The first time I ever played organized basketball in the first grade the game was 4 v 4, and due to league rules we were required to play zone defense. So the key was split into four equal boxes that determined the zones and had corresponding numbers painted in the middle of each.

So after every offensive possession, I would run back on defense to whichever numbered section I had been designated by my coach and stand there playing as much defense as I could without leaving that space.

This was the case for the first two years of my basketball playing experience until in third grade man-to-man was allowed, and while I knew what man-to-man defense was, having never practiced it for two years the only defensive fundamentals I knew were standing in a box with my hands up reaching to contest shots and deflect passes usually to no avail.

This made transitioning to playing man to man an adjustment.

Leagues that implement this rule do so because of how much it simplifies the game and makes it easier for volunteer coaches to get their players to be able to play passable basketball having never done so before.

But even in leagues that do not require this rule, coaches all over the country at the youth level employ zone because it will win them games.

Let’s first examine exactly what it is that zone defense does to the youth game on both ends of the floor. Designated boxes or not, a zone defense has the same effect.

Defensively

• Reduces the need for proper defensive fundamentals
• Devalues on-ball defense
• Promotes standing and watching away from the ball
• Leads to less communication
• Leads to less defensive decision making
• Requires less defensive movement and footwork
• Disables players from playing defense on different positions and on different spots on the floor
• Inhibits opportunity to encounter defensive situations such as screens and rotations

Offensively

• Reduces overall application of offensive fundamentals
• Reduces offensive schemes and concepts that can be run; fewer offensive opportunities
• Often turns offense into a series of perimeter passes before an outside shot
• Reduces dribbling and dribble penetration
• Requires more long-distance shots, which are more difficult at this level
• Devalues off-ball movement
• Reduces opportunities to learn to execute screens
• Reduces offensive decision making, and decision making under intense ball pressure

Now if you are a youth basketball coach or league coordinator and you value winning or simplicity over player development, then implementing zone defenses will get you the results that you want.

Listen to Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy (then with the Miami Heat) discuss youth  basketball players’ development in America and comment on the use of zone at this level.

Zone defense works and will win games because these young players from the first to the fifth grade or so are not strong enough, skilled enough or experienced enough to exploit a zone.

The zone leads to more outside shots than anything else and forces youth players to struggle to shoot behind a 3-point line that is too far away for their strength level and ultimately leads to a low-percentage shot.

Also due to strength at this level, it is harder to make the long skip passes necessary to make a zone defense move and then lead to more open shots or penetration, so play is more stagnant and offenses are limited in scoring options.

This is why the zone will be effective at this level. To put it simply, it will force young players to shoot the shots that are most difficult for them.

But it will not only hurt the offensive development of your opponents but your own players and their defensive development as well. The use of the zone will not prepare them for future success on the defensive end of the floor.

As your youth players continue to play basketball at higher levels they will encounter less and less zone. While zone defense is still used frequently at the high school level, it is used much less in college and is even more rare at the professional level.

(The NBA has a “defensive three seconds” rule that prohibits being in the paint without “actively guarding” a man for more than three seconds, effectively eliminating traditional zones.)

Youth players who have used more zone concepts than man-to-man will have a more difficult time when forced to guard players man to man, having to break the poor habits listed earlier that a zone will create in young players.

But applying sound man-to-man principles as far as positioning, movement and communication to learning a zone will make the process simpler and lead to a more effective defense.

Defensively the zone itself is not what is hindering youth development. If a coach had enough time and knowledge to teach and instill proper man-to-man principles, the use of a zone from time to time would not necessarily be setting players back in their defensive fundamentals.

However, even if this was the case, which it is often not for volunteer coaches who usually practice only 1-2 times per week, teaching a zone will take up more time that would be better spent on teaching the offensive and defensive fundamentals that are key for youth basketball.

The argument for the elimination of the zone at the youth level boils down to winning games vs. developing players for the future. Now that is not to say that playing a zone will immediately lead to more wins and man-to-man more losses. However, the potential cost of winning games here is the benefit of your players in learning the game and building skills.

READ MORE:

• 2 Drills to Help You Play Lockdown Basketball Defense
• Use These 3 Principles to Improve Your Basketball Defense
• 4 Youth Basketball Drills That Teach the Fundamentals
• 3 Great Drills for Coaching Youth Basketball

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By collecting rebounds and launching passes, The Gun eliminates the need to have a partner to get in an efficient shooting workout. But you’re not guaranteed a quality workout just because you’ve got The Gun involved. Like any piece of equipment, there are ways to maximize the machine’s benefits. With that in mind, here are four shooting machine tips for young basketball players.

1. Quality>Quantity

You can find lots of evidence of basketball players posting pictures on social media of the large number of shots they took using The Gun (because the machine can track and display shots taken and shots made). And part of the beauty of The Gun is that, if you want, you can get 300, 400, 500-plus shots up in a pretty timely manner because you simply have to stand, catch and shoot.

But taking hundreds of jump shots, especially in a monotonous fashion, can cause fatigue and negatively affect your form. So it’s important to remember that though repetition is important, the quality of the rep is even more important. Sloppy reps with poor form can do more harm than good by creating bad habits. As you train with a shooting machine, be conscious of the quality of your shooting form. Am I getting lift? Am I following through? Is my release fluid? These questions will help you pay attention to the quality of your shots and ensure you’re always improving.

2. Have a Plan

Your shooting machine workout will be much more efficient and effective if you go into it with a specific plan. First things first, you should plan to make rather than take a certain number of shots because makes will be more indicative of quality repetitions. Plan how many shots you want to make, what spots you want to use, what types of shots you want to take, and finally how many of each type of shot you want to make at each spot.

