Developing a quick scoring attack: break after an opponent's score.

Excerpted from "Coaching Basketball Successfully," with permission from Human Kinetics 

The fast break is our first option in any offense at any time during the game. My teams have had great success running the primary break, which is created from steals, rebounds, blocked shots, made field goals, or made free throws.

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We've emphasized the running style of play because the break:

1. Is the best way to create easy scoring opportunities and to control the tempo of the game,

2. Is the first and often most effective way of beating full or half-court pressure defenses, and

3. Works well against a zone defense if your players push the ball up the floor and get a scoring opportunity before the zone has time to set up.

To run a breaking offense effectively, players need to buy into two principles that make a fast break work.

Hit the open man. If a teammate is ahead on the break, pass it to him. If he is closer to the basket and open, pass it to him. But in emphasizing passing, make sure players know what a good pass is. They should avoid overpassing or passing to a player who is in no position to do anything with the ball.

The more you give it up, the more you get it back. Emphasize that the pass that leads directly to the score is no more important than the pass that sets up the pass that leads to the score. Players too often focus on making the assist pass that leads directly to the basket, often forcing the ball to teammates who are not open, which leads to turnovers and missed scoring opportunities.

FAST BREAK DOS AND DON'TS

Execution is the key to a successful fast break. Here are some important points to teach players about running the break:

Do:

* Look up and see the whole floor.

* Pass ahead to the open player (until someone has a good scoring opportunity).

* Sprint the floor. (Run! Run! Run!)

* Play under control.

* Let the play make itself.

* Read the numbers; go where you have an advantage.

* Make the defense play you.

* Get wide to fill the lanes.

* Make the easy play.

* When bringing the ball down in the middle, stop at the foul line to make a play.

* Use the chest pass on the break; the bounce pass is too hard to handle.

* As the back player (last trailer), delay at half-court to cover the break defensively.

* Be a good receiver.

* Communicate!

Don't:

* Have your mind made up about what you want to do.

* Overpass.

* Jump to pass.

* Pass to a player in trouble.

* Take giant steps.

BREAK AFTER AN OPPONENT'S SCORE

Because the fast break is our primary offense, we run it as often as possible, including after an opponent scores. My rationale for doing this is simple. Even if our defense holds the opposing team to 40 percent shooting from the field, that, combined with made free throws, can mean 20 to 35 chances per game to fast break off of a made shot.

Obviously, the first thing your team will have to do after an opponent's score is to inbound the ball. Your first decision, then, involves selecting a player who will handle that chore. On made field goals, our 5 player (center) takes the ball out for two reasons: (1) I learned from John Wooden that it is best to have a taller player inbound the ball because of his increased court vision, and (2) the center is often closest to the ball after it comes through the net, so he can get to it and inbound it quicker than most other players.

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With the center inbounding, this is how we run our "Bingo" package after an opponent's score. Our 1 player (point guard) works to get open on the ball side as close to the inbounds man as necessary to provide a passing option, and the 4 player (power forward) posts up at the nearest foul line in case we need him to help relieve any fullcourt pressure. To get open, the 4 player heads to midcourt, then makes a hard V-cut to come back to the ball (see Diag. 1).

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While this is happening, players 2 and 3 sprint the outside lanes closest to where they were when the opponent's basket was scored. If 2 and 3 find themselves on the same side of the floor when the ball goes through the hoop, whoever sprints to the closest lane first remains there while the other player crosses over to fill the opposite lane.

After they take care of their rebounding duties, players 2 and 3 sprint down the court immediately and at every opportunity, especially after made goals. This helps stretch the defense and makes it more difficult for them to set up quick fullcourt pressure.

Inbounding the ball, the 5 player first looks deep for the two players (3 and 2) sprinting up the court, and next looks for a short pass to 4 or 1. If, while reading the defense, 5 sees an advantage exists deep, then that is where the pass should go. If he does not see an advantage, he should dump it off short.

Remind your inbounder to stay out of the foul lane area behind the baseline so that he does not throw the ball against the back of the backboard when passing to a deep receiver. (I call this clearing the backboard.)

If 1 receives the ball far enough up court, he can push the ball up and create a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 break. If the ball is thrown in to 4, player 1 runs a diagonal cut down the court looking for the ball to try to create the quick 3-on-2 (see Diag. 2). If the 3-on-2 situation is not available, 1 pushes the ball up the floor and passes ahead to 2 or 3 if either one has gotten open. He need not pass ahead if neither 2 nor 3 will have an advantage over the defense after catching the ball.

(Reprinted from the superlative coaching text, Coaching Basketball Successfully, published by Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. It contains 240 pages of comprehensive X's and O's from Wootten, who amassed the most successful high school coaching record ever during his illustrious 46-year career and may be ordered by calling 800-747-4457 or online at www.humankinetics.com)

BY MORGAN WOOTTEN 

Former Head Basketball Coach

DeMatha High School

Hyattsville, MD