As there is no room for this I posted under the closest thing.

 

I wanted to get opinions on this age group playing zone defense. I have a 4th grade boys school team. We mix up teams evenly as possible before the season. I enjoy going over to Cincinnati to play tourneys. As we currently are in one on the west side, I have been surprised at the only defense any of the teams play is zone. The courts are small as well. We have seen a lot of 1-3-1, 1-2-2, 3-2 as well as all zones on OOB in this tourney.

 

In NKY we play man only with differing rules of where and when u can help.

 

Thoughts on this age playing zone?

 

IMO it does nothing to help a 10 yr old learn how to play defense. IMO it does allow a player to understand how to move the ball and attack gaps and not just dribble, so I have a mixed view and now lean to the BP experts on their opinions.

When I coached 7th grade, you were not allowed to play zone in the league we played in. I definitely agree with it.

Agreed. No excuse for running zone at that age. They need to learn how to play defense before you teach them to play a defense.

My 2nd and 3rd grade team is NOT allowed to play a zone of double team period.

Bad idea to play zone at this age.

You need to get your priorities straight! It's all about the wins! It's important that your 3rd grade child wins a lot of games. Who cares if they are not learning the fundamentals of the game. Plus I'm sure there are lots of zone busters out there in the 3rd grade.

You need to get your priorities straight! It's all about the wins! It's important that your 3rd grade child wins a lot of games. Who cares if they are not learning the fundamentals of the game. Plus I'm sure there are lots of zone busters out there in the 3rd grade.

 

To be fair to the coaches it's tough to teach basic offensive plays at this age with the limited amount of gym time they get much less try to teach M2M concepts.

I teach my team plays and they execute them in the games. They are simple but very effective. It's amazing to see what a screen will do in a 2nd and 3rd grade game :lol2:

I teach my team plays and they execute them in the games. They are simple but very effective. It's amazing to see what a screen will do in a 2nd and 3rd grade game :lol2:

 

..and a backdoor cut.

 

How often do you get to practice?

..and a backdoor cut.

 

How often do you get to practice?

 

Once a week which I hate. Luckily, I have a core of players back from last season and the younger kids are just now learning.

To be fair to the coaches it's tough to teach basic offensive plays at this age with the limited amount of gym time they get much less try to teach M2M concepts.

 

Been there, done it. Not that hard to put in 2-3 basic plays and teach them the fundamentals.

I kind of like it. The 4/5th grade team I coached was only allowed to play man, but with zone you can teach help defense and pressuring a ball-handler to a certain part of the floor fairly easily. Either way, there are going to be deficiencies, but it's always good to have kids learn to play and attack different defenses and offenses.

My daughter has been playing in the little Pioneer league since 1st grade. She is now in third they have to play man to man and no double team. We are 1-0 on the year so far. Not sure how rules change next year in 4th grade when they have school teams

My 2nd and 3rd grade team is NOT allowed to play a zone of double team period.

 

Are we coaching in same league??

Are we coaching in same league??

 

Are you in Boyle County?