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Session Plan · U14 · Team (7 or more) · 60 min

Pin-Down Reads: Curl or Pop

Why it works

A pin-down makes the cutter's defender choose a path around the screen, and every path leaves one space open. A defender who chases over the top is behind the cutter, so curling tight to the basket is open. A defender who cuts under the screen is between the cutter and the basket, so popping out to the catch is open. The cutter can only use that if they wait for the screen and read the defender's feet before they move; go early and the defender gets to choose for them.

The thread through every block

  1. Screener jump-stops with their back to the ball
  2. cutter sets up the defender and waits
  3. shoulder to the screener's hip
  4. read: chased, curl; under, pop
  5. screener steps into the space behind.

Setup. 10 players, 1 coach, 2 hoops (half court each), 6 balls, bibs. Groups of five at each hoop. One concept today: the pin-down. Teach it in 2v2 and 3v3 before anyone plays 5v5.

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

Warm · 7B1 · 7B2 · 9B3 · 10B4 · 10Finisher · 12

Warm-upScreen and go, no ball7 min

121212341 screener jump-stops2 step away, then shoulder to hip, hands up
Two lines each side, no ball. The screener jump-stops; the cutter takes a step the other way, then comes off shoulder to hip with hands up. Swap roles every rep.
  • Two lines on each side, no ball. The screener runs down and jump-stops: that's the screen. The cutter takes a step away from where they want to go, then comes off the screen shoulder to the screener's hip with both hands up, calling for the ball. Swap roles each rep.
  • Theme link: the screen-and-cut habits have to be in place before there's a defender to read.

Block 1Pin-down with a passer7 min

1234123screener: back to the ball, jump stopcutter: wait for the screen
Screener comes down from the elbow and jump-stops; cutter waits, comes off shoulder to hip, catches and shoots. Screener steps to the basket after the screen.
  • Adds: a pass and a shot off the screen, still no defender.
  • Passer at the top, screener at the elbow, cutter on the block. The screener sets a pin-down with their back to the ball and jump-stops. The cutter waits, comes off shoulder to hip, catches and shoots. After the screen, the screener steps to the basket for the rebound or a pass.
  • Rotate passer → screener → cutter → passer. Both sides.
  • Progress when: cutters wait every time and catch with their feet set.
  • Regress if: cutters leave before the jump stop. Coach says "now" for four reps, then hands it back.
  • Cues (questions): "Did you leave before or after the screen landed?" "Where was your shoulder when you came off?"

Block 2Curl or pop9 min

AB1233CA: defender chases → curl to the basketB: defender cuts under → pop to the wing
One defender on the cutter, told by the coach to chase over the top or cut under. The cutter reads the feet and curls or pops.
  • Adds: a defender on the cutter and one read with two answers.
  • The coach quietly tells the cutter's defender to chase over the top or cut under the screen, at three-quarter speed. Chased → curl tight around the screen to the basket. Under → pop to the wing for the catch and shot.
  • After four reps, the defender chooses.
  • Progress when: cutters get the read right on 4 of 5 without hesitating.
  • Regress if: the cutter decides before seeing the defender. Freeze the defender in place until the cutter is at the screen.
  • Cues (questions): "Where was your defender when you got to the screen?" "Which space did they leave open?"

Block 32v2 with a free passer10 min

12312233screener: if both defenders are above you, slip to the rim
Both defenders live, passer free at the top. The screener's defender can help, so the screener reads too: if both defenders get above the screen, slip to the basket.
  • Adds: a live defender on the screener, so the screener has a read too.
  • 2v2 plus a free passer who can't shoot. Both defenders play live. Defence: fight over the top against a shooter, go under only against a non-shooter. The screener's job after the screen: if both defenders end up above the screen, slip straight to the basket.
  • Three possessions, then rotate defence → offence → passer.
  • Progress when: most scores come from the right read, not from beating a defender one-on-one.
  • Regress if: the screener's defender wins every rep. They must stay attached to the screener, no hedging.
  • Cues (questions): "Who was guarding the cutter when they came off?" "Screener: where were both defenders?"

Water2 min

Block 43v3: pin-down first10 min

123112233no score until the pin-down has happenedthen play: drive, kick, cut
3v3 live at each hoop. Every possession starts with a pin-down; after that, play.
  • Adds: a live passer's defender and free play after the screen.
  • 3v3 live at each hoop, two players resting and keeping score. Each possession must start with a pin-down; after the catch, it's live basketball (drive, kick, cut).
  • Make-it-take-it for two baskets, then rotate.
  • Progress when: the pin-down creates the first advantage on most possessions.
  • Regress if: the passer's defender keeps picking off the pass. The passer gets one dribble to improve the angle.
  • Cues (questions): "What did the pin-down give you?" "When the first read was taken away, what was next?"

Finisher5v5: find the pin-down12 min

1122334455basket off a pin-down read = 3any other basket = 1 · right read, missed shot = 1
5v5 half court. Players find the pin-down themselves; the coach calls nothing.
  • 5v5 half court. No set play: players have to find a pin-down within the possession (the screener chooses when).
  • Scoring:
    • 3 pts: a basket from a pin-down read (curl, pop or slip).
    • 1 pt: any other basket.
    • 1 pt: the right read off a pin-down, even if the shot misses (coach calls it).
  • Two 5-minute halves; swap defence at half-time.

Huddle3 min

  • One question to the group: "What told you to curl instead of pop?"

Coach notes

  • Decision errors vs execution errors:
    • Curling into a defender who went under is a decision error. Ask Block 2's question.
    • Leaving before the screen lands is a timing error. Back to Block 1 for three reps, coach saying "now".
    • A screen that slides or leans is execution: jump stop, back to the ball.
  • Common failure: the cutter runs a wide arc off the screen and lets the chasing defender back in. Shoulder to hip, every time.
  • Common failure: the screener stands still after screening. Someone is usually open behind the cut; the screener's step to the basket finds them.
  • One concept at a time. Leave back screens for another session; today is only the pin-down.

Sources

SourceUsed for
Don Showalter — Coaches ClinicWarm-up, Block 1
Paul Goriss — Motion Offence Principles of PlayBlock 2
James Janssen — Mastering Separation in Offensive Basketball ConceptsBlocks 2 and 3
Aaron Fearne — Early Transition Offense and FlowBlock 1
M14 System of Development (Vilnius, on-court)Block 4, finisher
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.