For example, you might say:

“I want to make 100 shots using five spots on the floor—both baselines, both wings and the top of the key. So that is 20 made shots at each spot, and I would like to split that evenly between midrange shots and 3’s so I will make 10 midrange shots and 10 3-point shots at each spot.”

You can make it even more specific by incorporating pull-ups, step-backs, etc. until you accomplish exactly what it is you want to work on.

3. Adjust the Settings

The most basic shooting machine still allows you to adjust the time elapsed between each pass and the strength at which the machine launches each pass. Make sure when setting up The Gun, you alter these settings so you are receiving a good pass and not having to bend too low or reach too high before getting into your shot. Also, make sure you are receiving passes at a fast enough pace so you are not waiting too long for each pass and can shoot in rhythm, but not so fast that you can’t land and hold your follow-through for a second after each shot.

4. Mix it Up

Shooting many shots from one spot before moving on to the next can be quite productive, but The Gun also has a helpful “Position B” setting that can help you practice shooting on the move. In this setting, the machine will launch one pass and then rotate so the following pass will be in the next spot over. For example, the machine could pass it to you on the baseline, then the next pass will be at the wing, then the top of the key, then the opposite wing, then the opposite baseline, etc. This forces you to shoot on the move while also incorporating some conditioning, which can make your workout even more effective.

Photo Credit: Shootaway.com

READ MORE:

• How to Set a Perfect Basketball Screen
• Basketball Shooting Drills
• Basketball Shooting Tips for a More Accurate Shot

It is important to remember that no two people shoot their free throws in the exact same way, so the secret to becoming a good free-throw shooter is less about finding the “textbook” perfect form and routine but more about figuring out what is most comfortable and effective for you and then practicing.

Feet

Good free-throw shooting begins with the lower body. Just like any type of shot in basketball you must have a balanced base to shoot accurately. Figuring out where and how you should place your feet at the free-throw line depends on how your footing may affect the comfort of your shooting form.

Generally there are three stances that are taken when shooting free throws:

Square

Stand with both feet parallel to each other pointed straight toward the basket.

Staggered

Stand with both feet pointed straight toward the basket but with one foot placed a little bit further back than the other.

For right-handed shooters this means your right foot is forward, and your left toes are placed in line with about the middle of your right foot. For left-handed shooters this would mean just the opposite.

Angled

You can stand with your feet parallel to each other or slightly staggered, and then angle them to some degree left or right of the basket. If you are a right-handed shooter you will angle them to the left of the basket and left-handed shooters to the right.

How to Choose

There are examples of great free-throw shooters who use each of the stances. Steve Nash, a career 90.4% free-throw shooter uses a square stance, Steph Curry, a career 90.1% free-throw shooter, uses a staggered stance, and Kevin Durant, a career 88.2% free-throw shooter, uses an angled stance with a slight stagger.

The placement of your feet depends on how it makes your shot feel. A square stance might make it easier for you to shoot straight at the basket, while a staggered or angled stance might help you shoot by aligning your hip, elbow and shoulder to the target.

Routine

Developing a routine once you have your feet set can involve dribbling the ball, spinning the ball, breathing patterns, etc., and it is important for consistency. The routine is necessary because it helps make the free throw the same, comfortable shot every time.

A lot can be going on during the game when you step to the line. For example, physical fatigue and pressure to perform can make each free-throw situation unique. A routine will help you adapt to the different mental and physical states you will encounter once you prepare to shoot a free throw.

A simple and consistent routine will help you practice shooting free throws the same way every time and increase your accuracy as your routine and form become more muscle memory and less thinking.

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Lift

Once you have your feet set and routine down it is important to use the rest of your lower body to give your shot lift and make sure the ball can travel the distance to the basket with a good arc.

For beginners, this will usually mean bending down at the knees and hips before rising up onto your toes as you bring the ball up to your release point.

For youth basketball players it is OK to jump while shooting a free throw, but as you develop strength and begin playing at higher levels you will become more accurate if you do not jump and just finish your shot on your toes, because the jump becomes unnecessary motion .(Also rules change at higher levels of basketball that will prohibit free-throw shooters’ feet from crossing the line before the ball reaches the basket, essentially prohibiting a jump).

Follow Through

Everyone’s shooting form is going to be different—where your release point is and how fast you get the ball to your release point is going to be unique to you. Once you have your feet set, have completed your routine and shot the ball using your lower body to gain lift, and your arms release the ball it is important that you follow through.

Following through means briefly holding your pose after you have released the ball from your fingertips.

For your lower body this means you remain on balance and your feet have landed on balance and in the same spot or a little bit in front of where you began your shot if you have jumped (it is important that you are not landing to the left and right of where your feet began because this will throw off your shot’s accuracy).

As far as your upper body, after releasing the ball you want your torso to remain upright and your shooting and guide hands held high.

Your fingers on your shooting hand should be facing down toward the floor and your guide hand should remain fairly straight, pointing upward. Your fingers are important for shooting the ball accurately and following through with your arms and fingers like this will help insure that you shoot the ball in line with good arc and rotation.

Good arc will give the ball a higher chance of falling through the rim, and good rotation or backspin will make the ball more likely to bounce up and fall in should it hit the rim or backboard.

“It comes down to consistency-if you want to be a great shooter, you have to shoot the same way every time.” These words from Ray Allen, one of the greatest 3-point and free-throw shooters of all time are very important. Free-throw shooting is about shooting it consistently and once you have figured out the best way for you to shoot a free throw, getting better will come with repetition.

Updated: This article was originally published on How to 8/17 

Motion offenses are great for youth basketball because they allow every player to handle the ball, make decisions and have scoring opportunities that will help their development.

