Stop Teaching Them These Plays. Part 2

Would you let your players run plays with no purpose or would you want to see them getting better while bringing their individual technic into the team play?

So that’s exactly what we are going to do in this 5 plays series. 

As promised, here is the first play in the series. Out of 5 total that I will share with you. We will break it down. We are not going to show a play and say - run it, it will win games for you. The word was - Teach your players plays, while teaching them HOW to play. Meaning, we will show a play and break down into its components, which will allow them to understand how and when to use each part, and by that become better players in the process. 

 The Play: 

End of Play Options:

here are few options to end the play. it is up to you how you would end it and the main things to consider are the level of your players' game and wether or not your have a shot clock in your game.

   1. 4 out 1 in - isolate and let 5 play 1*1 in case defense switched along the play.

   2. High - Low Via 1. Feed 5 which sealed his/ her defender, on the high side.

   3. 1 & 4 P&R to the left corner, 5 clears to the right block. 3 goes deep corner. 1 comes up as an outlet option, as well as defensive stop. It becomes a baseline directed P&R which makes it hard for the defense to bring W.S help.

   4. 5 comes up to set a UCLA cut to 1 and you are already in your next set offense. no need to pull it back and let the defense rest and re-organize. That will most likely work in leagues where there is no shot clock. If shot clock is present, a quick hitter or end-of-clock situation should be “activated”, which is a segment by itself. Please comment below if you want to see that since these can be very different in younger age than what we see at the college and NBA level. 

So what are the offensive steps that we have seen here:

1. Dribble hand off. Simple but essential to teach and master at the youth age. Being used up to College Level, and even at the pro here and there.

2. Back Screen. Of course we teach and demo a regular screen first. Some high schools regions in the USA are picking up the college strict rule and habit of allowing the defense room to react, so you need to make sure to show the screener not to set the back screen too close behind the D.

3. The lob pass. Don’t skip this one. We need to stop for a second and break it down. Couple of dribble around the defense and usually we would like to see the pass over the defense. But sometimes under. You might want to consider both ways.

4. Cross screen. 2 things I see most often being missed in this action. One - the receiving player is too impatient that he is start to move, signaling the defense which way (over or under) he is going and causing the screen to be unsuccessful. Second is that the passer in not ready and teams are passing (get it ;-) ) on the easy points too easily. Both can be fixed with a little attention in practice and good timing. Show them that you count on these points from this option on offense. They will pick it up.

5. Feed the post. A play can be set, a mis-match can be created, but if at the end of all that you never feed the ball to the low post, your team cannot take advantage of that. And scoring from the low post should have as good conversion rate as a lay up. So how do you get your team so good at that? First you tell them that it is a key for teams success. They will have a mental note on it. Second you let them do it every week at least every other practice, for at least 10 minutes. Since action speaks louder than word - show them you really mean it is important and while at it, let them really own it. These days with Small forwards posting up (KD and LeBron James…) but even Guards (Kobe Bryant and Jayson Tatum, wait, did I say them together at the same sentence?!? Same breath?!? I guess so ;-) ) that shouldn’t be too hard to have them buy into it or at least understand how important that is for the teams’ success.

So from all this talk, and nice play, how do we implement this in with your team and practice it into a habit, you ask? lets get you some ideas of how to break it down and help you to give it to your players in chewable bites.

What we alway do in a high school or collegiate level is showing the play as a whole, and than working its components, detailed and throughly as needed. It can take 2 or 3 practices to bring them to the level you will be happy with. Always remember - It has to be done well and fundamentally sound- that all we care for.

We show, demonstrate and teach.

Meaning: 

1. Show them the play - who goes where. 
2. Tell them who does what.
3. Teach them how, by breaking it down, what each position needs to do. Also once they know what to DO, we show them the counter of each segment - that is Defense takes on thing away - here are couple of options for you to choose from how to react.

During the breakdown of the components we will let everybody do all components of the play. The reason is - these are fundamental of the game, screen, pass, cut. They will be using them one way or another. So if one position is using it one way here, it will be using it a different way in another play down the road. The second reason is being in somebody else's shoe will help a player understand them better. That why I like shooters to post up from time to time.

