Erin Hoops

Coaching Basketball in Australia

(I "lifted" this from the Australia B-Ball site at http://ats.com.au/~giju2/articles.html (for some reason this link does not work off this site.  If you want to go there to look simply copy the link and separately paste it into your internet search engine.  It should work there OK.)  I did this because this site had not been updated since July '97 & I feared it might be lost shortly.)

Article - Triangles : Teaching Motion Offence

Introduction
I have found in teaching motion type offence, that there was a simple way to teach the basic principles involved and make the players use it as second nature.

This drill is designed to :

Be based on passing - good passing MUST be learned as a team.

Be a threat to the defense - keeps each player as a threat at all times, even if he/she has no intention of shooting.

Team Work - each player is important in an offence, each has a role.

Build "memory" - to use repetition to start an intense offence will make the team not have to think about the BASICS and be able to do the other things required - like reading the defense.

Equipment Required 

2 Basketballs (two different coloured balls can help in this drill)

4 players

1 basketball hoop (optional - depending on the part of the offence you wish to work on)

Instructions

Simple "Motion Set Up"

1.      Set up a group of 4 players (any combination will suit)

2.      Set up in a triangle formation, with three forming the triangle and one player just outside the triangle

Place the person not in the "triangle" (4) next to the basket (See below)

3.         Give one ball to the player at the Point(1), and one to the Centre (4)

4.                  The sequence of passing is setup first...

The ball with the point player is passed from (1) to (2) to (1) to (3) to (1) etc. back and forth through the point (1) player. 

Emphasis on passing with both hands - the point(1) passes, pushing the left hand through

to the left wing and the right hand to the right wing using the push pass waist high.

The second ball is passed between the point player(1) and the centre player(4)

5.                  The wings(2,3) lead in, then out in a V-cut before each reception of a pass.

6.                  The point(1) STARTS by passing the ball to the wing, then steps in to receive from the Centre(4)  and then to pass back to the Centre(4) player.

7.                  The centre shoots after receiving each pass, rebounds and prepares to pass again to (1) when s/he

            again steps in to receive the pass.  Be sure the centre uses a variety of fakes and shots.

Emphasis on making a particular cut if not using a basket.

8.                  The point (1) player steps back out, then the wing player returns the pass to the point. The point  then passes to the other wing.

9.                  The point then steps in, and the sequence is repeated (Steps 6,7,8,9).

10.              Jabs, fakes and other individual moves can be added to the wing players' duties - give them as much to do without the ball as they would if they had the ball in their hands.

Add a shoot fake to the point player(1), with the pass coming off the end of the shoot fake!

11.              Addition of token defense on each player can be used when the basics are mastered (at game

            speed or faster).

12.              Intense defense can be added to the Centre and Wings as an advanced exercise in doing the

            BASICS right for EVERY pass.

Options

1.      Start with Strong / Speed Dribble from the half way line to the 45^o on the three point line - use both sides

2.      Start with your standard out of bounds play. Using the corners of the court.

3.      Different combinations of shooting from each position can be used

Example

The point can shoot after handling the 2 balls 10/20/30/40 times etc...

The centre must shoot on receiving each pass - the misses are counted

and used as "punishment" after the drill.