They also won’t confine players to specific positions based on their size, so young players will have a chance to work on many different skills and gain experiences at different spots throughout a game.

There are motion-based offenses that can be run against both man-to-man and zone defenses, and these basic sets can be effective for your youth team.

Offense vs. Man-to-Man Defense

Basic Motion

• Basic Motion begins with the ball handler in the middle of the court, beyond the 3-point line, or “up top.” There is one player on each wing and one player on each block.
• Players 4 and 5 on the wings will set down screens on the defenders guarding Players 2 and 3 on the block. Players 2 and 3 will run off the screens to the wing, ready to receive a pass from Player 1, the current ball handler, who can throw it to either wing.

Note: At the youth level these numbers (e.g., “Player 4”) should not necessarily designate a position, because in a motion offense all players will get to play all positions Restricting a youth player to a specific position can hinder their development.

• On the pass from the 1 to the 3, both the 1 and the 5 will screen away. The 1 will run to the opposite wing to set a screen for the 2, and the 5 will run to the opposite block to set a screen for the 4. The 2 will use the screen to curl for a layup or jump shot at the free-throw line and will cut to the top spot should they not be open. The 5 will flash across the paint for an open layup or post feed.
• With the ball, the 3 will look to pass to the 2 or the 5 for a shot, but if neither are open initially, the 3 will swing the ball to the 2 who has now cut up top.
• The 2 will hold the ball up top as the 1 and the 3 set down screens for the 4 and the 5, and play begins to repeat itself.

Flex

• Flex begins with two players up top, who are opposite each other beyond the 3-point line, one player in each of the two baseline corners and one player on the block.
• The action will begin with a pass from the 1 to the 2. As the pass is made, the 5 will step toward the 3 and set a “flex screen” along the baseline. The 3 will make a “flex cut” off the 5’s screen and into the paint for a open layup or post feed.
• After the 5 has set his screen and the flex cut has been made, the 1 will set a down screen for the 5. The 5 will use this screen to run toward the elbow/free-throw line area or the 3-point line for an open jump shot.
• The 2 who currently possesses the ball will look to pass to the 3 or the 5 for a shot, but should neither of those shots be open, the 5 will cut up top to receive the pass from the 2 and continue the offense.
• Once the ball has been swung to the 5, the 3 who has made his cut and remained on the block will step out to screen for the 4 who is still in the corner. The 4 will make a flex cut off the screen, then the 2 will down screen for the 3, and the flex offense resets to repeat itself.

5 Out

5 Out begins with the ball handler up top, one player on each wing and one player in each of the baseline corners.

• This is a free flowing offense with no specific pattern of passes, cuts or screens to be made but the offense follows a few rules.
  • “Pass and Cut.” Once you make a pass to a teammate on the perimeter you will make a cut toward the basket.
  • If you do not receive a pass for a shot on your cut, you will fill to the corner in the opposite direction of the pass you made. So for example if you passed to the right wing you will cut and then fill to the left corner.
  • Once a cut has been made, the players who are on the side opposite the direction of the pass will fill the open spots in the formation.
• On the pass from the 1 to the 3, the 1 will cut to the basket and fill the left corner. Then the 2 will fill the top spot and the 4 will fill the wing spot.
• If the 3 decides to pass to the 2 up top, the 3 will then cut to the basket and fill away from the direction of the pass to the right corner.
• 5 Out can be run continuously with passes, cuts and opposite fills until a play is made and a shot is created.
• • Variation: “Pass and Screen Away”
    • This rule will mean that once a player makes a pass, they will turn and set a screen for their first teammate in the opposite direction and then fill that corner. The teammate will use this screen to curl for an open shot or then fill the corner of the side from which they came. Players then will fill the open spots and this play can also be ran continuously.

4 Out

1. 4 Out begins with two players up top, one player in each corner and one player on the block.
   • 4 Out will follow the same free flowing “pass and cut” or “pass and screen away” rules as 5 Out. However, the 5 will move from block to block to keep the floor spaced and also make themselves available for post feeds instead of playing on the perimeter.

Offense vs. Zone Defense

High-Low

1. High-Low begins with the ball handler up top, one player on each wing, one player on the free-throw line, and one player on the block. This set should be used against zone defenses that have a two-man front such as a 2-3 or 2-1-2. Having one player up top and one player on each wing will allow your team to swing the ball and attack gaps.
   • The High-Low zone offense relies on quick swing passes and long skip passes around the perimeter and entries into the two middle players. The goal is to pass the ball and get the defense moving and then attack gaps from the perimeter or enter the ball into the middle of the zone where the defense is weakest. Then the offense relies on the players to freely make plays for themselves or teammates.
   • The basic pattern for high low is that as the ball is swung around the perimeter the two players inside will yo-yo from high (the free-throw line area) to low (the block or short corner area). On the perimeter, if the ball is on the wing the player up top and the player on the opposite wing can interchange to create different looks and keep the defense occupied.
2. As the ball is passed from the 1 to the 3, the 4 will drop down to the right block and post up, making themselves available for a post feed. The 5 will then fill to the free-throw line area and find space to make themselves open to receive a pass and make a play.
3. Once the ball is swung or skipped to the 2 on the opposite wing, the 5 will then drop down to the block, and the 4 will fill back up to the free-throw line area. Here is also where the 1 and 3 can switch spots.
4. This action should continue until a perimeter player has an open 3-point shot, has the opportunity to dribble penetrate through the zone and score or find an open teammate, or pass to one of the two players inside who can then also make a play.

