Converse University Head Men's Basketball Coach;
Wesleyan University Head Coach from 2018 to 2022;
Compiled a 49-26 record over 4 seasons;
Guided the Warriors to a 20-win season in 2020;
won the school's first ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship (2020);
Tusculum Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
set a school record for most three-pointers made and attempted in a season (2017);
Played collegiately at King UniversityThe 1-3-1 half-court zone defense has been used successfully as an effective way to change the pace of a game. It is a highly versatile defense that can slow down opposing offenses, cause confusion in the half court and force turnovers.
In this video, Nick Pasqua gives viewers a detailed look at his 1-3-1 half-court defense system and offers up practical, valuable lessons on the best way to teach it to your players
1-3-1 Defense Overview: Player Positioning, Movements & Rules
With an objective of changing up defenses, Pasqua uses a whiteboard to demonstrate and explain the intricacies of his 1-3-1 defense and when it is most effective, as well as an overview of the positioning of the players, their individual defensive assignments, movements and rules. He also provides great insight on when he’ll change into a 2-3 zone or play man-to-man defense, depending on the corner in which the ball is entered.
Starting with the top player in the zone (#3 defender), Pasqua assigns this defender to play between the lane-lines extended in the middle of the floor. A major part of what this top defender is asked to do is to stunt toward the ball and make the ball handler uncomfortable.
The forwards (#1 and #2 defenders) play flat across the middle using the three-point line to restrain them, while the center (#5) stays positioned between the player with the ball and the basket. The bottom defender (#4) stays one step outside the lane line on the same side as the ball.From this positioning, Pasqua shows movements in the zone and explains each defender’s rules based on where the ball is located, the game situation and what the offense is trying to accomplish.
1-3-1 Defense Adjustments, Breakdown Drills
Pasqua shows viewers several ways that an offense may adjust to the 1-3-1 and provides several ‘counters to the counter’ which include how to defend skip passes, passes to the middle of the floor and specific types of ball screens. Each of these actions is defended based on rules within the defense.
Viewers are treated to an in-depth look and best practices for installing the 1-3-1 defense, including several excellent breakdown drills that Pasqua uses to teach and perfect it.
Pasqua begins by showcasing a 1-3-1 Defense, 4-on-4 Drill in which special attention is paid to stunting at the ball, stunting at passes, and filling gaps. Key teaching points in this drill include close-outs on the ball with one hand and how to use “hit and get” technique during rebounding opportunities when a shot is taken.
In a 5-on-5 live-action sequence, Pasqua teaches ball screen-defense and stresses that when ball screens are used against a zone defense, that man-to-man ball screen principles should be applied and shows off several defensive slides and movements that can thwart these offensive attempts to open up scoring opportunities.
The video finishes with an effective section where the 1-3-1 half-court zone defense is taught by working defenders against a numerical disadvantage. Using a 5-on-6 disadvantage, Pasqua places special emphasis on how to defend lob passes, how to keep the ball out of the high post and best practices for stopping middle drives.This video is an excellent primer for installing, teaching and adding the 1-3-1 defense into your defensive arsenal!
“Coach Pasqua goes into extreme detail to show how his team plays an exceptionally tough 1-3-1 half-court zone defense. This is a defense that gives the offense fits game after game.” - Customer Review.
60 minutes. 2022.
BD-06036B: with Nick Pasqua,
Converse University Head Men's Basketball Coach;
Wesleyan University Head Coach from 2018 to 2022;
Compiled a 49-26 record over 4 seasons;
Guided the Warriors to a 20-win season in 2020;
won the school's first ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship (2020);
Tusculum Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
set a school record for most three-pointers made and attempted in a season (2017);
Played collegiately at King UniversityNick Pasqua has earned the reputation as a rising star in collegiate basketball coaching circles because of his ability to turn a basketball program around quickly. One of the reasons for Pasqua’s success as a head college coach is his team’s effective use of the 1-2-2 Full-Court Press.
In this video, viewers are treated to a thorough breakdown of Pasqua’s 1-2-2 Full-Court Press – both in a teaching-friendly Xs and Os session, where he goes over the ins and outs of the press and also a live, on-the-court tutorial where you get to see live-action version showing the press details, player movements, rules and drills.
1-2-2 Full-Court Press: Overview & Player Responsibilities
Pasqua begins with an Xs and Os session where he outlines the primary functions and concepts within his 1-2-2 Full-Court Press. The coach stresses the importance of having players understand multiple player positions on the press and how that knowledge provides in-game flexibility as a coach to apply different tactics for a variety of situations.
Viewers are given detailed, but easy to understand explanations for the roles and responsibilities of each position in Pasqua’s 1-2-2 Full-Court Press, including: why the front three players of the press are interchangeable, how the inside-out technique of influencing players to the sideline and out is highly effective and that his technique of ‘stunting low and retreating high’ keeps the ball handlers toward the side of the court. Pasqua then provides excellent coaching points for how players can read situations and areas of the court to determine when to trap. Pickup points are also outlined in this session, as well as each player’s responsibility in the 1-2-2 and easy to follow rotations are diagrammed on whiteboard.
