Motion Offenses, Tips, and Drills

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Below you’ll find everything you need to understand and teach motion offense to your players. Use the Table Of Contents below to find exactly what you’re looking for:

What Is Motion Offense?
Type Of Motion Offenses
Motion Offense Basketball Coaching Videos
Motion Offense For Youth Basketball Resources
Simple & Easy Motion Offenses
Motion Offense Basketball Drills
Basketball Motion Offense Coaching Tips
Motion Offense Basketball Plays
Motion Offense YouTube Videos
Motion Offense FAQ’s

What Is Motion Offense In Basketball?

A motion offense in basketball is an offensive strategy that focuses on constant movement, spacing, and sharing the ball rather than relying on set plays or 1 on 1 play. The goal is to create opportunities by using quick passes, off-ball movement, and screens to confuse and break down the defense.

Key elements of the motion offense include:

Player Movement: Players are encouraged to move continuously, cutting to different areas of the court and creating opportunities for open shots or passes.
Spacing: Proper spacing is crucial so that defenders are forced to cover more ground, making it harder for them to help on defense or switch on screens. Typically, the offense maintains spacing between players, often around 15 to 20 feet apart.
Ball Movement: The ball is passed around the court quickly, often from one side to the other, to shift the defense and open up shooting or driving lanes.
Screening: Players set screens (picks) for teammates to free them up for shots or create mismatches. These could include down screens, flare screens, back screens, and ball screens.
Reading the Defense: The offense works based on the defense’s movements. Players have the freedom to read the defense and make decisions like cutting to the basket, setting a screen, or spotting up for a shot.

Unlike set plays, where a specific sequence is followed, a motion offense allows for flexibility and adaptability, relying on teamwork and the individual player’s decision-making. It's often seen as a more free-flowing offense that takes advantage of the defense’s mistakes or lapses in communication.

Types of Motion Offenses

Though every coach tries to put his mark on the motion offense they run, there really are only 4 basic types. These types are categorized by the number of players that are on the perimeter and the number of players that are in the post.

All motion offenses fit into those categories above. The thing that differentiates one motion from another is the rules and philosophy that each coach installs. Here are some specific motion offenses that employ certain rules and philosophies:

Motion Offense eBook & Videos Resources

The Simplified Motion Offense System With Don Kelbick - your “how to” guide for motion offense. Coach Kelbick teaches you how to teach motion. View this product as a guide for coaching motion, as Coach Kelbick takes you through both the art and the science of the offense. Use his philosophies to tailor your motion offense to the strengths of your team.

The Screening Game Offense With Bob Martin - The Screening Game divides players into screeners, cutters, & screeners/cutters. Within those roles, players follow certain motion-based rules. Coach Martin uses a variety of screens and cuts to create advantages in transition and in the half court.

The Flow Motion Offense With Matt Lewis - Matt Lewis Flow Motion is a very traditional motion offense, but with a modern component . He creates “motion menus” for his players, which give them options based on their individual strengths. The offense embraces much of the traditional off the ball motion screening actions. However, it also incorporates the on-ball action that is so common in today’s game. system.

The Hybrid Attack Offense With Ryan Schultz - the Hybrid Attack is a combination of 2 offenses - Motion & Dribble Drive. This offense combines 2 highly successful offenses into 1. The direction of passes cues players as to which part of the offense they are in. This is a great offense if you like motion but want to use the dribble attack as a big part of your offense.

The Complete Offensive System With Tim Schuring - this product lives up to its name. This is a step by step guide to motion offense. Even better, Coach Schuring shows you how to teach motion to youth teams. This means that when players get to the high school level, they’ll be knowledgeable about the basics of the offense.

Motion Offense For Youth Basketball Resources

The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber Offensive System - Coach Huber shows you to run a motion based system with players ages 9-14. He uses simple rules to create an offense that is easily understandable and sets young players up for success. He starts by teaching the skills a good offensive player needs, and then blends those skills and drills into the offense.

Motion Offense Youth Basketball

What We Did With Our 3rd Grade Boys Team – Offense, Defense, Drills, Plays

What We Did With Our 4th Grade Youth Basketball Team – Offense, Defense, Skills and More…

5th Grade Youth Motion Offense: Timing, Entry Passes, & Starting Positions – The Breakthrough Basketball Blog

Motion Offense Guidelines: 8 to 18 Year Olds

Youth Offense For 8-11 Year Olds - This "Dribble Adjustment" Led To Big Offensive Improvements