1

1-3-1 Zone Defense

Wilt Conservative
The 1-3-1 zone defense has the advantage of being able to apply pressure on the outside
arc and high post, and allows for some trapping.
Major weakness is when the offense attacks from corners and into the low post.
Rebounding can also be a problem with only one low defender.

Rules
5 plays the offensive post man-to-man, denying him the ball (fronting most of the time)
Wing defenders 2 & 3 must drop to weak-side block when ball is on opposite wing.
4 stays even or below the block and when the ball moves to a wing, moves out about
halfway to the corner.

As ball crosses half, 1 tries to direct the ball to one side
The awaiting wing player 2 then takes the ball.
1 drops toward the high post.
4 moves sideways, outside the paint.
The opposite wing 3 drops to the weak-side block to
give inside help.
5 is denying.





If the ball is passed to the corner
4 closes-out on the ball
2 can either drop inside, or trap the corner with 4
5 goes with his man and denies the pass inside.
1 drops to the ball-side elbow




2

The ball is passed back out to the wing.
1 will initially cover the ball until 2 can get there,
1 will slide over more toward the top.
4 drops back toward (but not in) the paint.
5 denies the post player.




On ball-reversal 1 follows ball & contains until 3 gets there.
1 may intercept & get a lay-up on the other end
3 sprints out and closes-out on the ball on the wing.
The opposite wing 2 drops down to the weak-side block
to give inside help.
4 sprints across ball-side, just a little outside the paint.
5 denies the post.





As the ball is passed to the corner 4 closes-out on the ball
3 can either trap or drop inside
1 drops to the ball-side elbow.
5 denies the post player.
2 gives help down low, but has weak-side responsibility









3

1-3-1 Zone Offense
Wilt Aggressive

Rule: Two players trap the ball and the other three
defenders are "interceptors", looking to deny & steal pass.
1 directs player to one side, to the awaiting wing defender
(2) and then 1 and 2 trap guard on the wing.
5 denies the post player.
4 rotates outside the paint half-way toward the corner,
3 is our weak-side wing defender and drops to the weak-
side block area.

The initial pass from the corner back out to the wing cannot
usually be trapped, and here we are just trying to contain the
ball. Upon ball-reversal up top.
1 and 3 will trap O3
4 moves across just outside the lane,
2 drops to the weak-side block,
5 denies the post.



If the ball is passed to the corner
4 closes-out on the ball
3 sprints down to trap.
1 goes to the ball-side elbow,
5 is always denying the pass into the post
2 has back-side responsibility.
Keys

We look to trap the wings and the corners
Trappers should really harass and "squeeze" in on the ball.
The level of the defenders' hands should mirror the height of the ball
Trappers should not reach in and foul.
They are trying to force a bad pass, or get the 5-second call.
Occasionally they may get the tie-up, but remember that a jump ball is not as good as an
interception or a 5-second call.