Monday, October 2, 2023

Favorite Small-Sided Games

Small-side games borrows from futsal to inform competition with fewer player, more touches, and options for adding additional constraints. 

Futsal helped Brazil develop into an international powerhouse emphasizing speed, ball control and movement in a confined area. 

Develop your stable of small sided games. First, a link to a collection from @CoachFernandez1 

Sideways is great especially if you have a limited number of hoops. 


3 v 3 split. Play 3-on-3 inside the split. The split simulates help side defense. Ask players to initiate sequences from a variety of classic sets - low, triangle, UCLA, spread. 3 v 3 halfcourt provides an overabundance of spacing not seen during games. 

4 v 4 half court with constraints. What's the biggest constraint for young players? To me, it's eliminating the dribble. Dribble-less basketball forces cutting and passing. It also helps teach off-ball screening. After poor spacing, one of the primary 'failures' of offense is lack of urgent cutting. 

Lagniappe. That said, 3-on-3 promotes scoring on threes and layups so vital in the modern game. 


Lagniappe 2. Take care of the ball. 









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