inbounds

Backcourt four-across entry

Four players start in a line across the court. One runs upcourt. Another cuts using screens from the other two. After screening, those two come back toward the inbounder to offer passes.

How it runs

Four across: one long runner and one screened receiver

Evan Massey’s Four Across calls one player long and sends a second off the two remaining screeners. Our example uses 2 long, 3 as the short receiver, and 4 and 5 as the screeners. The added finish or frontcourt continuation is an original CoachAssist teaching choice, not a source-prescribed next play.

1–5 are players on offense. X1–X5 are defenders. Each number stays with the same player in every step; it does not lock that player into a position.

Diagram 1 of 10

Name the runner and cutter before starting

2 runs long on the left. 4 and 5 are already set, and 3 waits to use their screens.

Diagram key

Offense
Defense
Coach
Neutral
Ball
Cone
Cut
Dribble
Pass
Screen
Hand-off
Shot
Def. slide

Source: Evan Massey — Inbounding Against Denial (2026)

Use Previous and Next beside the court, or choose a numbered step. Arrows on the court show where players or the ball move. CoachAssist drew this example; it does not show every way to run the scheme.

A selected throw-in example, not every play from this formation. Source mechanics are separated from original CoachAssist teaching tasks. Check the actual throw-in location and competition rules before practice.

In this guide · jump to a topic

Understand the starting jobs

Which version the court shows

Massey’s four-across version designates one long runner and a different screened short receiver. The screeners return after the cut.

Source-backed summary; versions may differ.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

Before putting defenders on the court

Ask every player to point toward the intended first catch. Then identify the one player leaving long, the short receiver and the two screeners. Avoid defining those jobs only as guards and posts: choose players who can execute the required passing, receiving and screening tasks.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

Play through the catch

Know the job after the throw-in

Use the diagram to identify the first secure catch, then stop before advancing. Ask the receiver to locate the basket being attacked, the nearest defender, and a safe teammate. Ask the inbounder where to enter after releasing. A completed throw-in is not the same as an available shot.

Walk the selected branch once, with each player naming the next job.
Replay it with the first option covered.
Continue after the catch into the team’s agreed offense; do not invent a forced final pass just to finish the drawing.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

Read the defender

When the preferred option is unavailable

When: The long runner is guarded and the short receiver is tracked.

Do this: Keep the returning screeners involved as separate visible targets instead of sending everyone farther away.

Then: A short catch must lead to useful press-offense spacing, not four players standing around the ball.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

What to emphasize

CoachAssist practice idea: walk through the inbound pass and player movements. Add defenders who block the first pass. Then play live, keeping another receiver available to get the ball in safely.

Correct the cause

A problem to watch for

Problem: Two players think they are the long runner.

Try this correction: Before handing over the ball, have the selected runner and receiver repeat their jobs aloud.

Check: The short receiving area is still occupied by an available teammate.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

Compare versions without mixing them

What changes—and what does not

Changes: entry, read.

Four-across entries can use different screen pairs and runner calls. The straight starting line alone does not establish which version is being run or what happens after denial.

When to use it: Name the formation, intended first catch, and next action when comparing another play. New player numbers or a mirrored court alone do not establish a new tactic. Variations mentioned only in text are not additional selectable diagrams.

Written variant · this option does not have its own walkthrough here.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

How to teach it

Choose the level that matches what your players can do now. These steps work for boys and girls. Start simpler if players need more practice.

Select level to learn

Learn it at your group’s level

Separate near and far jobs

Set it up: Adult and three receivers with short, clearly marked distances.

Name one receiver farther away.
Keep two nearby targets.
Choose a pass within comfortable range.

Add more when: Receivers do not all run away from the ball.

Check it in play

Near support.
Clear attack direction.

CoachAssist suggestion—not the source’s exact practice.

Evan Massey · Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial

CoachAssist wrote these teaching steps. They are not an exact copy of any coach’s practice plan.

What can go wrong and how to adjust

Identify a safe first catch rather than forcing the deep pass.

Coaches and teams that use it

We have not confirmed a specific coach or team using this version. Teams may use the same name for different plays.

Drills for this scheme · steps and diagrams

The level selector changes the teaching steps above. It does not change these drills. Check the number of players, equipment and difficulty before using a drill.

1-4 Across Press Break

Court diagram · view the drill first

Practices this scheme: A four-across backcourt variant practices the inbound pass, then passes ahead, toward the middle or back across the court. It sends two initial runners far down the court, unlike the source’s screened version with one deep runner.

A four-across backcourt entry develops available short/deep catches and ahead/middle/reverse outlets.

10–12 players · 10–20 minutes · basketballs

Purpose

A four-across backcourt entry develops available short/deep catches and ahead/middle/reverse outlets.

Set it up

Ten players: inbounder and four receivers against five defenders, one ball. Four receivers begin across the backcourt; declare the inbound location, movement limits and applicable count. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
At the cue, two inside receivers move toward the inbounder while the outside receivers move along separate routes farther upcourt in this variant.
The inbounder takes an available safe entry; no particular catch is guaranteed to break the press.
After entry, receivers create separate ahead, middle, reverse and deep options according to the ball’s location.
Advance with controlled passes or an available dribble; retreat or reset rather than entering a closed trap.
End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

This is one four-across variant, not a universal answer to every press.
Respect the actual competition’s clock and backcourt rules. An eight-second scoring challenge is not required.
Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Ways to adapt the drill

Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.

2-on-2 Wing Entry

Court diagram · view the drill first

Builds a skill used in this scheme: Builds receiving and passing against denial; it does not install four-across routes or the baseline throw-in.

A pressured passer and denied receiver work to enter the ball, then play a controlled two-on-two continuation.

4–12 players · 8–12 minutes · basketballs

Purpose

A pressured passer and denied receiver work to enter the ball, then play a controlled two-on-two continuation.

Set it up

Four players: top handler, wing receiver and their defenders, one ball. One group uses the basket; waiting groups remain outside the cutting and landing routes. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
The receiver uses an available setup cut while the passer protects the ball and reads the entry window.
Deliver to a visible target away from denial; if the window is closed, reposition or reset rather than forcing the pass.
After an entry, the pair may cut, use a legally set screen or attack clear space within the coach’s declared limits.
End the possession and rotate roles on schedule regardless of the result.
End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Coach the details

A denied wing does not guarantee a backdoor opening; read help and available space.
The optional entry count must be identified as a drill constraint or the actual applicable game rule.
Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Ways to adapt the drill

Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.

Sources and what we could confirm

The sources support the system guide. CoachAssist created the practice steps and checks; they are suggestions, not tested programs or a coach’s full playbook. The linked drills practice parts of the system.

Coaches run this in different ways. The sources below describe the versions covered here. These sources do not cover every possible version.

Late Game—Inbounding Against Denial
Evan Massey · Massey Basketball · 2026-02-10
First-person coach discussion; rule-dependent tricks beyond supported formation/reads excluded.