How to Play Basketball Knockout

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Knockout (also known as Bumpout, Bump, Lightning, Elimination and Putout) is a fun basketball game that a team or a group of friends can play as a way to increase common basketball skills such as free throw shooting and rebounding.

What You Need

The game must be played with a minimum of two players but there is no maximum amount of participants. The only equipment that is needed is a basketball hoop and two basketballs. The objective of the game is to make free throws in order to survive, while at the same time, eliminating the other players.

Instructions

The game begins with all players lined up in a straight line starting at the free throw line and extending towards half court (see diagram #1). The first two players start with a basketball.

Player one shoots a free throw and tries to make it. If the player misses, he/she must grab the rebound and score as fast as possible. Player one’s second shot does not need to be from the free throw line. He/she can shoot a jump shot, lay-up or whatever is needed in order to score fastest.

Player two cannot shoot until after player one has shot their first free throw. The goal for player two is to score a basket before player one does. If player two misses their free throw he/she must also rebound their miss and make a shot as quickly as possible.

If player one makes a basket first, he/she goes to the back of the line (see diagram #2). If player one fails to make a basket before player two, player one is eliminated (all eliminated players stand off to the side until the game is finished).

Once player one makes a basket he/she passes the ball to the next player in line. That player tries to make a basket before player two does. If this occurs, player two is out. If player two scores first, he/she goes to the end of the line and passes their ball to the fourth player in line (see diagram #3).

The game continues like this until only one player is left standing.

One surprise in the game that is different from actual basketball is that players can “bump” or “knock” the ball out of another person’s hands once they have taken their free throw. This strategy is used to make the player chase after their ball and create more time for you to make a basket.

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Comments

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Dave says:
1/26/2024 at 4:38:42 PM

Is it a rule that you can’t take the other person’s ball?

Payton Larsen says:
11/26/2023 at 6:58:06 PM

Does player 1 have to wait to shoot their first shot (the free throw) until player 2 has the ball?

1 reply

Lolita says:
1/28/2024 at 9:47:19 AM

No. Player Two can shoot his free throw just as soon as Player One is off the free throw line.

Sirri says:
4/7/2022 at 11:25:07 AM

I’m a little stock

Maverick Brum says:
11/4/2021 at 3:56:49 PM

Hi My Name Is Maverick and I don''t know how to play knockout still

2 replies

Dylan herplinck says:
2/15/2022 at 6:10:03 PM

Smack the ball out of there hand athen shoot the ball

unknown says:
5/16/2023 at 2:01:19 PM

This is easy

Sky Nguyen says:
11/3/2021 at 3:57:48 PM

Thanks for the help, but that doesn't solve my probelm. You see, everytime I play knockout with my friends, they just get my ball and kick it like 1 mile away from the basket. So I just wanted to know if that is allowed as well.

Lolita says:
3/8/2021 at 3:38:18 PM

Our older students like to play this game. But I've noticed that some of the students are trying to 'knock out' their opponents balls by throwing the ball from the bottom of the net and blocking the opponents ball from falling through the net. Is this cheating and shouldn't the person who did this be considered out?

1 reply

BBigler says:
6/9/2021 at 3:20:19 PM

If it is declared before the game that participants can throw the ball at the other ball “to bump” than yes, it is allowed!

1 person liked this. 1 reply

Lolita says:
1/28/2024 at 9:41:58 AM

Thank you for the clarification!

J says:
11/5/2020 at 12:34:38 AM

Any strategies to win? I've gotten top two as my highest.

Levi says:
3/27/2020 at 5:11:52 PM

You are not always forced to rush your shots in bump/knockout. It might still help practice your rebounding and shooting

hi says:
9/25/2018 at 7:35:48 PM

when was it started?

Champ says:
8/1/2018 at 9:05:54 PM

Question: There are 3 players. 2nd in line knocks 1st out. Who passes the ball to 3rd? I was 2nd and kept my ball. He claims I cheated.

1 reply

jiyoung says:
10/31/2019 at 11:02:18 PM

If player one was the one who got out, and you were player two, then that means that player one should've given his ball to the player behind you.

If there's only three players, it honestly doesn't matter who gives who the ball, but you keeping your ball is not you cheating.

Ali says:
5/27/2018 at 2:38:48 PM

I coach a travel team. When we are waiting for the team to arrive, the girls who came early always, on their own, play knockout. It's a fun & competitive game that they enjoy.

rcw says:
2/21/2017 at 7:02:41 PM

What if player 1 makes the basket and player 2, instead of shooting the basketball throws the ball to knock player 1's ball further to delay player 3 from getting the ball?