Since we already went over the play above, here are the 5 main components as they appear in the play here is the order I invite you to consider for implementation:

1. Lob Pass and feeding the post (Components 3&5) . It is required for hitting the player after the back screen, and we also need to sharpen the passes for the feeding the post stage (the 5th above). So we can basically start with it or do it after the dribble hand-off. But sure enough before the screens.
2. Dribble hand off (Components 1) Can stand by itself. 
3. Screens (components 2&4), we have back screen and cross screen. Cross screen is more basic so we will introduce and start with that and as next step we will work on the back screen.
4. Post Up -(2nd part of component 5) should be after we performed the cross screen and worked on the right passes. 

So there you have it. Passes, dribble hand-off, screens and feeding the post-up. In that order.

1. Passes. Including the lob pass.

This is an opportunity to go over all them. It can be stationary or in motion. 

The mechanics - 2 lines. As in diagram 6. One player pass. Run to the end of the line she / he passed the ball to.

You can go over chest pass, over the head, bounce pass lob pass with one hand, add fake over pass under, or the opposite, you get the idea. 

The next step is that the passer, instead of going passively to the end of the line - go to be a defender. As we always do, start with dummy defense, just to give the fill of a body between you and your team mate. Now your players will start to use pivot foot, will start to fake one-pass one. 

Thats the time to implement good healthy habits. 

Another way we like to go over passes is the foursome drill.  

You set four lines with players standing in equal distance from each other. You start with pass and go one “stop” which is one line. In diagram 7 - 2 pass to 3 and go behind. 3 pass to 4 and go behind. Pass one - go one.

To make it harder , we will do pass one go 2. As shown in Diagram 8, 4 will pass to 5 and go behind the second line. We call that pass one go 2 stops (or stations) ahead. Next - 3 stops and the last one is pass one go 4, which is - run around and come back to your original line. That makes it harder.  And also could serve you as a light warm up if needed. 

The next step is to change to a different pass (i.e over the head, bounce and so on), change direction, and the hardest is pass to the left and run to the right. And make sure you pass well while at it. 

When 12 players in practice - you can add a competition. Each 6 count amount of passes without turning the ball over (drop it on the floor).

Very important, as mentioned earlier, go over all passes and mention what kind of pass would be used in which situation. 

Good sample of the post feeding passes (until I will upload my own video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skATHj2BJuQ The main trick for the lob pass (not in the video) is to fake under and pass over. Here is another good example for lob passes. That actually went it ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9aWXiyJtA After the comic break, lets get back to work.

Note : to make it harder - try pass right go left (1 station, 2 station and so on). Second “trick - let them do it with 2 balls. 

2. Dribble Hand Off.

2 lines next to the half court. would reccomand to start slowly - first with walking. Hand off while the receiver is staying BEHIND the “passer”. Meaning the passer is closer to the basket. It is the opposite from weave. After handing the ball over - go to the end of the other line (in diagram 9)

One thing to mention - we are emphasizing that in a hand off the palms are one at the top of the ball and one at the bottom (unlike side to side), this way the “receiver” knows your intentions - to hand-off the ball.

 Players who are facing that for the first time will get confused and might run into each other couple of times. Be patient with them. They will get a hold of it in no time.

Now you can put 3 lines on half court and let these threesome run hand off from half court to the base line. Still walking.

Next step is jogging.

The next - lets try game speed. 

After that you can put in token defense so they see where the defense is and how they can and should protect the ball.

The next step is going live.

With a team that is new to the concept you might not get to going live in the first practice. You might go threesome half court to base line. So you take a step back to start the next practice as a reminder and through repetition push them forward. 

3. Screens. 

Cross Screen - 

Lets go over it, and that is in case your team have never performed a screen or YOU feel there is room to improve the the execution of screens. We will start with a “screen away” which is more basic and easy to understand then the other 2. And the same method we used before we can use here. Show as a whole, add demo with defense (which will show who the screener blocks). Than let them do it over cones or chairs, them do it couple of  

times with dummy defense just to be there(Diagram 11), and let the offense grasp the mechanic of it, and the confidence as well. Finally let the defense loose. At this point the offense will not be able to do much. Only at this time you teach the offense a counter move (or maybe two) so they have more weapons; So once the defense takes away one option, they can go ahead and use something else. Of course that takes time. I described here something that can take 2 practices of “going over” or 2 months with 3rd graders being introduced to the game. You need to “feel” them and see what is being absorbed and executed Vs. what is not even in the ball park.

