With offensive success comes … zones.

Coach Ryan Schultz knows this better than most. After winning multiple state championships, he’s had every zone defense imaginable thrown his way.

So over the past decade, Coach Schultz has created concepts to attack every zone with the same efficiency as when attacking man-to-man defenses.

Here are two key concepts from The Complete Zone Offense Blueprint with Coach Schultz that will help you carve up every type of zone.

Push, Pull, and Stretch The Zone Into Submission

One of Coach Schultz’s most effective concepts for beating zones is elite spacing.

Smart spacing forces zones to expand, creating big gaps, long closeouts, and puts pressure on the defenders.

Below are three tricks he uses to get elite spacing and put maximum pressure on any zone defense.

1. Stretch Horizontally

   Stretching horizontally means keeping wings and baseline players wide toward the sidelines. On ball reversals and skip passes, this width will put extreme pressure on closeouts- opening driving lanes, post seals, and rhythm shots.

2. Stretch Vertically

   Pull the top guards a few steps toward half-court while keeping a low-post threat deep below the block. This vertical stretch lengthens the zone and creates soft spots in the middle.

3. Use the NBA 3 Point Line

   Most coaches want players on the 3-point line so they can catch and shoot. But Coach Schultz extends them out to NBA range.

   This extra spacing widens gaps, increases driving lanes, and makes every rotation tougher on the defense.

   Surprisingly, it also makes for better 3-point shooting. Why? Because players have space to step into their shot, creating better rhythm and balance.

When all 3 of these concepts are combined, the zone becomes distorted and vulnerable. Quick ball reversals and skp passes create huge lanes to attack, easy post seals, and high-percentage shots.

Check out the clip below where Coach Schultz teaches his spacing principles:

See More Wins With Blind Cuts

Many coaches use cutting actions against zones, but most cut the same way they would against a man defense.

Big mistake.

Zone defenses, however, are a different animal. They work differently; therefore, your cuts must be different too.

In man defenses, you usually try to cut over the top of the defender. Against zone defenses, the opposite approach is more effective.

Make a “blind cut” behind the defenders.

Blind cutting means slipping behind the defender's line of sight. 

Oftentimes, they won’t look for you once you are behind them. The defense will assume someone else has coverage on them. This often creates opportunities to catch the ball in the heart of the defense.

Check out this clip where Coach Ryan Schultz teaches how to cut and sit against a zone:

With more innovative zones emerging every season, it is crucial to teach players universal concepts like these–concepts that will work against any defensive alignment.

This is just a taste of what you’ll see in Coach Schultz’s Complete Zone Offense Blueprint. This product is designed to help you attack any zone with confidence!







Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Brad Poppe says: 12/5/2025 at 12:31:42 PM I really enjoyed those two videos. Is this for sale and if so, how much? Like   1 reply   login   register Barb says: 12/5/2025 at 1:08:49 PM It will be soon. We will send an announcement when it is available to purchase Like     login   register

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