is the lack of possibilities to disturb preparatory combinations and the lack of possibilities to closely guard the attackers shooting from a long distance. By shifting some defenders forwards from their initial position (approx. 8 12m from their own goal) we can create other forms of zone defensive systems: the most frequently used are 5:1, 4:2 or 3:2:1 (Diagram 10). Diagram 10 For example in the system 5:1 the forward defender can fulfil the following tasks: 1. Guards the central back court players’ space and controls the activities in the left and right back court players’ space. 2. Is responsible for the entire space of back court players, he moves preferably in the area where the ball is. 3. Guards the space of the back court player who is nearest to the ball to prevent him from taking the pass. The advantage of the systems with forward defenders is the disturbance of preparatory combinations and the close guarding of shooters from longer distances. The greater the number of forward defenders and the greater the space they defend, the better these tasks can be fulfilled. The disadvantage of these systems is a more difficult communication among the defenders from various lines and the small number of defenders near the goal area. λ Combined Defensive Systems In these systems the elements of man-to-man and zone defence are combined some players fulfil the tasks of man-to-man defence and some the tasks of zone defence. The most frequently used system is the system 5:0+1. One defender practises man-to-man defence, the others practise the zone system. This system is useful against the team with an exceptionally good player (mostly the shooter, but it may also be the starting player). The pivot can sometimes be defended using the man-to-man method, in this case the other defenders form the basic defence, being a few meters further away from the goal line (system 1+0:5). During the practice of the zone and combined defensive systems we concentrate primarily on the three following spheres: 1. Taking up positions typical for the chosen system as well as for the transition from attack to defence,