Set 2 lines next to the half court. Ball is in the line next to the middle (Diagram 11). First player pass to the right - to coach, and run left to set a screen to 2. Once screen is set, 2 cut off 3, shoulder to shoulder towards the middle. 

2 get the ball, penetrate for a lay up. 3 (screener) get the ball before it hits the floor. 

Both go around coach to the lines on half court, switch lines. 

That was the basic screen away screen.

Lets spice it up with 2 balls, before we add live defense. As described in diagram 12 and 13, 3 pass to one coach and 2 pass to another. 

Here are some ideas how to end the “screen away” scenario:

A. 3 set a screen away.

2 cut to the hoop and get the ball from coach 1.

3 turn (through the LEFT shoulder) with the correct footwork) and get the ball from coach 2. For a foul line jumper.

B. If advanced, or next practice you can keep it going - 

2 get it for a Jeb step into a jump shot.

3 get the ball set a shot fake, rip through and make a left lay up. You want to keep the away from each other and all the rest - you can improvise and let them work on their craft.

2nd stage- add defense. We go back to one ball. Start with dummy defense and gradually go to game speed.

Now - we are moving to the real cross screen in the play - block to block. AKA Cross screen.

Except of the play we will go over next week, in most cases you want to give your Power Forward / Center the freedom to go below or above the screener, and it is true in this play as well. So it really up to him/ her choice, and usually the go the opposite from where the defense is going. 

Here is a good way to practice this cross screen which will help the players understand the concept: 

2 line (the passers) are on the half court line. Dribble towards the 3 point line. 

3 post up to suck the D in and check their awareness, and then go to the a cross screen for 5.

5 go either over or under the screen. 2 feed the post. 5 makes a move to score from the block

Points of emphasis:

5 - WAIT, until screen comes. These guys have a tendency to move to soon. They real art is not only to wait but to get the defender right on the screen. Challenges them for that. With a fake, with physicality. Get it done.

2- get the right pass when feeding the post. never a chest could go from the wing to the block without being intercepted. So be creative. Pass around the D, fake one pass one, whatever you need to do…. and remember, what we do in practice we do in the game. So build good habits.

3rd type of screens - Back Screen.

So just for the practice sake we will perform one hand-off into the back screen. 

Let the players go through the motion, understanding wholes what. Mention what kind of pass you are looking for but don’t stop for that. there is a whole segment for that so focus on the right screening angle and the timing. 

High-Low action-

In case your big man was so well over played, a simple foot work can seal the defense on the top side. If that is a bit too advanced, let’s leave it for the next few weeks. We will get to that and in the mean time - lets focus on the stuff we have covered so far.

Third and last but not least is the back screen. 

Two things to mention here. One the screen is as any other screen but if your league requires to leave the offense room to turn around - make sure you mention that to the players. Second, the player who receive the screen want to turn and go opposite to the ball side, as in Diagram 16. The will sure space between the offensive player who received the screen and her/his defender. 

 

I guess you got the idea by now - 3 on zero (on cones, so offense can “see” the defender who is screened), than game speed. Put in dummy defense to give them the fill and understanding where they are.

And now you are ready for some 3*3 action. Using one, or 2 hand-offs (like in the play) and finish with the back screen.

4. Feed the post.

Feeding the post passes we took care of in point 1. As for posting up - I have a video I made to emphasize the posting up and scoring from the block.

Here is the link for a video I filmed on the subject: 

https://tinyurl.com/3memorablesteps

BTW - if you feel your bigs would benefit from it, please share the link and let them know about it.

That was the first out of the series of 5 plays, on how to teach these young players basketball offensive plays, while teaching them HOW to play.

Next week we will go over a flex style play, triangle based. Not the Zen’s triangle but still, it shaped like triangle and it is a continuous play. Very simple, yet creates opportunities for easy buckets and forces the defense to think and react (or be scored on easily).

Did you like the hand-off play? Let me know which ending option you liked most in the comments below. And if you have a need for further clarification, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Please tag and share with a friend who can gain from this play, or a player who can benefit and get better improving their technic with the post up video - “How to become a better player around the rim in 3 memorable steps” here is the link again:

https://tinyurl.com/3memorablesteps

 

And until next time- always remember, Practice is nothing but a recipe for the game…. Work it to perfection. 

Coach Rangi.