4 Corners

1. 4 Corners begins with two players up top (spread further apart), one player in each baseline corner, and one player who will usually start around the free-throw line but can also start on either block. This set should be used against zone defenses that have one-man or three-man fronts such as a 3-2 or 1-3-1. Having two players up top and two players in the corner will allow your team to exploit the gaps in these zones.
   • The 4 Corners offense relies on the same zone offense principles of “High-Low” as far as passing and attacking gaps.
   • As the ball is swung around the 4 perimeter players, the one player inside will rotate around the middle from the blocks to the free-throw area looking to find space and make themselves available. The two perimeter players who share the same side of the court can interchange when the ball is on the opposite side.
2. On the pass from the 1 to the 3, the 5 will drop down to the block area looking to post up.
3. As the ball is rotated back around to the 2, the 5 will cut up to the free-throw line area and try to get open.
4. Finally as the ball is passed to the 4 in the corner the 5 will drop down to the opposite block area.

READ MORE:

• A Coach’s Guide to Basketball Motion Offense
• 1-2 Step vs. the Hop: Which Basketball Shot Technique Is Better for You?
• Developing an Offensive Philosophy for Basketball

The screen is an important and common offensive tool employed by teams to free up players to make shots or create plays for others. Setting a good screen requires you to sacrifice your body to help your team, and this effort will not show up on any stat sheet.

Ball Screens vs. Off-Ball Screens

A screen will either be set on the player defending the ball handler or on a player defending someone away from the ball.

Ball Screen:

In a ball screen you will set a pick for the ball handler, after which the ball handler will try to use the space made by the pick to create a scoring opportunity for themselves, for you or for a teammate.

Down Screen:

In a down screen you will usually set a pick facing the basket or baseline in order for a teammate to run off of the screen into the midrange or perimeter area for an open shot.

Flare/Back Screen:

In a flare screen or back screen you will set a pick facing away from the basket or toward a sideline to make contact with the defender’s blindside or back side. This type of screen will allow your teammate to run off the screen toward the basket for an open layup or to the perimeter for an open jump shot.

How to:

Follow these steps to set effective screens:

1. Sprint to the spot: The timing for when the screen is set is very important in determining the effectiveness of the screen. Sprinting to the spot is the first step in setting a good pick because it will make sure you are there on time to make contact with the defender.
2. Set your feet: For a screen to be legal your feet cannot be moving prior to when contact is made with the defender you are screening. Setting your feet is the most important part of a screen because it is necessary for a screen to be legal and will prevent a turnover due to a “moving screen” offensive foul.
3. Have a wide and grounded stance: When you are getting your feet set for your screen you want to spread your feet a little bit wider than shoulder-width apart with a slight bend at the knees. This stance will let you take up more space on your screen and be prepared to embrace the impact from the defender.
4. Use your arms to protect yourself: Once you are set in the proper position for an effective legal screen, use your arms to cover your torso and midsection and protect yourself from the defender who will be running into you.
5. After: After you have made contact with the defender and your screen has been set you can roll or slip to the basket for a possible layup, pop to the perimeter for a possible shot, or get into your next position or action to continue the offensive set.

Setting a good screen is all about getting your teammates open. It is a very selfless yet unheralded act that is vital for breaking down the defense and scoring points. Following these steps will help you become a better screener, a better teammate, and thus help your team win.

READ MORE:

• Point Guard Ball Screen Drills
• Basketball Fundamentals: Using a Ball Screen
• Basketball Skill Development: The Pick and Roll

Competition-based games are a great way for coaches to can keep the young players’ attention, implement a fun break from drills or scrimmaging, and continue to build fundamentals.

Here are eight games that will be great for both team practices and basketball camps in teaching the fundamentals in a fun, creative way.

(The effectiveness of these drills will vary based on the age group of the players, some drills are meant specifically for very young players who are new to the game.)

Sharks and Minnows

Overview:

Sharks and Minnows is a great game for all ages and will emphasize ball handling and ball control in the open court.

How to:

• Select 1 or 2 players to be sharks depending on the size of your group and the ages of your players.
• The sharks will start on one side of the floor between the top of the key and the half court line facing the baseline. The rest of the players will be the minnows and will line up along the baseline facing the sharks.
• The sharks will not have basketballs, the minnows will each have one ball.
• For the minnows the object of the game is to dribble from baseline to baseline without their ball being stolen or knocked out of bounds by a shark. For the sharks the object of the game is to eliminate as many minnows as possible within each round by stealing or deflecting their ball out of bounds.
• If a minnow loses their ball, they will become a shark in the next round.
• The round stops when each minnow has successfully made it across to the other baseline or has been turned into a shark.
• The last minnow remaining is deemed the winner, and the game stops when all minnows have been eliminated
• The last one or two minnows that remained will serve as sharks for the beginning of the next game.

Dribble Knockout

Overview:

Dribble Knockout will help players practice ball handling and especially protecting the ball as they continue to dribble and keep their eyes up to evaluate the floor.

How to:

• This game will begin with the entire group of players starting inside of a designated area of the court (e.g., full court, half court, inside the 3-point line, inside the paint, inside the tip-off circle).
• Each player will start will a basketball.
• The object of the game is for each individual player to keep their dribble alive, and not have their ball stolen or knocked out of bounds, while attempting to steal and knock other players’ balls out of bounds.
• Once players are eliminated they are done for the rest of that game, and as players continue to get eliminated, the remaining group will move to smaller designated areas.
• The game ends when there is only one player remaining with a live dribble; that person is deemed winner and then the game restarts.

Dribble Line Tag

Overview:

Dribble line tag a is game that combines basketball and traditional “tag” and allows players to work on their ball handling.

