An out-of-bounds continuity from the baseline.

The baseline out-of-bounds continuity is a triple-faceted system with quick-hitter plays that can instantly attack any defense thrown at it.

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Even if the quick-hitters do not produce a quick score, they will maintain their positioning and continue right on into the second phase of the continuity--a series of movements that we call "options."

And if the system fails a second time, we will still be in a good position to launch our third and final phase of our "continuity." The pressure we put on the defense is enormous--we keep challenging them to deal with three waves of carefully planned offense.

All of these plays are launched from the same initial alignment ("stack"), and each is identified by a number that corresponds with the number of the first screener in the initial movement of the play.

#1, our best passer (trigger man) set up out-of-bounds close to the strong-side parallel line. #2 deploys in the initial weakside block area, #3 is centered on the foul line, while #4 and #5 stack together diagonally just inside the 3-point arc on the ballside of the court.

If all of this predetermined movement produces only the inbounding of the ball, the four remaining players will be able to flow into one of the option series of movements.

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The coordinated series of movements by the five offensive players (after the ball is rebounded) is identified by a letter that will provide the offense with an excellent shot opportunity or an organized way to flow into a continuity offense that will continue applying pressure on the opposition.

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Every "play" implements the "pick-the-picker" concept of using backscreens, double-screens, stagger screens, down screens, "big on little" screens, and "little on big" screens to help discourage defensive switching on screens. Each play has both outside 3-point shooting threats and higher percentage "inside" shots to force the opposition to defend both the interior and the perimeter.

Since any of the three option series can flow from any of the three plays, the offense can maintain simplicity with nine variations of the play options--making this out-of-bounds scheme very difficult to predict, scout, and ultimately defend.

This offensive philosophy can be easily utilized to designing an out-of-bounds multiple type of attack from all out-of-bounds situations. The four options that can be used and the four options that can be interchanged among the options can produce any number of continuities.

Although this offensive scheme can be very simple to run, it can appear to be very complex to the defense.

Diag.1 illustrates the first play (#2) that has 2 setting the initial screen for 3--a backscreen, which at first glance, gives the play the look of an instant threat.

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Player 2, after screening, cuts around a double-stagger screen by 4 and 5 before breaking to the ballside deep corner and giving the play a 3-point shooting possibility.

If no shot develops and the offense maintains possession of the ball, it can immediately flow into a pre-called option with 2 in the ballside deep corner, 4 near the ballside elbow area, 5 at the weakside elbow area, and 3 at the weakside low post area.

A play called "#4," shown in Diag. 2, has 4 screening 3 and then 2. This play is a complement to "play # 2." 3 starts to go toward the 2 at the weakside block area, and then reverses his direction to curl tightly around the double-stagger screen set by 4 and 5. He will scrape off the stagger screen and cut toward the basket, looking for the ball.

This change-up of the first two plays with the addition of the good screens set by 4 and 5 could give 3 an opportunity for a quick hitter on the inside. 2 follows 3 around the stagger screen, but ends up in the ballside deep corner as the outside threat for he play, If the "#4" play does not produce a shot but keeps control of the ball (Diag. 2), the offense can easily flow into a pre-called option with 2 in the ballside deep corner, 4 near the ballside elbow area, 5 at the weakside elbow area, and 3 at the weakside low post area.

Diag. 3 illustrates the "#5" play that has 5 initially screening for 4. This play is the most unique of the three plays in that 4 and 5 become the initial scoring threats instead of becoming primarily the staggered screeners. 5 first screens for 4, who breaks quickly to the ballside deep corner as the first scoring threat. 3 steps over toward 4 and 5 to set a screen for 5 as 2 steps up to the dotted circle to set the second screen for 5. This makes 5 the second scoring threat on the inside at the weakside lowpost area.

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This is a drastic but effective change in the first plays discussed. Diag. 3: If no shot develops from the "#5" play, the offense can have a smooth transition in a chosen option, but with 4 now in the ballside deep corner, 3 at the ballside elbow area, 2 switching to the weakside elbow area, and 4 at the weakside lowpost area.

The following positions are always filled at the conclusion of any of the three plays: the ballside deep corner area, the ballside and the weakside elbow area (just outside of the 3-point line), the weakside low-post area, and the spot out-of-bounds on the baseline where the ball was initially inbounded.

To ease into a flowing transition between play and option, each player must know what offensive action to take from each of the designated options.

The options can be named with an appropriate letter to help describe the offensive option of attack. Even if a team uses three different plays, the plays stay consistent in that these same three inbounds positions will always be filled--just with different players.

