My 7th grade boys' team is running an offense based on attacking double gaps. It seems simple enough. It’s pretty clear when a double gap has been created, meaning the person receiving the ball should be thinking attack.

And yet, these boys struggle mightily with the thought of attacking.

Coaches for years have talked about the value of attacking on the catch. The thought is that when you catch the ball, your defender is closing out to you. If you go right away, you can use that momentum against them to gain an advantage.

I often hear coaches say things like, “Catch and attack,” or “Go on the catch.”

While that is good advice, it’s not the best advice.

In fact, I think it gets the process backwards. Here’s why:

Why “Going” First Gets You More Buckets

When you attack on the catch, you generally are starting from a standstill position. Yes, you have the advantage of your defender’s closeout.

However, you are limited by your ability to accelerate and your quickness.

For many, that’s a severe limitation. But it can be overcome! How? By flipping “Catch & go” into “Go & catch.”

What’s the difference? Both scenarios involved attacking upon receiving the ball. . .

• Catch & go suggests attacking immediately from a neutral position.

• Go & catch suggests that you are catching the ball on the run and attacking from there.

Think of a race. Which person would be harder to beat - the one who starts in the starting blocks or the one who has a running start to start line?

When To Go & When To Be Slow

Go & catch makes everyone quicker. However, it’s not for every situation. If players use it blindly, they’ll put themselves in some bad situations.

So, what’s the cue to know when to go & catch? Here are 3 situations that are ideal for go & catch.

• Defender making a long closeout - go & catch

• Defender trailing a screen & chasing you - go & catch

• Pitch ahead in transition - go & catch

If you find yourself in those situations, don’t let the ball stop, and use space & speed to your advantage. 

3 Keys To Go & Catch Success

As you start to incorporate this idea into your game, here are a couple key points:

1. Scan first

   As the ball is in the air to you, you will be moving towards the ball. You should also be scanning to see the best angle of attack. If your defender is in the gap, your best get may be to attack to the outside (as shown above).

   If your defender is closing out hard to you, you may want to run through the pass and attack back the same direction. Scanning early allows you to know which way to go.

2. Play with space

   Most players crowd in, giving them less space to attack. When you crowd, by definition you bring your defender closer to you. This makes it hard to go and catch.

   Stay spaced to give yourself room to get that running start.

3. Dribble the catch

   If you’re not careful, go & catch can lead to travels (that said, many players travel on catch & go, too).

   Here’s a quick solution - dribble the ball as you’re catching it. By dribbling the catch, you get the ball to the floor right away, ensuring that you don’t travel.

How To Practice Go & Catch

Go & catch can easily be incorporated into your workouts. You likely do a number of drills that involve attacking the basket (for a pullup or finish) off the catch.

Simply start going before you catch the ball on those drills. Even better if you can add a guided defender to practice scanning on the catch. Then progress to live 1v1 off go & catch.

If You Don’t Believe Me, Watch The Pros

If you watch NBA games, you’ll see a lot of go & catch. This idea is often referred to as a “stampede.” NBA players use it to get an advantage against the best defenses in the world.

Imagine what it can do for you. Start incorporating it into your game and leave defenders in the dust.

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