How to:

• The game will begin with everyone spread out across the court, but everyone must be standing on a line on the basketball court. (e.g., baseline, sideline, 3-point line, etc.)
• One or two players will be the designated taggers and they will not have a ball throughout the game.
• The players who are not taggers will each have a basketball.
• Each player has to remain on a line of the court at all times throughout the game as the taggers attempt to tag the other players who are not “it.” Those who are not it will run away from the taggers while remaining on the lines and dribbling the ball.
• If a person who is not it gets touched by a tagger, steps off of a line or losses control of their ball they are out until the next game.
• The last person who has not yet been tagged is deemed the winner and the game restarts with the last one or two players to be tagged starting as the taggers.

NBA Skills Challenge

Overview:

The NBA skills challenge is a replication of the event that a select group of NBA players participate in during All-Star weekend. This challenge will incorporate dribbling, passing and shooting, and is a fun competition that involves all of the offensive fundamentals.

How to:

• The court for the skills challenge should be set up with the knowledge that the player competing will start in one of the baseline corners, facing the opposite baseline.
• Set up the court with 3-4 cones or objects in a straight line about 4-5 feet away from the sideline on both sides of the court (6-8 cones/objects total). The cones should be placed toward the middle of the court between both of the 3-point lines.
• In the opposite baseline corner of the court there should be a passing target (This could be a shooting machine like The Gun that has a hole into which a pass could be made, or simply a chair with an X taped onto it. Be creative!)
• The players will dribble through the cones and then make a pass at the target from behind a line that can just be made with tape or a cone. If they miss they must get their ball and try again until they hit it. Once they hit the target they will run to the free-throw or 3-point line (depending on the age group) and will receive a pass from a coach standing next to the target. They must make a shot from the line (the coach can decide to rebound for them or have the player get their own) and then grab their rebound, dribble through the cones on the other side of the court and finish the drill with a layup.
• The course will be run one by one, and each individual player will be timed to see who completes the challenge the fastest. (You can also time the players as a group and allow them to compete and try to better their group time.)

Relay Race

Overview:

The relay race is a very basic game that will be most effective for the lowest age group of youth basketball (ages 5-7). It will enable them to practice their ball handling.

How to:

• Divide your group into 2 or more teams based on size, and have each group line up single file behind the baseline.
• Each team will have one ball, and the first player in line will dribble as fast as they can while controlling the ball to the opposite baseline or half-court line and back to the baseline. They will then hand the ball off to the next player in line on their team who will then run their leg of the race.
• The first team to have every member complete the race and get back to the baseline wins. (You can place obstacles such as cones to dribble through within the course to make it more interesting and require more ball handling.)

Knockout

Overview:

Knockout or “Lightning” is a classic shooting game that is very competitive but also enables players to practice shooting and shooting under pressure.

How to:

• Have your entire group line up in a single file line on the free-throw line or behind the 3-point line (you can even play Half-Court Knockout with older groups).
• Only the first two people in line will start with basketballs.
• The first person will shoot from the designated line. If they make it they will rebound their ball and throw it to the next person in line (without a ball). If, they miss they must grab their rebound and score as quickly as possible from anywhere on the court.
• As soon as the first player takes their shot, the second player can take theirs.
• If the player behind scores before the player in front of them, the player in front is eliminated from the game.
• The drill continues until there is one player left; that player is deemed the winner.

All-Star Shootout

Overview:

All-Star Shootout is a competitive shooting game for two teams.

How to:

• Set up the court with spot markers or cones in different areas on around each basket. These spots can be anywhere on the court, but remember that each spot designates a place from which some player will have to make a shot. So making them too far for certain ages could be problematic.
• Divide your group into two teams and have each team line up outside of the sideline at halfcourt on opposite sides of the court facing their basket.
• Each team will have one basketball and one at a time a member from each team will run out onto the court and pick a spot from which they will shoot. If they make the shot they will rebound the ball and take their spot or cone back to their sideline and pass the ball to the next player in line who will then shoot.
• If they miss the shot they will simply rebound the ball and pass it to the next person in line.
• The first team to make a shot from all of their spots wins

Red Light, Green Light

Overview:

This is a fun game for especially younger players and allows them to work on ball handling and body control.

How to:

• To start one player will be the designated judge/traffic light and that person will stand on one baseline without a basketball.
• The other players will stand on the opposite baseline facing the judge—each will have a basketball in hand.
• The judge starts facing away from the other players and the court. They will call out either “Green light” or “Red Light.” When they call out green light they must not be facing the other player, but when they call red light they can quickly turn around. Green light means that the competing players can run and dribble forward, red light means they must immediately stop dribbling.
• The goal of the game is to be the first one to reach the other baseline without being called out, if a player continues to move after the judge calls “Red Light,” and they are spotted by the judge that player must go back to the baseline and restart.
• The first person to reach the opposite baseline is deemed the winner and will serve as the judge for the next game.

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FatCamera/iStockPhoto,

An inbound play will either take place on the baseline or sideline. The referee will take the ball to the location near the half-court line or to either side of the backboard where the play will begin. One player on the offensive team will step out of bounds behind the baseline or sideline and is given 5 seconds to pass the ball to a teammate.

At the beginning of the second, third and fourth quarters or the beginning of the second half in men’s college basketball, the ball will be taken out on the sideline near half court and possession will be determined by the direction of the possession arrow, depending on who received possession from the tip-off or last jump ball.

Basketball Inbound Play Location

After a made basket one of the five players now on the offensive team will take the ball out of bounds on the baseline. The inbound passer may run back and forth or even pass to a teammate who is also behind the baseline in order to throw it in.

Turnovers will cause the ball to be inbounded nearest the spot of the turnover or place at which the ball went out of bounds.

For non-shooting fouls and violations, the inbound spot will either be on the sideline or baseline depending on whether the foul or violation occurred inside or outside of the imaginary “Inbound Triangle” which runs from the corners of the baseline to the elbows of the free-throw line and includes the top of the key.