1-2-2 Full-Court Press: Live & On The Court
Pasqua treats viewers to seeing his team in action as they practice the press. This is a great learning opportunity to observe him teaching the press to his own team.
The drills are broken down by groups, as Pasqua coaches the front three defenders to work on rotations, traps, stunting and inside-out technique – all while going against common press break alignments, which is a fantastic learning device, as you get to see real scenarios that coaches will face yourself throughout a season. Moving to the backline defenders, Pasqua reps rotating and protecting the basket against the back of a press break with an emphasis on rules, roles and responsibilities of each backline defender in different situations.
Putting everything together, Pasqua conducts a live 5-on-5 controlled scrimmage, which provides an opportunity to watch the 1-2-2 Full-Court Press in a game-like situation with all five players reacting and playing together.
If you are looking for a dynamic full-court press, this must-watch video contains everything you’ll need to implement and have success with a 1-2-2 Full-Court Press!
41 minutes. 2022.
BD-06036C: with Nick Pasqua,
Converse University Head Men's Basketball Coach;
Wesleyan University Head Coach from 2018 to 2022;
Compiled a 49-26 record over 4 seasons;
Guided the Warriors to a 20-win season in 2020;
won the school's first ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship (2020);
Tusculum Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
set a school record for most three-pointers made and attempted in a season (2017);
Played collegiately at King UniversityModern basketball has become synonymous with ‘positionless’ basketball. In today’s game, every player must possess the ability to dribble, pass and shoot – and coaches must find creative ways to develop players and put them in the best possible positions to be successful.
In this must-see video, Nick Pasqua shows how he developed a structured, motion offense that incorporates a few of the most-relied upon tenets of modern basketball.
Combining some of the most popular offenses from European Ball-Screen Offense, Motion Offense, the Princeton Offense and even Dribble-Drive Offense concepts, Pasqua unveils all the details that make up the European Hybrid Princeton Offense!
European Hybrid Princeton Offense: The Xs & Os
Coach Pasqua begins with a detailed explanation of the European Hybrid Princeton Offense and diagrams everything on a whiteboard, explaining how he created the offense, why it’s been effective and arms the viewer with a complete coaching overview that is sure to help you understand and learn this tough-to-stop motion offense. Viewers are shown the European Hybrid Princeton Offense’s initial alignment, which begins with 5-out spacing. From there, Pasqua conceptually details such as: the designated spots, player responsibilities, player reads, the terminology that’s used (and why) – with everything drawn out in easy-to-follow diagrams.
Next, Pasqua showcases multiple actions out of the European Hybrid Princeton Offense and explains why after a full year of running this offense, that your teams will be virtually ‘un-scoutable’ to upcoming opponents.
Diving deeper, yet keeping concepts simple, Coach Pasqua diagrams and explains why the court is divided into halves in this offense and highlights actions, movements and responsibilities of each player positioned in each half.The coach explains and diagrams the ‘action spot’ and covers a variety of other options including: backdoor cuts, ghost screens, x-cuts, slip screens, twist screens, chase action, UCLA screens and more. Multiple counters are also included in this informative section.
European Hybrid Princeton Offense: Quick Hitters & Drills
You will then get to watch the European Hybrid Princeton Offense flow and move – in a highly valuable, on-court, live-action setting with demonstrations being performed by Coach Pasqua’s players.
In this practice-like setting, viewers watch and learn how players execute the actions in a 5-on-0 setting and utilize skills such as, ball-screen reads, ball reversals, double-backdoors and other options, including counters – all demonstrated at game-like speed.
Coach Pasqua draws out several powerful quick-hitting actions that flow into the offense. He also discusses how these concepts can be used against a zone defense, and covers different baseline or sideline out-of-bounds plays that flow into the offense.
Through several 3-on-0 shooting drills that fit the offense, you will see different drive-and-kick scenarios. Following the same idea, players are shown performing middle-ball screens, a variety of pick-and-roll actions and post moves with an emphasis on proper footwork.
Putting everything together, Pasqua offers viewers a 4-on-0 drill that improves dribble drive reads within this offense.
In the final segment, viewers are shown a variety of game clips of the European Hybrid Princeton Offense in action against in-season opponents. Each clip is narrated by Coach Pasqua, as he describes each play, including what they were looking for and how they wanted to attack the defense.
This is a cutting-edge offensive video with comprehensive information! Coach Pasqua delivers everything you need to learn and implement the European Hybrid Princeton Offense.
Coach Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Stars‘Great video. Everything is covered in this video presentation. It is a unique twist on combining two popular offenses in college basketball. Best of all, it’s also simple enough to break down for high-school level players!’
104 minutes. 2022.