Those four positions can be describes as the ballside deep corner, the ballside elbow area, the weakside elbow area, and the weakside wing area (coming from the weakside low post area).

The first option is called "I" (Diag. 4,) which is short for "Isolation" (for 1). This second wave of attack is planned to attack the defensive point guard in the low-post area and to remove any defenders that could possibly help that defensive player.

This option called for 1 to pass the ball to the ballside corner (2 most likely or possibly 4), who will quickly read the defense to see if he is open for the 3-point shot. If not open, he passes up to the ballside elbow player (4 of 3), who then reverses to the weakside elbow player (5 or 2) and on to the player who popped out to the weakside wing (3 or 5).

After the reversal pass, both elbow players set a double stagger screen for the ballside corner (2 or 4) at the top of the key. The weakside wing can look for his shot or hit the cutter at the top of the key or primarily look for 1 who has stepped inbounds and then flashed to the low-post area.

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The 3-man game between the two stagger screeners and the cutter have given this option a strong 3-point shot threat as well as eliminated any help to make this a strong inside threat as well.

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This places all five offensive personnel in a 3-out and 2-in offensive alignment so that an offensive continuity such as the "Triangle Power Game" or a "5-Man Motion" Offense can instantly be executed.

The second option is called "P" (Diag. 5), which represents the "Pinscreen" that the ballside corner (2 or 4) sets for 1 after the ball is passed up to the ballside elbow. The "trigger" (1) sets his man up before scraping off the pin screen (2 or 4) set at the low post and then curls toward the deep corner for a possible 3-point shot.

The pin-screener then posts up and looks for the pass on a seal move from 1 into the deep corner or from the ballside elbow player (4 or 3).

The weakside low post (3 or 5) flares out to the weakside free-throw line extended to pull out his defender, who is a possible helpside defense and a potential defensive rebounder.

The weakside elbow player (5 or 2) dives to the weakside low-post area for offensive rebounding purposes and also to place all five players in the correct positions to run the designated Offensive Continuity.

The third option is called "L", which designates a "Lob Pass" (for 4). See Diag. 6. When the ballside corner (2 or 4) does not have a shot in the deep corner, he passes the ball up to the ballside elbow player (4 or 3), who continues the ball reversal to the weakside and on to the weakside free-throw line extended (3 or 5).

As these three perimeter passes are being made, 1 ducks his head under the basket. On the pass from weakside elbow to the weakside wing player, 1 steps up to the dotted circle in the middle of the free-throw lane and sets a backscreen for the player located at the ballside elbow area (4 or 3). He then cuts hard off of the screen to the basket for a lob pass. If that is not open 4 or 3 curls to the ballside low-post area while the weakside elbow player (5 or 2) sets a diagonal downscreen for 1 (using the "pick the picker" concept again).

After the screen is set for 1, the screener can read the defense and come back toward the ball at the high-post area or go on down to the new weakside low post area. 1 then would have an excellent opportunity for a 3-point shot at the top of the key, while there also is a strong inside threat.

The player located in the ballside corner (2 or 4) floats up to the free-throw line extended to again help wipe out the helpside defense for the posting up player (4 or 3).

The offensive point guard must first call out the designated play followed by the specific option that is wanted. The offensive continuity most likely will be determined before the game. The names would first have to have the appropriate number followed by the correct letter.

Calls would be similar to "2I", which calls for the "#2 play" with the "Isolation" option following. "2P" or "2L" are other names that could be executed out of the "#2 play".

The "#4 play" could be used with calls such as "4I", "4P", or "4L"; while the "#5 play" could be executed with these calls: "5I", "5P", or "5L".

Integrating these three plays with three options and with two "offensive continuities" could actually result in a possible 18 different scenarios. This would make it defending these out-of-bounds situations almost impossible for opposing teams to prepare for the defense of there out-of-bound situations.

To simplify things for the offense, a coaching staff could decide just one or two "plays" and "options" to start with before adding to the offensive repertoire as the season progresses.

Major coaching points of emphasis that should be thoroughly taught to every offensive player are quick and immediate calls made by the "trigger" (1) and when heard by 2 should then be repeated by him.

Every player should understand that many teams start their play by having the "trigger" make the call and then, when handed the ball by the official, will slap it to initiate the movement.

Players should be taught that their out-of-bounds plays should be called as early as possible and that the official's hand-off of the ball to the trigger man is the signal that initiate the baseline out-of-bounds play.

This technique will sometimes catch the defense napping and give the offense an advantage. If it does not surprise the defense, the defense will still have to stop the play, the option, and the continuity to be successful.

By John Kimble, Former Coach, Crestview (FL) H.S.