The diagram below shows the “Inbound Triangles” as the shaded regions on either side of the court.

The arrows within the triangle indicate that the ball will be spotted on the left or right side of the baseline, for the inbound play, depending on whether the foul or violation occurred on the left or right side of the court. The arrows outside of the triangle indicate which sideline the ball will be spotted depending on if the foul or violation occurred on the left or right side of the court.

Baseline

If the inbound location is on the baseline after a basket, the team that is now on offense will only need to run an inbound play if the defense is applying full-court pressure

In this situation the goal of an inbound play is to successfully pass the ball into a teammate in to begin breaking the press, or successfully advancing the ball, by dribbling or passing, through the full-court pressure and past half court.

If the inbound location is on the baseline under the defense’s basket, the offensive team is in a half-court setting and will employ an inbound play that uses cuts and screens to create an open shot.

Sideline

If the ball is taken out at a spot on the sideline that is on the side of half court opposite where a team is trying to score, inbound plays are usually designed to pass the ball into a ball handler who will then set up the offense.

If the ball is taken out in a spot on the sideline that is on the side of half court nearest to where a team is trying to score, it is common to see inbound plays designed to get the ball in to set up the offense or to use the inbound situation to run a designated play to create an open shot.

The diagram below represents the locations (marked with an X) at which the ball will be taken out for an inbound play due to a foul or violation.

Types of Basketball Inbound Plays

The two most common inbound sets are Stack and Box.

The Stack is often run from both the baseline and sideline out-of-bounds spots, and it is generally the most common sideline out-of-bounds set. From the baseline the stack can be used to create a jump shot, layup or to get the ball into a ball handler.

The basic stack begins with the four players who are inbounds standing in a straight line directly in front of the inbounder. These players will usually be almost touching each other. Player 1 will be the first in line standing in front of the ball; Player 4 who will be the last player in the line.

If the ball is on the baseline, Player 1 will cut to the near side corner, and Player 2 will cut to the opposite corner. If the ball is being taken out on the sideline the first two players will just split left and right.

After this action it is common to see Player 3 turn and set a screen for Player 4 before releasing back into the open court as a safety outlet. Player 4 will then run off the screen, cutting to the basket to catch a pass from the inbounder for a layup. If the play is being run on the sideline, Player 4 will then just cut to open space to secure the pass and begin the offense.

Stack Variation 1

Player 1 curls behind the stack into space for a safety outlet while Players 2 and 3 split opening space for Player 4 to cut to the ball or basket.

Stack Variation 2

Players 1 and 2 split left and right while Player 3 uses the space to cut to the ball or basket while Player 4 releases for a safety outlet.

The box is most commonly used as a baseline out-of-bounds set to create an open shot or scoring option. In a standard box set the four players who are inbounds will stand on both blocks and both elbows. Teams can run many plays out of a box set, but there are three basic plays best used for beginners and youth.

Player 1 will be on the block directly in front of the ball, Player 2 on the elbow directly in front of the ball, Player 3 on the opposite elbow, and Player 4 on the opposite block.

Box 1

Sometimes referred to as “screen the screener,” this set will begin with Player 1 running to the ball-side elbow to set a back screen for Player 2 who will cut to the near corner. Player 4 will then run to the ball-side elbow and set a screen for player 1 who will use the screen to cut to the opposite block for a layup. After setting that screen, Player 4 will turn and cut to the basket for a second layup option. While all of this is going on, player 3 will release for a safety outlet.

The goal of the play is first to get Player 1 open for a layup and then find Player 4 slipping to the basket if Player 1 is not open. Should neither of those options be open the inbounder should pass the ball to either Player 2 or Player 3 to get the ball in and start the offense.

Box 2

Box 2 simply involves Players 1 and 4 turning to set back screens on Players 2 and 3 who are directly behind them. Players 2 and 3 will both use the screens to cut straight to the blocks in front of them for layups, while Players 1 and 4 will release for safety outlets after setting their screens.

The goal of the play is to get Player 2 and Player 3 open for layups, and should they not be open, get the ball to either Player 1 or Player 4 to begin the offense.

Box 3

Box 3 involves Player 1 and Player 4 turning to set cross screens on Player 2 and Player 3. This means that Player 1 will set a screen for Player 3, and Player 4 will set a screen for Player 2.

To avoid confusion and keep proper spacing, the coach or players should decide and designate which player will set his or her screen first while the other pauses for a moment. This will make sure neither the players setting or receiving the screens run into each other. Players 2 and 3 will use the screens to cut to the block that is opposite their starting position for a layup, while Players 1 and 4 release for a safety outlet.

The goal of this play is to get Player 2 or 3 open for a layup, and should they not be open, get the ball to either Player 1 or 4 to begin the offense.

Types of Basketball Inbound Passes

The inbounder during an out-of-bounds play can use a bounce pass, chest pass or overhead pass to get the ball inbounds. Teams typically use a bounce pass for sideline or baseline out-of-bounds plays when passing to a player cutting to the ball or to the basket for a layup. The bounce pass is most effective to avoid the inbounder’s defender who will be protecting the basket or defending the the space in front of the sideline and get the ball to their teammate.

Use an overhead pass or high chest pass when making a longer pass over multiple players on the court to a teammate who is serving as a safety outlet in order get the ball in successfully and avoid a steal or deflection.

Finally, a chest pass can be used in any situation to get the ball in quickly to an open teammate anywhere on the court.

Basketball Inbounds Play Drills

The best way to practice inbounds plays and get your team to run them successfully is first to make sure your players know how to set a solid, legal screen. This will involve them standing with their feet set and hands placed properly to protect themselves and not turn the ball over due to an illegal screen.

