Pick-and-roll offense

Purpose

A ball-screen pair reads two defenders through a controlled live possession.

Set it up

Four players and one ball: handler, screener and their defenders. Waiting players and spare balls stay outside the playing/landing area. Walk one coverage before allowing a choice. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. 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.
2. The screener establishes legal position; the handler waits for the screen and reads the defenders.
3. The defense uses an agreed coverage. Offense can drive, pass to the screener moving toward the basket or outward, or retreat and reset when the passing route is closed.
4. Use a re-screen only after everyone has room to reset legally; do not force a dribble through two defenders.
5. End on a controlled finish, secured rebound, turnover or coach stop; exchange offense and defense regardless of outcome.
6. 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

• A screener can cut to the basket after screening (roll), leave before setting the screen (slip), or move outward (pop). Choose from the defense and available space, not from a single label.
• A screen is not a collision target. Maintain control through changes of direction.
• 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.
• Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.

Variations & provenance

• 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.

Purpose

Four-on-four connects a ball-screen pair to two perimeter outlets.

Set it up

Eight players: top/wing handler, screener, two corner receivers and four defenders, with one ball. Agree which corner receiver moves up toward the wing and which stays available in the corner before starting. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. 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.
2. Start the possession with the selected ball screen, set legally before use.
3. In this version the corner player on the ball’s side moves up toward the wing, while the opposite corner player stays available for a pass; keep the screener’s route to the basket clear.
4. The handler reads the available finish, a pass to the screener cutting toward the basket and passes to the perimeter. Receivers remain ready to catch or move to an open window.
5. An optional extra-pass phase can isolate ball movement; later remove that constraint and compare the decisions.
6. 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

• The two outlets, not three extra attackers, complete this four-player offense.
• These corner-movement rules describe this drill variant. Do not force a covered corner pass or insist every possession produces a three.
• 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.
• Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.

Variations & provenance

• 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.

Purpose

A controlled progression teaches setting and using a stationary screen.

Set it up

Three players: screener, cutter and cooperative defender, plus a coach passer. Begin without contact on one side of a half court. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. 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.
2. The screener approaches at walkthrough pace and establishes a balanced position with legal clearance.
3. The cutter waits until the screen is set, then moves close enough to use its angle without colliding with the screener.
4. The coach passes only through an open window; the cutter catches balanced and may shoot from a comfortable range.
5. The screener holds position until the cutter clears, then opens toward the ball. Rotate all player roles.
6. 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

• Do not require contact for a screen to count. Add guided defense only after the group understands positioning and timing.
• 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.
• Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.

Variations & provenance

• 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.