Zone defence
A defensive system in which each player guards a specific area of the court or field rather than a specific opponent.
Definition
In a zone defence, defenders are responsible for covering a designated space and any opponent who enters it, instead of following one assigned player around. This lets a team protect key areas and share responsibility as the ball moves.
Zone systems are used in sports such as basketball, netball, handball and water polo. They can make it harder to attack through crowded central areas, but attackers may try to exploit the gaps between zones with movement and passing.
Where you’ll hear “zone defence”
Sports that use this term:
Basketball
A fast, dynamic team sport of running, jumping and quick decisions on court.
Netball
A non-contact, position-based team sport of quick passing and accurate shooting.
Handball
A fast indoor team sport of passing, jumping and throwing to score with the hands.
Water Polo
A demanding team sport played in deep water, blending swimming endurance with tactics.
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Tactics
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
- Man-to-man markingA defensive tactic where each defender is assigned a specific opponent to track and contain.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
Positions
- Defensive midfielderA defensive midfielder sits in front of the defence, breaking up opposition attacks and shielding the back line.
- Power forwardThe power forward plays near the basket in basketball, using strength to rebound, score inside, and defend the paint.
- CenterThe center is usually the tallest player on a basketball team, playing near the basket to score inside, rebound, and protect the rim.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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