Offense vs 1-1-3 zone

Coaches,

I have my first AAU tournament of the season this Saturday and Sunday. I coach girl's U-13 team. The schedule shows that I face a very good team coached by a very good coach who uses an unconventional zone, 1-1-3 zone.

I've never seen this type of zone before so I was hoping some of the coaches out there have seen it. I believe they extend this zone up a bit leaving the baseline open. I'm not sure if they trap. I was gonna use a spread 2-1-2 offense with quick ball movement, getting the ball in the corner/baseline and attacking. Elbow and foul line extended should be open too........I think.

Any thoughts?


Thanks!!

Coach A

Coach A -

If they are not trapping I would think that once the ball is entered to the wing the D ends up in a 2-1-2 or 2-3.... I would counter that with a 1-3-1 or overload one side and put a good shooter on the back side - doing this almosts puts them into a m2m situation.

Heard a college coach say this about attacking zones.... "PUT EM WHERE THEY AINT!"

This past season I used a lot of 1-1-3 at the high school level. The sets that gave us difficulties was anything where a team really focused on getting the ball to the middle on a 2nd or 3rd pass. I would suggest swinging the ball to a wing and look to attack middle. The second guard will most likely take the first pass, which means someone must bump or the top guard must drop. Attack middle and baseline.
Best sets are a 1-3-1...having bottom player work short corner as much as possible...And a 2-1-2.