What actions belong in our offense and how can we best teach and implement them? We want players mentally and physically prepared for high school basketball. They shouldn't encounter anything they haven't seen before.
How do you expect to score? The UCONN women plan to score a third in transition, a third on sets, and a third on threes.
Execution means commitment to understanding space, time, and movement. Every team must decide how much to emphasize transition. For middle schoolers, we teach execution of major concepts. That includes reading individual and team defense.
1. Pick-and-roll/ball screens with major variations.
Ballhandlers drive or shoot; screeners roll, pop, and slip.
2. Reading and executing off-ball screens.
Curl, back cut, bump and using back/cross/diagonal/flare/scissors/elevator screens.
3. Screen-the-screener.
E.g. special situations, Flex, and Spain pick-and-roll.
4. Spread offense core actions.
Dribble attack, give-and-go, dribble at back cut, pass and screen away.
5. Advanced cuts.
UCLA, Zipper, Shuffle, Flex, Iverson.
6. Dribble handoff and combinations.
7. Staggered, sequential, and double screens.
8. Isolation. Do you have the one-on-one players to isolate?
9. Motion. Do you want to develop a continuity motion, teach freelance motion, or inform players via small sided group play?
Sets offer flexibility to create multiple options...
This US Women's National Team starts with high post entry and possible back cut (3).
3 then gets a staggered screen which can create a three-point shot.
It continues into pick-and-roll. "Great offense is multiple actions."
The Spurs combine an Iverson cut with a diagonal screen from the clearing wing.
As players learn offensive concepts, they increase the chance to create separation and finish.