with Will Rey,
Northridge Prep (IL) Head Boys Basketball Coach for 14 years: 265 wins, 12 Championships, 9 Coach of the Year Awards;
IBCA, Chicago Catholic League and 5-Star Camp Hall of Fame member; Coached NCAA Basketball for 19 years
If you're looking for a defense that doesn't require a lot of time to install, will help your team be successful regardless of its talent level, and uses concepts that other teams struggle to prepare for, the 1-3-1 defense is your answer!
Will Rey takes his years of coaching at the high school and college levels and passes on his complete understanding of the 1-3-1 defensive scheme in this on-court instructional video. You will learn how to use the zone defense to stop dribble penetration, slow down your opponents, and neutralize their best players.
Benefits of the 1-3-1
Coach Rey begins by discussing the benefits associated with the 1-3-1 defense. One of the more interesting points in this section is when Rey discusses how he is able to set up his 1-3-1 defense to complement his transition offense. He explains how to place players in positions on defense to allow them to transition quickly into scoring spots on the offensive end.
A few of the reasons Coach Rey likes to run the 1-3-1 include:
- It's strong in the most important area of the court - the middle.
- Few teams use it, therefore opposing players aren't used to playing or practicing against it.
- It's an extremely versatile zone - it can morph into a slew of variations.
- It's great at disrupting offensive rhythm.
On The Court
Rey transitions to the court to break down the different positions in the 1-3-1. While he spells out the ideal player qualities for each spot, he emphasizes that no matter the size of your athletes, they can all fit somewhere in this defense.
The 1-3-1 has the ability to morph into a half court and full court defense. Additionally, it can also be used in the half court to trap. With a few adjustments and minimal time spent, you can have three defenses to use just by learning the basics of the 1-3-1.
Most opponents will try to get the ball to the corner as their main option to get open shots against the 1-3-1, but Coach Rey shows why this plays right into his trapping option. His "Blitz" action can be used all the time or at specific times during a game to change things up. Rey talks about letting his players make the decision to "Blitz" when they see the opportunity. Your players will love this freedom to make their own decisions.
Coach Rey also passes on two other strategies that can change things up for the 1-3-1: Plug and Butterfly. Both options throw some twists into the defense that will force opposing offenses to slow down and reevaluate how to attack your zone.
The nice thing about the 1-3-1 is you can run it from year to year regardless of the raw talent level of your players. It's designed to prevent offenses from attacking the middle of the floor and provides options to be more aggressive, stop dribble penetration, and get out to guard shooters. Most importantly, the 1-3-1 is easy to install and takes a small amount of time out of your practices to perfect.
Take this opportunity to learn the 1-3-1 from Coach Rey and turn your team into a defensive juggernaut!
57 minutes. 2018.