This is because the 1-3-1 defense will be higher up than it usually is before the offense gets into their half court, with the three-wide defenders all around the perimeter. If the ball gets into the elbow in this positioning it will create openings on the wings and in the paint. 

If the ball is passed to a wing defender in this position, it’s the middle man’s job to sprint down to the opposite block to ensure that a pass isn’t made to the weak side wing (because the deepest defender will be closing out), who would likely be flashing to the block. 

Frank Fogg - Cut Throat Drill

Coach Frank Fogg, with 10-plus years of coaching experience, loves to share his championship-winning knowledge. Working as a high school coach at the highest level in Texas, Coach Fogg is a go-to resource for coaches across the nation.

Coach Fogg’s ‘The 1-3-1 Defensive System’ course discloses a ‘Cut Throat’ drill that starts with three teams of five (or four teams of four depending on your roster) on one-half court and two balls. One team will be on offense, one on defense, and another at half-court. If the team on offense scores then the defense goes off and if the defense gets a stop then the offense goes off. 

The teaching points here are that switching players so often will force the defense to adapt and get used to communicating and working with teammates while emphasizing effectiveness and execution.