What is zone marking?

Zone marking is a defensive strategy used in team sports, particularly in soccer and Basketball, where players are assigned specific areas of the field or court to cover rather than marking individual opponents. Each player is responsible for defending any opponent that enters their designated zone, allowing for flexible adjustments to offensive movements. This approach can help teams maintain structure and organization, especially in countering team plays or set pieces. Zone marking can be effective in minimizing space and controlling the game flow.