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Session Plan · U16 · Team (7 or more) · 60 min

Handoff Counters: Shoot, Turn, Keep or Bounce

Why it works

Every way of defending a dribble handoff gives something up. If the receiver's defender goes under, there's space for the catch-and-shoot behind the handoff. If they chase over the top, they're behind the play, so the receiver turns the corner with their chest to the rim and the handler separates down for a 2v1. If the handler's defender jumps into the gap to blow it up, the handoff is gone but the space behind them isn't: the handler keeps it, or the receiver bounces back and cuts behind. The offence wins when both players read the same defender at the same moment, rather than running the handoff and hoping.

The thread through every block

  1. Handler arrives with the ball protected
  2. receiver catches on the inside foot
  3. read the receiver's defender: under, shoot; chase, turn the corner
  4. read the handler's defender: in the gap, keep it or bounce cut
  5. finish the 2v1.

Setup. 10 players, 1 coach, 2 hoops (half court each), 6 balls, bibs. Groups of five at each hoop. Players already have the simple take-it-or-keep-it handoff; this session adds the rest of the menu.

Prints on A4 for the clipboard: diagram on the left, rules on the right, and no block split across a page.

Warm · 8B1 · 8B2 · 9B3 · 10B4 · 12Finisher · 11

Warm-upActivation into gets8 min

1231234first 3 min: hops, landings, change of directionthen: sprint up, take it off the hands, go to the rim
Physical prep first, then continuous gets on both sides: the receiver sprints up, takes the ball off the handler's hands and attacks the rim.
  • First three minutes: two-foot hops forward and sideways, single-leg landings, and change-of-direction cuts, knees over toes on every landing.
  • Then continuous gets on both sides: the handler dribbles to the slot, the receiver sprints up, takes it off the hands and goes straight to the rim. Handler rebounds and joins the receiving line.
  • Theme link: the landing and the first explosive step are what every counter today is built on.

Block 1Under means shoot8 min

123122defender goes under → catch on the inside foot, shoot
The receiver's defender goes under the handoff every rep. The receiver catches behind it on the inside foot and shoots straight away.
  • Adds: a defender who goes under, and the shot that punishes it.
  • 2v1 at the slot. The receiver's defender goes under the handoff every rep. The receiver catches on the inside foot behind the handoff and shoots without a dribble. The handler crashes the glass.
  • Ten reps each side, then rotate.
  • Progress when: the shot comes off the catch, not after a gather.
  • Regress if: receivers drift away from the handler to catch. They should be close enough to brush the handler's hip.
  • Cues (questions): "Where was your defender when you caught it?" "Did you need a dribble?"

Block 2Under or chase9 min

1CTD122C: defender chases → T: turn the corner, chest to the rimD: handler separates down for the 2v1
The defender now chooses under or chase. Under: shoot. Chase: turn the corner with your chest to the rim while the handler separates down.
  • Adds: the defender chooses, so the receiver has a read.
  • Same 2v1 start. The receiver's defender chooses: under or chase. Under → shoot. Chase → turn the corner with your chest to the rim; the handler separates down into the space for a 2v1 against the next defender.
  • Progress when: the receiver reads it right on 4 of 5.
  • Regress if: receivers turn the corner into an under defender. Coach shows the defender a card for four reps, then hands the choice back.
  • Cues (questions): "Was your defender in front of you or behind you?" "Handler: where did you go after the ball left your hands?"

Block 3When they blow it up10 min

1KBB1122handler's defender jumps the gap →K: handler keeps it · B: receiver bounces back and cuts
The handler's defender jumps into the gap to stop the handoff. The handler keeps it and drives, or lifts the ball as the receiver bounces back and cuts behind.
  • Adds: a live handler's defender, so the handoff itself can be taken away.
  • 2v2 at the slot. The handler's defender can jump into the gap between handler and receiver. When they do, the handoff is off: the handler keeps it and drives the space the defender left, or lifts the ball as the receiver bounces back and cuts behind into the lane.
  • The receiver's defender is still live (under or chase), so the first two reads stay in.
  • Progress when: blown-up handoffs turn into a drive or a cut, not a reset.
  • Regress if: the handler picks up the ball. One coach call ("gap!") for four reps.
  • Cues (questions): "Handler: where was your defender when you arrived?" "Receiver: what told you to bounce?"

Water2 min

Block 44v4 shell, handoff live12 min

1211223344defence: fight over, stop the re-dribble to the rimtwo stops in a row to rotate
4v4 shell at each hoop. The offence must use a handoff before scoring; the defence fights over and stops the re-dribble back to the rim.
  • Adds: help defenders, so every counter has to beat a rotation too.
  • 4v4 at each hoop, two players resting and scoring. The offence must use a handoff before scoring. Defence's rule: fight over the handoff and stop the re-dribble back to the rim; the other two defenders help and recover.
  • The defence needs two stops in a row to rotate to offence.
  • Progress when: the offence scores from the read the defence gives, not from forcing one counter.
  • Regress if: the defence never stops it. Offence must score inside 3 passes after the handoff.
  • Cues (questions): "Which coverage did they use, and what did it leave?" "Defence: who was talking on the handoff?"

FinisherLast possession11 min

1122334455down 1 · 24 seconds · handoff before the shotscore off a handoff read = win · stop = defence wins
5v5 special situation: down by one, 24 seconds left. The offence must use a handoff; the possession is won or lost.
  • 5v5 half court, special situation: offence down by one with 24 seconds left. A handoff must happen before the shot.
  • Scoring:
    • Offence wins with a basket from a handoff read (shoot, turn, keep or bounce).
    • Defence wins with a stop, or if the offence scores without using a handoff.
  • Swap after every possession; first team to five possessions won.

Coach notes

  • Decision errors vs execution errors:
    • Turning the corner into a defender who went under is a decision error. Ask Block 2's question.
    • Picking up the ball when the gap is jumped is a decision error. Block 3's question.
    • A fumbled exchange or a catch too far from the handler is execution. Back to the warm-up gets for three reps.
  • Common failure: running the same counter every time. Going under, then running the handoff again, means the first read was missed. Ask what the defender showed.
  • Common failure: the handler stops after the handoff. The separation down is what makes the chase into a 2v1.
  • The holistic athlete at U16: keep the landing quality from the warm-up in every block; tired legs are when knees cave on the catch.

Sources

SourceUsed for
Gerard Hillier — 2024 WBA Shooting ClinicWarm-up (landings)
Nico Loureiro — Multi-Optional Offence ClinicWarm-up (gets)
Justin Schueller — Parents Coaching ClinicBlock 1
James Janssen & Gayle Fulks — Coaching ClinicBlock 2, coach notes
Aaron Fearne — Early Transition Offense and FlowBlock 3
Ryan Pannone — 32 PNR Motion OffenseBlock 3
junior.basketball (original)Finisher scoring

Related

More session plans, the Session Design guide this format follows, Game-Based Practice for why every plan ends live, and blank session plan templates to write your own.

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.