Article by: Pat Anderson http://www.Online-Basketball-Drills.com The key to effective basketball plays for beginners is keeping it simple. The following plays use a box formation, a good beginning formation that provides opportunities for outside shots and post shot plays and allows some flexibility for various scenarios. Backdoor Play This quick hitting play works well when facing intense man-to-man defense. To start this box formation play, #1 is at mid-court with the ball, and … [Read more...]
Flash High, Pass Low Play
A simple quick hitter from the box set, the 'Flash High, Pass Low' play is an efficient basketball play useful in getting an open layup attempt. Good for any level of play, it is an effective play for youth basketball teams because it is easy to run. Obviously, that makes it easy to run at all levels, but it would also be easier to defend. Young and beginning defenders might be found trailing the screen and standing when his opponent cuts. The play begins in a box set, as shown, with the … [Read more...]
High-Low Post Play
The high-low post play is designed to get a quick high or low post scoring opportunity for the post players. 1) The set begins with 4 and 5 in a tight stack at the free throw line. 2 and 3 are stacked outside the three-point line on the left wing. (This play could also be run to either side, and any player can be in any position -- but we are generally trying to get a post score with this play.) 2) The point guard, 1, dribbles to the right wing to set the play in motion. 4 … [Read more...]
Box Set Lob Plays
1) Version 1 O1 dribbles to the right wing as O5 screens down for O2. As O2 catches the pass at the top from O1, O3 sets a backscreen for O4 for the lob. 2) Version 2 O1 dribbles to the left wing as O5 and O3 cut out to open areas. O2 comes from the right block to set a backscreen for O4 for the lob. … [Read more...]
Moving Without the Basketball Drills
Purpose: This series of basketball drills teaches the players five moves to make without the basketball in order to get open; the backdoor cut, buttonhook cut, square cut, fade cut, and dip move. 1) Drill: Moving without the ball is one of the most important aspects of the game and also one of the least worked on. The following five moves are essential in developing a complete player. In the following five drills, the players begin at the foul line extended and execute each of the five … [Read more...]
Double Box Set Play
This play is designed as a quick hitter to get O3 open for a shot. O1 dribbles to the left wing, O4 and O5 set a double screen for O3, looking for the shot. 'Double' can also be run to the other side for O2. The players should know what to do to either side, depending upon the point guard's choice. [adrotate banner="8"] … [Read more...]
Basic Flex Offense
The flex offense is a patterned, continuity offense that makes effective use of backscreens to create easy and open scoring opportunities. There are also other cuts, flashes, and movements to create open shots. The flex offense diagrammed here is the basic flex offense. The flex requires good offensive spacing and good timing between the passes, picks, and cuts. There are certainly other options that can be utilized though these are the basics. Check out even more Flex Actions over at The … [Read more...]
Open Middle Basketball Play
The open middle quick hitter is a pick and roll play that gives the point guard 5 options. It is a simple play to run and with a point guard who understands his options, this play is very effective in getting an easy and open scoring opportunity. The play starts with the point guard (1) to the right of the key. The play is initiated when #5 comes up from the low block to set a high ball screen for #1. As #1 uses the screen, #3 should be cutting from the corner to replace #1; #2 should be … [Read more...]
Diagonal Play
This box set quick hitter makes use of a diagonal screen and a cross screen to get a scoring opportunity from the low post. To initiate the play, the point guard, O1, takes it on the dribble to the left wing. O3 sets a diagonal screen and O4 sets a cross screen for O5, who cuts to the left block. O2 cuts to the top, rubbing his defender off the screen by O4. The point guard will look to O5 cutting to the basket or O2 flashing to the top of the key for a 3-point shot. O3 or O4 may also … [Read more...]
Return Series
Purpose: To teach players the options from the pass-and-go-behind maneuver. Drill: This drill uses 2 players. Player 2 makes a V-cut to the basket, as shown. Player 1 passes the ball to Player 2 and then goes behind to get the handoff. Player 1 now works on the following three plays: Get handoff and drive directly to the basket for a layup. Get handoff and hit jump shot either immediately or after taking one dribble to the side. Get handoff, dribble toward baseline, and look to hit … [Read more...]