A defensive strategy where players guard specific areas of the field rather than individual offensive players. Each defender is responsible for covering any offensive player who enters their assigned zone.
From 'zone' meaning a designated area, combined with 'defense.' The concept originated in basketball in the early 1900s and was adapted to football, emphasizing spatial rather than man-based coverage.
Zone defense creates a fascinating chess match because it forces offenses to find 'soft spots' between defenders rather than simply outrunning them. The Tampa 2 zone defense, perfected by Tony Dungy, shows how geometric principles can dominate athletic competition.
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