There's no rule when this occurs. It should be not be allowed???

1 reply

jiyoung says:
10/31/2019 at 11:04:52 PM

I mean, player two can't technically do that, since player three hasn't made an attempt at shooting it. As the rules say, you're able to "knock" out the other player's ball in their hand, but as long as they went before you.

B says:
2/9/2017 at 11:29:23 PM

It's unclear how this works if you only have 2 players ("The game must be played with a minimum of two players..."). It could be a very short "game"!

2 replies

jiyoung says:
10/31/2019 at 11:06:36 PM

It's the same rules — a constant cycle. Players 1 and 2 would just be shooting free throws until either player makes two baskets in a row (with the other player not yet having made a basket).

lebum james says:
11/3/2021 at 5:10:01 AM

It's much better with more than 2 people, if you are playing with 2 I just recommend 1v1s or other shooting and rebounding drills.

C says:
1/27/2017 at 10:31:14 AM

I just watched a 6th grade girls practice where this was used and I felt it was counterproductive. Players were not using good form and simply throwing the ball at the basket instead of shooting it. I realize it is fun, but I have a feeling that this drill is not going to help them in their upcoming games. Shooting from closer in, such as Kentucky shooting, would have been more effective to have them focus on actually making their shots.

1 reply

J says:
11/5/2020 at 12:29:33 AM

Most of the time we play it just for the fun and not many people use it for actual practice. You also have to worry about someone hitting the ball off course withe another ball, which wouldn't happen in a game of basketball.

Don Nichols says:
2/9/2016 at 8:59:06 AM

What if player 1 makes the initial freethrow?

1 reply

poopy says:
2/22/2016 at 4:36:41 PM

Then they are safe and the 2nd person acts as the 1st person and they keep on going. The 1st person goes to the end of the line

Jayden says:
12/12/2015 at 9:43:10 AM

. It helped me practice my rebounds and my free throws since I am going to tryout for my middle school year

1 reply

poopy says:
2/22/2016 at 4:37:26 PM

I don't really think it helps free throws since you are always rushing in knockout and free throws are slow and are all mental

1 reply

jiyoung says:
10/31/2019 at 11:11:53 PM

Well, to be fair, the player behind you cannot shoot before you. So technically, you have all the time you need to shoot a free throw.

Yes, one of the goals of the game is to try and eliminate the person in front of you, but you don't necessarily have to aim for that.

1 reply

J says:
11/5/2020 at 12:31:17 AM

Unless you are player 2. Then it is rushed so you get player 1 out.

Scott says:
9/29/2015 at 1:45:48 PM

player 3 cannot shoot until player 2 has shot...player 4 cannot shoot until player 3 has shot, and so on.

If player 1 makes their basket prior to player 2 making theirs, they pass the ball to player 3, and player 3 tries to eliminate player 2. follow?

Ryan says:
8/2/2015 at 11:12:29 PM

Another player and I couldn't agree on 1 rule and I couldn't find the answer on any website. If anyone knows the official rules please help us settle this matter.
We know that the second player must wait and shoot after the first player but does that stay the same for the third, fourth, fifth, etc.? For example, if the third person ends up with the ball and is about to take their shot from the foul line, can the fourth person shoot before them and knock them out if he gets the ball quick enough or does he have to wait for the third player to shoot first?

1 reply

Pauline says:
1/24/2016 at 10:01:39 AM

Yes, the rule does apply for the 3rd 4th 5th etc

ww says:
6/22/2015 at 1:00:28 PM

One question: If player 2 makes a basket first, then does he/she stay at the front and play the next person, or go to the back of the line?

2 replies

Jeff says:
6/23/2015 at 6:45:30 PM

He goes to the end of the line.

anonymous says:
3/27/2018 at 4:28:39 PM

depends, usually they go to the end of the line, but you can play it as a house rule where they shoot until they get out, as we used to in Pittsburgh, but it is most common for them to go to the back of the line.

epic says:
6/22/2015 at 12:57:41 PM

This was very helpful.

shlomo says:
12/7/2013 at 5:22:32 AM

Creates good shooting,rebounding and hustle

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How to Play Basketball Knockout

FREE BONUS PDF Youth Practice Plans & Bonus Drills

FREE BONUS PDF
Youth Practice Plans & Bonus Drills