Beat Zone Defenses with Chin Action: Princeton-Inspired Play for Easy Looks
Setup
Begin in a 2-3 high alignment with your point guard (1), wings (2 & 3), and posts (4 & 5).
Player 1 initiates the action by passing to 2.
As 2 catches, 5 flashes up to the elbow area.
Execution
2 reverses the ball to 4 at the top.
5 immediately sets a back screen for 1, who cuts hard to the rim.
After the screen, 5 slips to the high post.
4’s job is to read the floor:
If x5 (zone low man) steps up, look to hit 1 cutting behind.
If x5 stays low, pass to 5 for a short jumper.
If neither look is open, 4 dribbles at the wing to shift the zone:
This triggers 1 to fill the ball-side corner.
5 dives to the rim.
4 looks back to 1 for a catch-and-shoot three or dump-off to 5.
Key Coaching Points
5 must read the open space, whether it's elbow or short corner, for maximum zone disruption.
1’s rim cut is essential; it forces zone defenders to collapse or rotate early.
4’s dribble attack creates movement that opens the corner and low post.
Perimeter players must space properly for kick-outs if the ball enters the paint.
Full Breakdown for Coaches
The Zone Chin Play is a Princeton-action adaptation for attacking zone defenses. It’s effective at the high school and youth levels because of its blend of structured spacing and intelligent reads.
What makes it unique is the use of a back screen from the center (5) immediately after flashing high. This screen often catches the bottom defender of a zone by surprise, especially if the ball is being reversed at the same moment.
Once that initial cut is defended, the progression is built into the movement. Rather than resetting, the ball handler (4) dribbles up, pulling the zone higher and triggering a sequence of off-ball movement.
This dribble is not just filler, it’s a zone manipulator:
The corner fill by 1 stretches the bottom of the zone.
The dive from 5 creates a temporary 2-on-1 against the lowest defender.
4 has multiple options, corner, paint, or even skip passes if the zone collapses inward.
This flexibility makes the play highly repeatable. After the full motion, the offense naturally resets into its original shape, allowing you to run the same play on the opposite side without needing a new setup.
Why It Works Against Zones
Zone defenses thrive on predictability and stagnant movement. This Chin variation exploits both:
The back screen action happens just as the zone is reacting to a pass reversal.
The dribble cue initiates a positional shift in the zone, breaking symmetry.
It constantly forces defenders to make choices, help or stay? Bump or rotate?
If defenders hesitate even momentarily, the offense gets clean looks.
Drills to Support the Chin Zone Play
To maximize efficiency, integrate the following drills into your practices:
1. Back Screen Timing Drills
Rehearse 5’s screen and 1’s cut to the rim. Emphasize syncing the screen with the ball movement.
2. High Post Decision Making
Have your 5s work on catching at the elbow, turning, and reading:
Dump-down to cutter
Midrange jumper
Reversal skip passes
3. Corner Catch & Shoot
Ensure 1 and 3 get reps catching and firing quickly from the short corner or wing off ball reversals.
When to Use This Play
This Chin play is best used:
After a timeout to settle your team and get a clean look
Against 2-3 or 1-2-2 zones that sink deep into the paint
When the defense starts sagging to take away cutters, because the play naturally punishes over-help with skip passes
Final Takeaway
Zone Play 1 - Chin is a powerful weapon for coaches looking to add a structured, yet adaptive, attack versus zones. It leverages back screens, movement, and ball reversal to create consistent scoring chances, without needing elite athleticism. Whether you coach a youth squad or a varsity program, this play gives you a repeatable system to create high-percentage shots and force defenses into tough decisions.
By training your players to read the floor and time their movements correctly, this zone offense can become a staple in your playbook.
