When most coaches hear 1-3-1 protection, they most probably consider a protracted and athletic workforce taking part in round within the half court docket forcing lob passes and trapping within the corners.
Nevertheless, 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.
Which 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 scenario.
Purpose of the 1-3-1 Full Courtroom Press
On the most simple stage, the aim of the full-court 1-3-1 press is to get the offense to a facet and entice the ball alongside the sideline close to half court docket.
Even when the press doesn’t trigger a turnover, it ought to outcome within the offense being compelled to decelerate to get the ball previous half court docket, 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 court docket. As an alternative of having the ability to rapidly advance the ball with the dribble or sideline cross, they are going to be compelled to reverse the ball and take their time to get it throughout mid-court safely. This may waste a part of their shot clock and in addition take them out of their offensive rhythm.
2. Means that you can stress the ball
Because the press has three defenders throughout the center and a workforce participant defending the basket, it permits the highest defender to actually try to stress the basketball with out the concern of getting burned. This stress can fatigue the opponent and result in some live-ball turnovers over the course of the sport.
3. Not a very dangerous press
With a continuing basket defender, the 1-3-1 full court docket press ought to be capable of restrict straightforward appears by the offense. Even when they’re able to break the stress 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 court docket 1-3-1 press, there may be ample house within the entrance court docket for the offense to house out to. Subsequently 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 organising 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 probably 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 certainly one of your high offensive gamers as nicely.
3. Just one participant again to cowl the basket
Whereas the goaltender spot is most probably going to be your tallest participant able to alternating pictures, 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 stress, they may have the benefit.
Preliminary Setup and Duties

Here’s a transient take a look at how the 1-3-1 full-court press is ready up and in addition the order through which it’s best to start assigning gamers positions.
Prime 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 lot of floor backward and forward. Moreover, if they’re taller and longer, that’s even higher since it can forestall the offense from seeing reversal passes simply and drive them to throw excessive, sluggish lob passes.
This participant ought to begin someplace across the high of the 3-point line within the backcourt if not just a little inside it, relying on the place the offensive gamers begin.
Their isn’t a lot to disclaim the inbounds cross as it’s to stress the ball as soon as it’s handed in.
As soon as the ball has been thrown in to a facet, this high 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 court docket, it’s the high defender’s job to assist the wings entice the ball handler close to the half court docket line.
Center Defender
Relying on the way you run your 1-3-1 press, this is likely to be the 2nd most necessary defender.
This participant should even be very athletic and in a position to cowl a number of floor. Their size will not be as necessary, however their quickness should be glorious. 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 middle circle, however may scoot up as wanted to match up with an offensive participant.
The primary duty 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 stress, so retaining the ball away from this space is crucial for the 1-3-1 full court docket 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 entice set with the ball-side wing.
Again Defender
Whereas most coaches will simply mechanically stick their put up participant right here, that doesn’t essentially have to be the case.
This participant must be your finest 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 must do a number of transferring backward and forward and as a substitute simply keep within the paint to guard the basket.
The much less cellular this participant is, the nearer they have to keep close to the basket. Both manner, this participant ought to by no means go previous the highest of the important thing within the entrance court docket.
Their aim could be very easy: defend the basket and forestall straightforward baskets.
This participant ought to by no means depart the lane space to attempt for a steal or something except they’re ABSOLUTELY SURE they may be capable of make the play. Being fallacious and never making the play will probably end in a layup for the offense.
Wing Defenders
Ideally suited wings within the 1-3-1 press are lengthy gamers who make it tough 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 court docket line with out fouling. They need to be pretty athletic and in a position to cowl a good quantity of floor.
The wings ought to start even with the center defender, someplace across the half court docket line. They need to be broad sufficient in order that they will reduce off the sideline with out getting burned.
The primary responsibly of the wing defenders is to get traps set close to the half court docket line. It may very well be both within the entrance court docket or the again court docket relying on the place the ball will get stopped.
Moreover, these gamers should NOT quit the sideline within the again court docket. If the highest defender is engaged on retaining the ball to a facet, which means these wings should forestall the ball from being dribbled up the sideline with out a entice getting set.
Lastly, the wings should defend 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 exchange them to maintain the ball from attending to the center.
Methods to Run the 1-3-1 Full Courtroom 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 entice with X4. X4 can retreat a pair steps to behave like there received’t be a entice earlier than attacking the ball and getting it stopped. X4 should not quit the sideline.
As X4 steps up for the entice, X1 leaves the center to remove the sideline cross to five. This can be a far rotation, so they should anticipate it nicely 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 manner for the reason that 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 Courtroom Entice

On the entice 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, it is a far slide for him to make, so on the very least they want to have the ability to attain out their high hand and knock the ball out of bounds.
X3 ought to do all the things he can to maintain the ball out of the center of the ground. He has to pay attention to the place the offensive gamers are situated to remove essentially the most harmful participant in the midst of the ground. His rule must be to begin on the high of the important thing and work his manner 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. Nevertheless, if there may be first rate ball stress, that cross shouldn’t be a sluggish, lobbed cross, so he doesn’t have to all-out deny it.
On this primary entice, the one cross that the offense ought to see accessible is a reversal cross within the again court docket.
Reversal

If the entice within the again court docket is any good, then the reversal cross must go backwards to three. That is necessary as a result of it can give the defenders extra time to finish their subsequent rotations.
X2 doesn’t wish to instantly flip and chase the cross. As an alternative, he ought to run to the place the dribbler goes to go, once more making an attempt to remain on the within and maintain the ball on a facet of the ground.
The opposite 3 defenders rotating want to try 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 reduce off and get a entice set. On this reversal, there’s an excellent probability he might want to try to get the entice set simply previous the half court docket line within the entrance court docket due to how far he has to rotate throughout the court docket.
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 entice and rotate to the center to remove the cross to 2.
Due to the space many of those rotations are, there’s a good probability the offense could possibly full a cross up the sideline to the entrance court docket.
However that doesn’t the press is over. It simply means the protection must get a entice set within the entrance court docket.
Entrance Courtroom 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 reduce 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 entice. The faster X3 can change route and get there, the higher the entice might be.
X5 appears round and takes away any potential cross towards the basket. If there isn’t a one in that space, he stays there ready for a late cutter or drive.
X2 and X4 are liable for taking away any reversal passes. X2 takes the upper one and X4 rotates down to remove something decrease.They need to consider there isn’t a have to deny something into the again court docket since that might be a turnover anyway.
Aggressive Press Variation

For those who’re wanting so as to add some extra stress and get your opponent to select up their tempo and play quicker than they wish to, this extra aggressive 1-3-1 full court docket 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 position 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 entice the basketball. Their job is to supply most ball stress 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 court docket 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 midst 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 tips on how to maintain the stress 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 court docket and the press can be again to regular and able to entice once more as soon as the ball will get handed out of the center.

This can be a very excessive danger, excessive reward sort of press that may yield a number of turnovers in a rush.
However since it’s also very dangerous, it’s necessary your gamers know that if the offense completes a penetrating cross to the center, they must dash again and arrange their half court docket protection.
Conclusion
The 1-3-1 full court docket press generally is 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 a number of live-ball turnovers with it, particularly when you have a number of lengthy, athletic defenders who can stress the basketball and anticipate passes.
If urgent your opponent with a less-risky method is one thing that pursuits you, take into account implementing the 1-3-1 full court docket press earlier than your subsequent sport.