Once your players know how to set a screen you should have your team practice running the plays without any defense so they memorize the movements and get the timing right to execute the goal of the play.

The final step is to have your team practice the plays against live defense so they become better at setting screens, getting open and using the plays to score in different ways.

Common Basketball Inbound Play Defenses and How to Beat Them

Man to Man:

The best way to run a successful inbounds play against a man-to-man defense  s to execute the play with hard cuts and good screens. This will give your team the best chance to score by creating situations that will force the defense to communicate and switch, hedge or trap and make it difficult for the defense to prevent open looks.

Zone:

Against a zone defense, hard cuts and good screens are also very important to get an offensive player into open space. But it is also important for the offensive team to recognize that against a zone the normal cuts and screens that can be run against man-to-man defense may have to be altered against a zone. To beat the zone, the offense needs to recognize and exploit the gaps and spaces in the zone to get open looks.

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While there are more complicated schemes within these structures that are used at higher levels of the sport, it is important for younger players to understand basic defensive concepts so they can develop and grow as players on the defensive end.

The following traditional defensive schemes are easy to teach and will help your players learn the three basic types of defenses.

Man-to-Man

The man-to-man defense is pretty self-explanatory—each player has to defend and follow the movements of another individual player.

• Traditional
  • In the traditional man to man there are three positions in which you can be on the court.
    • On Ball – If you are guarding the ball you will be in a defensive stance in front of your man trying to pressure or contain the ball.
    • Denial – If your man is one pass away from the ball then you will be in a denial position, using your body and an extended arm to block the passing lane and prevent your man from getting the ball.
    • Help – If your man is two or more passes away then you will be in a help position. You will be a few steps away from your man toward the ball or the ball side of the court, and ready to help defend a drive into the paint or recover to your man if they get the ball.
• Pack Line
  • The pack line man-to-man defense puts more of an emphasis on protecting the middle and containing drives by eliminating the denial position.
  • In the pack line you are either guarding the ball or in a help position. So if your man is one pass away from the ball, instead of denying them, you will be a step away from them in the gap between the ball and your man.
  • The pack line defense is ideal for youth basketball because it simplifies defensive assignments and eliminates confusion about when you should be in a help position or denial position. It also emphasizes team defense because the concepts put less focus on the individual man you’re guarding and more about being ready to help other teammates and defend together.

Zone

In a zone defense each player has a spot in a specific formation and a corresponding area or zone for which they are accountable, and they must play on-ball defense if the ball enters their zone.

• Traditional
  • In a standard zone the defenders move their position and responsible area on the floor in relation to where the ball moves, but the zone still generally retains its standard formation.
• Trapping
  • In a trapping zone a team will designate areas in which the two closest players to the ball will run toward the ball and apply double-team pressure to create a turnover or disrupt the offense. Usually trapping zones will only trap in the baseline corners, and after the two players go to trap, the remaining three defenders will rotate to defend the closest offensive players to the ball by denying them.
• Types of Halfcourt Zones
  • 2-3
  • 3-2
  • 1-3-1
  • 2-1-2
  • 1-2-2

Full-Court Press

A full-court press simply means that your defense applies pressure to the offensive team for the full length of the court, before and after the ball is passed inbounds.  A full-court press is often applied to create turnovers, pressure or tire opponents, and slow down the pace of the game.

• Man

In a man-to-man press, the same traditional half-court principles are usually applied. However, when the ball is being taken out, the player guarding the in-bounder can pressure them or play off to help deny a pass or prepare to trap. Once the ball is inbounded the on ball defender will try to pressure the ball and get a steal or create a turnover.

• • Trapping – a trapping man-to-man press will work by first designating when or where the team will trap. This will usually either be immediately when the ball is inbounded or when the ball is in a corner of the back court because the sidelines make it harder to escape a trap. When the trap occurs on the inbound pass the inbound defender will leave their man to trap with the current on ball defender. When the trap occurs in a corner, the closest two players to the ball will run to trap with the current on ball defender. In both of these cases the remaining three defenders will rotate to defend the next closest offensive players to the ball in hopes to ultimately create a turnover.
• Zone

A zone press will apply zone principles except there will generally be less on-ball pressure. A regular zone press will usually be used to slow the pace of the game by sitting back and playing a non-aggressive defense that slows the advancement of the ball up the court.

• • Trapping – a trapping zone press will apply the same concepts as a trapping half-court zone. The traps will occur in the corners of the backcourt with the two nearest defenders trapping and the remaining three defenders rotating, but remaining mostly in their zone, to defend the next closest offensive players.
• Types of Full Court Zone Presses
  • 1-2-1-1 “Diamond”
  • 1-2-2
  • 2-2-1

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This would be the ideal situation and enable you to get the most shots, but it is not always a possible situation as there are most likely times when you will have to shoot by yourself.

Shooting alone can be frustrating because so much of your time is spent chasing after rebounds and getting back to your spot. At times it can seem like too much time and energy are put into one shot.

Often when you go to the gym looking to just put shots up you’ll start by picking your first spot, shooting, jogging or walking to retrieve a rebound, and then picking your next spot based on the location of the rebound over and over. This can result in aimless, lackadaisical shooting and reps that are often inconsistent in quality.

No matter what types of shots you are looking to work on when you are by yourself, the quality of your workout will be determined by how you go about getting your repetitions not what types of repetitions you are getting.

These guidelines will help you get more out of your time when you are shooting without a partner.

Plan  

First, you must have a plan going into your workout. This is the first and most important factor in making your time productive. Going into the gym to get shots up without a specific plan for what your workout will look like will lead to the lazy “shooting around.” Your plan should outline whether you will be shooting for a designated time or until you’ve made a certain number of shots, and then break down exactly what types of shots you will be shooting.

