A full-court press is a basketball term that refers to a defensive style in which the defense applies man-to-man or zone defense to pressure the offensive team the entire length of the court before and after the inbound pass. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Man-to-man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in Basketball, Association football and American football in which each player is assigned to Zone defense is a type of defense used in Sports which is the alternative to Man-to-man defense; instead of each player guarding a corresponding player on the Some presses attempt to deny the initial inbounds pass and trap ball handlers either in the backcourt or at midcourt. Defenses not employing a full-court press generally allow the offensive team to get halfway down the court (a half-court press) or near the basket before applying strong defensive pressure.

A full-court press takes a great deal of effort, but can be an effective tactic. Often when teams are behind late in a game, they will apply full-court pressure as a means of attempting to produce turnovers as well as tire opponents. In Basketball, a turnover occurs when a player from one team gives possession to a member of another team by losing the ball Certain teams, such as those coached by Rick Pitino, are known for applying full-court pressure during most of the game. Rick Pitino (born September 18, 1952) is the head Basketball coach at the University of Louisville. Presses are especially effective against teams with poor ballhandlers, shallow benches (since players become more fatigued attacking a press), or teams with deliberate offenses (since taking the ball up the court can waste a substantial portion of the shot clock). A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game One a press is broken, however, the defensive team is vulnerable to a potential fast break or open three-point opportunity since defensive players may be caught behind the play. Fast break is an offensive strategy in Basketball. In a fast break a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense A three-point field goal (also known as three-pointer, three-point shot, trey, or simply three) is a field goal in a Basketball

Effective press breaks employ quick passing more often than dribbling to advance the ball up the floor. Short, quick passes are less prone to turnovers than either long passes or dribbling. Another effective way to break a man-to-man press is to pass to the center. The center, colloquially the five, is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Most presses keep a "last man back" (usually the center) whose job is to disrupt a potential fast break resulting from the press; this may leave the offensive center unguarded and able to receive a pass near midcourt.

The figurative sense is 'a vigorous attack or offensive; strong pressure', and is often found in political contexts: "a full-court press for health reform. "

The basketball sense of full-court press is first found around 1950; the figurative sense dates from the late 1970s.

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