Isolation
A basketball tactic that clears space for one attacker to take on a single defender one-on-one.
Definition
In an isolation, often shortened to iso, the other four attackers move away to one side of the court so that a skilled ball-handler has room to attack their defender without help arriving. The aim is to exploit a favourable individual matchup and create a shot or a drive to the basket.
Isolation is mainly a basketball term and is opposite in spirit to team-oriented systems such as motion offense. Its success depends heavily on the attacker's one-on-one ability and on good spacing, so that a single extra defender cannot easily cover both the driver and a teammate.
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Tactics
- Offside trapA defensive football tactic where the back line steps up together to leave an attacker offside.
- Man-to-man markingA defensive tactic where each defender is assigned a specific opponent to track and contain.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
Techniques
- Crossover DribbleA basketball dribbling move that switches the ball quickly from one hand to the other to change direction and get past a defender.
- Jump ShotA basketball shot released at the top of a vertical jump, letting the shooter get the ball over a defender with a soft, arcing release.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
Practice & sessions
Exercises
Positions
- Goal shooterThe goal shooter is a netball attacker who scores goals and is one of only two players allowed to shoot, working within the attacking goal third and circle.
- OppositeThe opposite is a volleyball attacker who plays on the right side of the net, opposite the setter in the rotation, and is often a key scorer.
- Centre-backA centre-back is a central defender in football whose main job is to stop opposing attackers and clear the ball from dangerous areas.
- PivotThe pivot is a handball attacker who plays close to the opposition defence, setting screens and looking for chances near the goal area.
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- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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