Intensity

It is important to remember that while shooting by itself may not be the most physically demanding activity in basketball, you want your workouts to reflect the speed and intensity of the game. When you are shooting alone, constantly remind yourself to move at game speed. This means taking your shot with proper lift and quick release, running to grab the rebound, then running the ball to your next spot and getting into the shot. Avoid walking and jogging while you are shooting by yourself to add an element of conditioning to your workout and to make your shots resemble game situations.

Goal

Set a goal for yourself going into the workout. If you only have a certain amount of time, set a goal number of shots that you need to make in that time (e.g., make 100 shots in one hour.) Or just set a total number of shots that you will make during the workout. You should keep track of the number of shots you make instead of the number of shots you take because it is usually more indicative of a quality shot repetition.

Drill

Make your shooting drill specific to your goal for the workout or to the shots you need to work on and add to your game. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and then designate an amount of time or number of makes for each type of shot. These can be types of finishes at the rim, floaters, post moves, dribble pull-ups, or spot-up jump shots. A very simple example would be the following:

• Goal: Make 100, 3-point jump shots
• Pick anywhere from 5-10 spots on the floor as your designated shooting spots.
• Start in the corner and shoot your first shot. If you make it, grab your rebound and run to the opposite corner for the next shot.
• When you are running to the spot, spin the ball out to yourself and either curl into your shot using the 1-2 step or do a 180-degree hop into the shot.
• Do not move on until you have made the shot at your current spot.
• Start in either baseline corner and then advance from shooting in the corners, to the wings, to the top. For example if you are using 5 spots, run from corner to corner, then wing to wing, then to the top spot. If you are using more than 5 spots, start in the corner and work your way up to the top, continuing to alternate sides after each made shot.
• After you have made each of the 5-10 shots and have completed that round, make two free throws. Do this between each round of shooting (this will serve as a quick break and a challenge to make free throws while you’re tired) until you have made 100 shots.

Compete

When you are shooting by yourself, keep track of how many shots you are able to make in your designated time or how many shots it takes you to reach your goal number of makes. Compare your results against your other workouts and compete against yourself. Making your workouts a small competition and trying to improve upon your results each time is a great way to stay engaged and focused.

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But let’s say you are a perimeter player and shooting threes is just not part of your offense. You may be working to develop that shot, but in the meantime, you still want to contribute. Luckily, there are ways you can still be a very effective scorer without having the threat of a 3-point shot in your arsenal.

Take a look at players like Ben Simmons or Giannis Antentekoumpo for proof that you don’t need to be a 3-point deadeye to get buckets. Jump shooting is not the most effective or efficient aspect of these player’s games, and they know that. So rather than settle and take the 3-point shot that the defense usually gives them, they will utilize the space between them and their defender to get to where they want. While both of these athletes are also rare physical specimens, players without their natural gifts can also take advantage of the same techniques.

If you are not a 3-point shooter and teams have been sagging off of you around the perimeter because of that fact, you can actually use this to your advantage. In some cases, sagging off is effective because it can clog up the court and make the defense seem more compact, cutting off driving lanes. However, the space the defender gives you can also enable you to get closer to the basket and create different attack angles.

There are many ways and situations in which you can be an effective scorer throughout the game without being a 3-point shooter. Here are some ways you can maximize your abilities no matter how the defense is playing you.

1. Use the Pump Fake

It might seem illogical to use a pump fake to drive past a defender when that defender is sagging off of you and tempting you to shoot the three. However, it’s also incredibly unlikely that if you were to take the shot, they would stand idle and not attempt to contest the attempt. So a good pump fake can force the defense to jump or lunge at you with high hands, putting them out of position so you can drive by them. If you really sell the pump fake, the defender will have to take a few steps out to you to contest the shot, at which point you can start your drive to make a play. And if they don’t bite, you’ve got some other methods you can utilize to get to the basket.

2. Attack the Space

A defender playing off a player who wants to get to the basket can actually be a huge advantage for the offensive player. By sagging off and giving you space, the defender is effectively giving you free distance you can close between yourself and the rim. Eat up this free space by starting your drive with a few dribbles right at the defender. This will help you build momentum and get them on their heels. You’ll then have to make a quick move because the defense will be a little more compact. A tight crossover or an in-and-out dribble will work best so that you can shift your defender and attack the open angle to drive by them.

3. Use the Barkley

The Barkley is a move in which you turn a perimeter drive into a post-up opportunity, so your defender sagging off actually plays into your advantage here, too. Because they are giving you some space to drive, you now have more space to get deeper into the paint or closer to the block so you can get to a better spot for your post-up. A straight line drive attacking a sharp angle at the outside of one of your defender’s hips is the best way to initiate the Barkley and get good position for a post-up.

4. Get Out in Transition

If the defense is sagging off of you, and help defenders are really packing the paint, it might be incredibly difficult to score in the half court. So one way you can still affect the game offensively is in transition. This starts with a good box out on defense so you can grab the defensive rebound and start the break yourself by aggressively pushing the ball up the court and looking to score or make a play for a teammate. If you do not get the rebound, run hard up the court, filling a lane and looking to get yourself open for a quick transition bucket. Be sure to make the most of your transition opportunities because they give you the chance to score before the defense is set.

5. Score Without the Ball

“Scoring without the ball” is a term used to refer to scoring using movement away from the ball to get a quick open shot. In the half court, you can use hard cuts and screens to free yourself for open looks and still be an effective scorer. This guide to using an off-ball screen can help you shake free of defenders and get a ton of open looks at the basket.

Photo Credit: FatCamera/iStock, vm/iStock

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