Triangle zone with a top string

A simple way to play a 3-3 zone while maintaining space and pressuring the ball.

I realized that my team needed a zone defense. I always thought it was difficult to coach against teams that could run a man and a zone effectively, rather than have different slide packages with a standard defense. 

However, I want to keep it simple I should run a 3-3 zone.  The trouble with a 3-3 zone is when offenses hit the seems rotating and sliding can be difficult.  The most difficult spot for me is when they carry into that spot between the top 3 and the bottom 3.

Therefore after getting this idea from a follow coach I thought I would give this a try.

Look at it like two triangles rotating towards the ball.  This worked great for my bottom triangle.  However it did not for my top triangle because I wanted to keep my talented long pole in the middle.  Therefore I ended up bailing on the top triangle and having him just run a string.  This kept my long pole in the most dangerous spot of the zone and put less burden on the short sticks which I had stay in the top right and top left now.

Image 1:

You can see the basic formation of the zone.  I want my LSM to be top center and really taking to the ball carrier in the top center.

Image 2:

If goes to the top right I would have a short stick playing him.  His only job is to funnel the player down the alley and not let him top side.  if he does get top side is the job of the LSM to not let him get to the middle of the field.  He must not cross that line in the center.

Image 3:

You can see the ball carrier gets passed off to my LS down low and has now entered my lower triangle.

Image 5:

If the player runs the ball my LS can stay with him playing his hands and the triangle rotates with him.

Image 6:

If the pass is made our triangle rotates to the ball.
Image 7:

as the pass is made the triangle rotates to the ball again. The shift of the defense is illustrated.

Image 8:

I really want that short stick in the top left to step out to deny the easy pass.

Image 9:

I try to deny the pass up to the top corner to promote a skip pass.  I am taking a gamble that if I can train my long pole to see that coming he can pick it off and be off to the races.  This has worked many many times because if done correctly that pass becomes long and highly predictable.