Warm-upSprint, set, go6 min
- Pairs, no defence. The screener sprints from the block, jump stops, feet wide, with their back pointing where the ball handler should go. The ball handler jabs away first, then comes off the screen tight and attacks the rim.
- Alternate reps: the ball handler scores, or the screener sprints to the rim and gets the pass.
- Three pairs race: first pair to 5 makes, then swap roles.
- Theme link: a screen is only as good as the gap it leaves. Feet wide and a tight brush leave no gap.
Block 1Feel: use it or reject it7 min
- Adds: a defender on the ball handler.
- The defender picks before each rep: chase the ball handler over the screen, or jump to the screen side early to take it away.
- The ball handler sets them up with a jab away from the screen, then reads. Defender behind them → use it, shoulder to the screener's hip, and go. Defender already on the screen side → reject it and go the other way.
- Two dribbles to score. Rotate: ball handler → screener → defender → line.
- Progress when: ball handlers reject only when the defender has actually jumped.
- Regress if: defenders get through the screen every time. Screener holds a wider stance and the defender may not go under.
- Cues (questions): "Where was your defender when you got to the screen?" "Did you feel them on your back, or not?"
Block 2Look: see the corner8 min
- Adds: a corner shooter and a help defender, so the ball handler has to see the floor while dribbling.
- Same screen. The ball handler dribbles with the hand away from the corner and keeps their head turned to it. The corner helper chooses: step up to stop the drive, or stay home.
- Helper steps up → kick to the corner. Helper stays → finish.
- Rotate one spot each rep.
- Progress when: passes to the corner arrive on time, with no look-and-hold.
- Regress if: ball handlers stare at the rim. The coach stands in the corner and holds up fingers; call the number before you score.
- Cues (questions): "When did you first see the corner?" "What did the helper do that told you?"
Water2 min
Block 3Read: 2v2 with the screener's defender10 min
- Adds: the screener's defender, the second defender who has to choose.
- 2v2 live, two waiting. The screener's defender either steps up in front of the ball handler after the screen, or stays back near the rim.
- The screener sprints to the rim the moment the ball handler is past, no slow pivot. The ball handler slows down after the screen and reads: screener's defender stepped up → side dribble to stretch them, then hit the screener. Screener's defender stayed back → keep going: pull-up or rim.
- Score and stay on; stop and the defence comes on. Waiting pair defends next.
- Progress when: the ball goes to the screener only when the screener's defender has stepped up.
- Regress if: ball handlers pick up the dribble and get trapped. One rule: dribble alive until the pass.
- Cues (questions): "What did the screener's defender do?" "Who did that leave open?"
Finisher3v3 screen game10 min
- 3v3 live, half court. Every possession starts with the ball screen, the third player in the far corner, away from the screen. No switching.
- Scoring:
- 2 pts: a basket by the screener or the corner player.
- 1 pt: any other basket.
- Defence: a stop wins the ball.
- Swap offence and defence each possession. First team to 9.
Huddle2 min
- One question to the group: "Which defender made the decision for you, and what did you see them do?"
Coach notes
- Decision errors vs execution errors:
- Passing to the screener when the screener's defender stayed back is a decision error. Ask Block 3's question.
- A good read with a loose screen (gap between screener and ball handler) is execution. Back to the warm-up: feet wide, brush shoulder to hip.
- Common failure: ball handlers rush. They come off fast, then have to stop, and the defence recovers. Ask "who had to decide first, you or them?"
- Common failure: the screener jogs after the screen. Ask "how quickly were you at the rim?"
- If the ball handler's defender keeps going under the screen: the screener turns and sets it again. That's a counter for once the read is clean, not a new theme.
- Running it for 60: add the 15 minutes to the live end, not the technique blocks. Block 3 goes to 15 min, with a weak-side corner defender added so the pass to the screener has to beat a helper. The finisher goes to 18 min; the second round lets the defence choose to step up or stay back without telling the coach. The huddle goes to 4 min, with a second question: "What did you see before the screen that told you what was coming?"
Sources
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| Paul Henare — Drills to Develop Ball Screen Offense | Warm-up screener sprint and wide stance, Block 1 setting up the defender and rejecting, Block 3, finisher format |
| Michal Jezdik — Read and Respond P&R | Warm-up screen angle, Block 2 head to the corner, Block 3 slowing down and the side dribble, coach notes |
| Don Showalter — Fundamentals of Half-Court Offense | Shoulder to hip, the screener's back, spacing away from the screen |
| junior.basketball (original) | Block 1 defender's choice, Block 2 finger count, finisher scoring |
Unofficial resource. Drills are adapted from recorded coaching clinics and credited to the coaches named in Sources above; anything marked junior.basketball (original) was written for this plan. Not affiliated with or endorsed by those coaches or the organisations that ran the clinics. Full credit to every presenter.