I am coaching a 6th grade girls travel team this season and I have a few question regarding the implementation of a motion offense.

1. We will probably only have a few practices before our first tournament so my plan was to start with simple 3 out 2 in motion and have them screen away from the ball as our basic motion for the first few tournaments until they get acclimated to how the offense works. So basically I’ll have the 1 pass to either the 2 or 3 and screen away to the opposite wing, and while the ball is on the wing the ball side post player screens for the other post. If the ball goes back to the top then the wings screen down and the posts go up to the wings. It’s unlikely we will have strong post players so I don’t mind having some of the post player out on the wings as we move through the offense. My main teaching points would be moving on every pass by screening away or down screening, and using the theory that the two closest players to the ball screen away. Due to the limited amount of time we have before our first tournament is this a good concept to initially start with?

2. If yes, what teaching concepts or types of motion would you suggest moving into after they have the screen away concept down? Should we stay in the 3-2 or move to something else?

3. Is there a preferred motion offense that work better against a zone compared to a M2M defense? Can you run the same motion (3-2, 4-1, 5-0) regardless of what the defense is in?

Thanks

I thiink part of the answer should be around your talent... altthough at this age it should be more about teaching fundamentals and having fun.

I am thinking more about the 5 out offense instead of the 3 out. This will teach all the kids how to handle the ball, read defenses and how to get open. (to name a few) since they all have to be able to do the same thing. Now, IF you have one stud for a post... then maybe a 4 out could work well too.

Both of these could be used vs zones too. Just make sure they attack the gaps and get in passing lanes... as a college coach once told me, i"it aint rocket science coach, put em where they aint."

This way you are teaching one offense and it gives you more time for fundamenals. Your players will be more confident and be better in the long run. Its not so much what you run... its HOW you run it.

Good luck

1 - I know some youth coaches that have implemented the simple concept of "the two closest players screen for the two farthest players" and have been very happy with it. Whether you are 3 out, 4 out, or 5 out... I would the concept would still work.

2 - I think a fundamentally sound screen away mixed in or complimented with fundamentally sound basket cuts can work really good. And it works from any formation (5 out, 4 out, etc)

3 - The gap attack that coach suggested has worked well for us. Put the players in gaps (where they ain't) and let them play. We usually go with a 3 out 2 in against a 2-3 zone. Usually want a guy in the middle / high post and other short corner.

Thanks for the replies I appreciate it.

Well, the 3 out 2 in is working fairly well. We are running “pass and screen away” when ball is at the wing, and “screen down” when ball is at the top. We primarily have been working vs. a man-to-man defense. So my next question is…against a zone can we keep this same type of alignment 3-2, have the point and wings sill screen away for each other ( so they are moving) and have the posts (4 & 5) move in a similar way as outline here? http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/plays/yo-yo.html Basically when ball goes to the (2) on wing (4) goes to short corner and opposite post (5) works high to mid post, then they both rotate as the ball moves.