There are literally thousands of man-to-man offenses being used today on every single level of basketball, so how do you know if the offense you are using is actually a good one?
You could run what the most recent NBA, WNBA, NCAA, or FIBA champion is running, but how do you know if their offense is good or if they just had better players than their competition? More importantly, those offenses don’t translate to the youth level.
You could run what your team ran when you were in middle school or high school, but how do you know if that was really a good offense or if you guys just ran it because that’s what your coach’s coach ran when he was in school?
Fortunately, there are several sound, time-tested principles that you can use to evaluate every single offense that you ever consider or come across.
- A good offense takes advantage of individual talents and can hide individual shortcomings. It allows your superstar to be a superstar, whether she/he is a point guard, a perimeter player, or a back-to-the-basket post player. A good offense also gives your second and third-best scorers a chance to use their strengths as well. And let’s face it, most teams have one player that they want to play because of his defensive, rebounding, or hustle abilities but yet need to “hide” on offense. A good offense gives this type of player the opportunity to be an offensive threat so defenses can’t completely drop off of him and help out on your superstar.
- A good offense provides opportunities to get balanced scoring. While there will undoubtedly be many occasions where your best player will need to take over the game, a balanced scoring attack is much better for everyone in the long run. When several players are involved offensively, it puts much more pressure on the defense to guard everyone. It’s also much better for team morale. Not everyone has to score; they just need to know that the opportunity is there.
- A good offense encourages penetration through the drive or pass. A good offense attacks the rim, which, when done constantly and consistently, accomplishes one of the major purposes of running an offense in the first place: getting your opponent in foul trouble and putting your team on the free-throw line! A team that does nothing but fire up 3’s will not shoot very many free throws and will have to face their opponent’s best player’s all night since none of them will be in foul trouble.
- A good offense has great spacing. Great spacing gives teams room to penetrate and get the ball inside. It also forces the defense into covering more ground than they want to in order to give good help off the ball. When this happens, the end result is often a long closeout by the defense, which opens straight driving lanes to the rim. Youth teams should have at least 15 feet of spacing between offensive players.
(A great way to show the importance of spacing is to have your team play 5 on 5 but with one modified rule – all offensive players must start each possession inside the paint and then stay there.) - A good offense includes both ball and player movement. Combine spacing, ball reversal, and player movement, and you will drive opposing teams crazy! One of the hardest things to teach, especially to young players, is how to move without the ball, so some coaches use offenses that have lots of movement built into it. Several years ago, I listened to a prominent D1 coach speak at a coach’s clinic and describe his offense as simply “three ball reversals and drive.” A defensive coach gets to decide who is guarding who, but an offensive coach using this principle gets to decide who is guarding where!
- A good offense has players in position to rebound. Great teams are going to shoot 50%, which means that they still miss half of their shots. Good, average, and younger teams are going to shoot a lower percentage than that, which means there are lots of opportunities for offensive rebounds. Studies show that approximately 70% of all misses go to the weak side, so good offenses all have players in position to cover the weak side block when a shot goes up.
So now that you know the principles of good offense, how do you know which offense is the BEST one? There are two determining factors that should help you decide:
- What can you teach thoroughly and effectively?
- Which one can get your two best scorers (three best if coaching an older team) wide-open, makeable shots?
The answers to those two questions combined with the above principles of good offense should help you sift through the many available options and find the very best one for you and your team.
What to Teach at Each Age
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7 Best Offenses for Youth Basketball
- Motion Offense
The motion offense is a versatile strategy that can be tailored to fit any team’s strengths and weaknesses. It involves constant movement and passing to create open shots and scoring opportunities. The Blitz Attack Offense is a great example of youth motion offense. - Pick and Roll Offense
The pick-and-roll offense is a simple but effective strategy that involves one player setting a pick for another player, who then rolls to the basket for a scoring opportunity. This strategy can be particularly effective when used with players who have strong ball-handling and shooting skills. - Triangle Offense
The triangle offense is a complex strategy that involves three players forming a triangle on the court. The goal of this offense is to create space and passing opportunities, which can lead to open shots and scoring opportunities. - Dribble-Drive Offense
The dribble-drive offense involves players using their dribbling skills to drive to the basket and create scoring opportunities. This strategy can be particularly effective when used with players who have strong ball-handling and driving skills. - Zone Offense
The zone offense is a strategy that is designed to counter a zone defense, which involves players defending certain areas of the court rather than individual players. This offense involves players moving the ball quickly and looking for gaps in the defense. - Screen and Roll Offense
The screen and roll offense is a strategy that involves one player setting a screen for another player, who then rolls to the basket for a scoring opportunity. This strategy can be particularly effective when used with players who have strong pick-and-roll skills. - Read and React Offense
The read and react offense is a flexible strategy that involves players reacting to the defense and making quick decisions based on the situation. This offense can be particularly effective when used with players who have strong decision-making skills
Zoom Action Continuity Youth Offense
I developed the Blitz Attack to maximize scoring for developing players. This innovative continuity offense blends the best of Zoom Action and motion principles with aggressive dribble penetration.
Answers to Common Questions
Q: What are the benefits of running a motion offense in youth basketball?
- A: A motion offense encourages players to move without the ball, which helps develop their footwork, agility, and teamwork. It also allows for more player creativity and can be difficult for opponents to defend.
Q: How do I know which offense is best for my youth basketball team?
- A: The best offense for your team will depend on factors such as player skill level, team size, and the style of play you want to emphasize. It’s important to evaluate these factors and experiment with different offenses to find the one that works best for your team.
Q: Can youth basketball teams use the same offense as professional teams?
- A: While some professional offenses can be adapted for use in youth basketball, it’s important to keep in mind the skill level and physical abilities of young players. It’s best to use an offense that is appropriate for their age and skill level.
Q: What is the most important aspect of a successful offense in youth basketball?
- A: The most important aspect of a successful offense is player movement and ball movement. Players should constantly be moving without the ball, setting screens, and passing to create scoring opportunities.
Q: How do I teach my youth basketball team to execute an offense effectively?
- A: Effective execution of an offense requires a combination of player skill development and team practice. Coaches should focus on teaching fundamental basketball skills, such as dribbling, passing, and shooting, and then work on implementing those skills within the context of the chosen offense. It’s important to reinforce proper technique and encourage players to communicate and work together as a team.
Q: Which offense is best for beginners?
- A: The motion offense is a great offense for beginners as it requires constant movement and passing, which helps develop ball-handling skills and court awareness.
Q: Which offense is best for teams with fast players?
- A: The fast break offense is an excellent offense for teams with fast players as it involves quick transitions from defense to offense and creates scoring opportunities before the opposing team can set up their defense.
Q: Which offense is best for teams with good shooters?
- A: The 3-Out 2-In Offense is an excellent offense for teams with good shooters as it involves creating space for the players inside the key to get open and score.
Q: Which offense is best for teams with good ball-handlers?
- A: The Dribble Drive Offense is an excellent offense for teams with good ball-handlers as it involves quick dribbling moves that allow players to break down the defense and create scoring opportunities. The Dribble Drive Offense emphasizes driving to the basket and putting pressure on the defense to collapse, which can lead to open shots for teammates.
One of the keys to the Dribble Drive Offense is having multiple players who can handle the ball effectively. This allows for constant movement and ball rotation, which can keep the defense off-balance and create gaps for dribble penetration.
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