1. Five Out Pass and Cut

This is a simple, foundational offense that can be run with youth teams. It's a very popular way to teach the game, spacing, cutting, passing, and game reads

Player Roles & Requirements:

• Each player plays every spot on the floor, so there aren’t positions when you run this offense.
• This is a great way to teach players to read the game, understand basic concepts, and play from every spot on the floor.

Coaching Points:

• After each pass, the passer must cut hard to the rim
• Players fill up to the next available spot
• You should only have one person cutting to the rim at a time

3. Shallow

Shallow is a simple set to get your team penetrating the defense with the dribble.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 1, 2, and 3 should be your best drivers and playmakers
• They need to be able to beat their man off the dribble, score inside, and pass to open teammates
• 4 and 5 should be your inside players who can finish layups.

Coaching Points:

• Whenever a player drives and kicks it out, they must shallow cut and get out of the middle as soon as possible. This opens up more space for the next driver.
• The player who is driving should “drive to score”. This doesn’t mean they force the play, but the harder they drive, the more opportunities will present themselves for kick outs and drop off passes to the post players.
• Post players should have their butts to the baseline.

4. NASCAR

This ball screen play didn't have a name until one of my teams labeled it "NASCAR" because it scored points so quickly.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 2 should be a good decision maker and ball handler
• 5 should be a good finisher inside
• 1 should be a good shooter

Coaching Points:

• If the first pass to 1 is available, make that pass to steal points
• 1 should wait until 2 and 5 start their pick-and-roll action before coming off the screen; timing is very important

1. Zone X

Zone X can be run as a play against zone defense. What makes this play effective is that it is a continual pattern that attacks the zone intelligently.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 1, 2, and 3 are you guards/forwards. These players should be able to make good passes and make open shots from the perimeter.
• 4 and 5 are post players. They must be able to make a layup, catch the ball in the high post, and make a good decision when they catch.

Coaching Points:

• 4 and 5 should be flashing from behind the zone - this makes it harder to defend
• On every catch by 4 and 5, the other players should be getting in open windows so they can receive a pass
• If the ball goes to the short corner/corner, the high post player should dive to the rim for an easy layup.

2. Four Out Pass & Cut

This simple 4-Out zone attack puts players in positions to attack gaps, cut through the zone to apply pressure, and flash into open spots.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• The perimeter players (1, 2, 3, and 4) should be your most skilled players
• 5 should be a post-type player who can also catch in the high post and score or find open cutters

Coaching Points:

• When cutting, players can sometimes stop their cut early and “hook” into an open gap
• Players should try to be spaced out enough so that more than 1 zone defender is focused on them
• Instruct players to be patient, use ball screens, and not force the issue against a zone

3. Zone Loop

​​Zone Loop is a quick hitter set that uses cutting and a ballscreen to attack gaps in a zone.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 3 should be a good shooter
• 2 should be able to use a ball screen well and make good decisions

Coaching Points:

• 1 must make the wing defender in the zone commit to him before making the reversal pass to 2
• When 2 uses the ball screen, they must make the correct read: kick out to 3, pass to the roll man, or keep the ball to themselves

1. Screen Away

This extremely simple inbounds play will help you to get the ball thrown in without turning it over and maybe score some points.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 5 and 4 are your post players/inside players who can finish at the rim
• 2 and 3 are you guards; 2 should be your best shooter

Coaching Points:

• If nothing is available immediately on the inbounds play, look for 3 as the safety valve over the top
• If teams switch, 5 rolling to the rim will be open if they seal their defender

2. Pick the Picker

This is a classic set that has gotten many teams layups over the years. The pick-the-picker action confuses the defense and leaves open opportunities at the rim.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 3 should be a good shooter
• 2 should be able to use a ball screen well and make good decisions

Coaching Points:

Timing is very important with this set - especially for 4. If 4 goes too soon to set the second screen, it won’t work because teams can easily switch. If 4 goes too slowly, x5 will be able to recover from the first screen and handle this second screen as well.

1. Solo

"Solo" is a simple and effective set to create a two-man game between a shooter and post player off a sidelines out of bounds situation.

Player Roles & Requirements:

• 2 is your best shooter
• 5 is your best post player

Coaching Points:

• 5 sets a screen for 2 to start the play. 2 needs to be sprinting off this screen.
• If 2 is open for the three, he takes it.
• If he’s not open, 2 can pass to 5 in the post.
• There shouldn’t be a lot of defensive help to prevent 5 from getting a decent post touch (especially if x5 helped out 2 cutting to the corner)