A Zone Defense can be a great way to slow down your opponents when they are bigger, faster or better. But it takes a lot of time to practice, so make sure you pick the right one!

Zone Defense can be an important part of your tool box if you are a high school or college coach. Most Zone Defense formations put Slides and Help where you need them most, disrupting most common offensive schemes, and forcing the other team to make long, cross-field passes or take outside shots that you feel comfortable your Goalie can save.

But Which Zone is the best for youth players? 3-3, 4-2, Backer, 6-Man Rotating Zone? There are a lot of options. If you're coaching beginners, there are always times when the other team is just full of bigger, more athletic, more experienced players. You might be tempted to play Zone Defense to make up for your players' lack of speed, size, or strength as a way to stay in the game and maybe get a win, or at least slow them down. So which one should you use to cover up your shortcomings on Defense?

And the answer is... DON'T!

"Zones don't develop great Defenders." Zone Defense is complex. It's confusing, and it takes tons of time in practice to introduce to your players and get it right. Sure, it might help you slow down the other team on their way to a blowout. But as Youth and High School coaches up to the Freshman or JV level, your job is to develop fit, hard-working ATHLETES.

In 2017, the NBA and USA Basketball passed Age-Appropriate Guidelines, much like the US Lacrosse Athlete Development Model. They recommended taking out Zone Defenses until at least age 12. In international basketball, they recommend no zones until age 14. Why? Because,

"Removing zone defense from play among younger age segments encourages movement and physical activity, and promotes the development of individual defensive skills...From a developmental standpoint, playing in a man-to-man system at an early age offers several key benefits. It helps players develop better agility, better spatial awareness, better footwork and a more versatile defensive skillset...and simply be more active and engaged in the game than they'd likely be in a zone defense."

-Why USA Basketball Wants Youth Coaches to Stop Using Zone Defenses

High School Varsity and College coaches want great ATHLETES that understand basic Individual and Team Man-to-Man Defense. Wins and Losses don't matter until you're coaching at a high level. Long-Term Player Development is what matters. The US Lacrosse Athlete Development Model reinforces this through age 14, until players enter the Competitive (15-18) and Compete to Win (19+) stages. Everything until then is about developing Strength, Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ), Coordination, Lateral Movement, etc. You should spend as much time as possible focusing on how you can help your players develop these individual athletic skills, not covering up for them with boring Zone D schemes.

• Related: The "ABCD's" of Individual Defense.

Teaching Man-to-Man Defense is the best way to do that. Younger players need to learn the necessary footwork and physical conditioning, body positioning and techniques to play good Individual Defense. They need to learn to move their feet and stay in between their man and the goal. Man-to-Man Individual Defense requires more physical movement and activity. End of story.

• Related: Teach good Individual Defensive Skills with The Bucket Game!
• Related: Try this great 2-on-2 Dodge and Slide Drill that we absolutely love!

Remember the FUNdamentals! If you are coaching youth teams, or High School Freshman or JV, you are coaching for Fun and Development. Wins and losses don't matter. Don't sacrifice your players' long-term athletic development for short-term gains. Athletic Skill, Psychological, and Social-Behavioral Development are your primary goals. Even without good stick skills, your players can play good Defense with their Feet and Body. Defense! Defense! Defense!