Attacking Zone Defenses

"Attacking Zone Defenses(second edition)," by John Kresse provides sophisticated basketball principles for basketball thoroughbreds. This three part book is comprehensive and well written...it is also very motivational. However, in my opinion part one...which includes chapters on; basic principles, rules to win by; the balanced machine; and planning each trip downcourt can help teams that are 13-years old and under. Parts two and three are outstanding but geared much more for coaches who have experienced players who have a strong knowledge of the game and who have developed advanced basketball skills. Nevertheless, this is a valuable book for all AAU or high school coachs who want a frame by frame breakdown of the 2-1-2, 2-3, 1-2-2, 3-2 and 1-3-1 defensive zones. Coach Kresse is a very talented coach and provides solid instructions on how to teach great execution.Kresse played for and coached with legendary New York basketball coaches Joe Lapchick and Lou Carnesecca at St. Johns University and also with the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association. And although Coach Kresse has a rich basketball history he teaches many new generation techniques. Overall, this book presents good ideas for a successful basketball program. Recommended. Bert Ruiz

Beat the zone by creating triangles and passing was how it was taught in my day. Today you'll see the same fundamentals enhanced with picks, back picks, and gap dribbling... heresy 25 years ago. This book teaches the new concepts that are essential to coaching today. I read it cover to cover and now use it as an important reference.

The book has many many zone offenses. Some against specific zones and some good for any zone. They are mostly continuities. Very detailed descriptions for each offense, very thorough and effective. I adopted one zone offense for my 8th grade team and achieved immediate results.