Basketball Plays, Drills, and Training Tips
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Give-And-Go
Description

The give-and-go is a classic offensive basketball play that is surprisingly simple and effective. It is actually less of a play and more of a basic offensive move a player should be taught to use during a game when being overplayed by their man.

The set play we offer here is just one suggested way that the basic give-and-go can create an easy scoring opportunity for you against man-to-man defense.

The Play
ANIMATION
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  • Start both post players, 4 and 5 down low on the blocks.
  • Player 2 starts on the right corner while player 3 starts on the left elbow.
  • Player 1 takes the ball over half-court and creates an open lane for the pass to player 2 who is flashing up from the corner to the right foul-line extended.
  • Players 3 and 4 flash away from the ball-side in order to draw their defenders with them and create space for the give-and-go.
  • As player 2 is receiving the pass from player 1 at the foul-line extended, player 5 flashes from the low block to the elbow on the ball side.
  • As player 5 becomes open, player 2 passes to him.
  • After passing, player 2 waits for player 5 to catch and then quickly cuts hard and directly to the basket looking for the pass back from player 5 and the easy layup. Player 2's defender will likely have relaxed momentarily on the "give" pass to player 5 allowing the opening for the "go" to the basket.
  • If player 2 is not open, she can continue through the lane and set a screen at opposite block for player 4 coming in from the short corner.
Key Points
  • Player 2 must wait until player 5 receives the pass and delay slightly before making the hard cut to the basket. If player 2 cuts too soon, the timing will be off.
  • It is important for the success of this play that all players are flashing as shown in the animation. If the players on the non-ball side haven't lured their defenders with them, the help defenders can stop this play.
  • Remind your players that in addition to this play, the basic give-and-go movement can work anytime and anywhere on the court.