Give and Screen Away

🎒 Gear Needed: 1 x basketball, 3 players, 1 ring
⏱ Suggested Time: 5 - 10 minutes
👥 Participants: Small Team (3 Perimeter Players)
📍 Space: Half-Court
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate

📝 Instructions

1. Formation: Three players space along the three-point arc: Player 1 at the top of the key with a basketball, Player 2 on the right wing, and Player 3 on the left wing.
2. The Pass (Give): Player 1 makes a sharp chest pass to Player 2 on the right wing.
3. Screen Away Movement: Instead of cutting to the ring or standing still, Player 1 immediately turns away from the ball and sprints toward the opposite side of the court to set an off-ball screen for Player 3 on the left wing.
4. Setting the Off-Ball Screen: Player 1 sets a solid, stationary screen at the left elbow or high wing: feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, hands crossed across chest, planted firmly before contact.
5. Setting Up the Cut: Player 3 walks their imaginary defender toward the baseline 1 step to set up the screen, plants their foot, and rubs tight shoulder-to-shoulder past Player 1’s screen to explode out to the top of the key.
6. The Pass and Attack: Player 2 receives the initial pass, squares to the ring, and delivers an immediate chest or bounce pass to Player 3 cutting into the open space at the top of the key. Player 3 catches on balance and shoots or drives into the key for a finish at the ring.
7. Screener Slip Option: After setting the screen, Player 1 reverse pivots and cuts to the ring, providing a second high-percentage scoring option.
8. Rotation: Player 1 rotates to the wing, Player 2 to the cutter position, and Player 3 to the top. Complete 8 repetitions from each side.

💡 Coaching Cues

• Pass, Then Move Away: Never stand still after passing; running away to set an off-ball screen distracts the defense and creates immediate confusion for help defenders.
• Solid, Stationary Screen: The screener must come to a complete stop outside the defender’s cylinder; leaning into the defender or moving your feet will result in an offensive foul.
• Wait for the Screen to Be Set: The cutter must be patient; do not cut prematurely before your teammate has completely planted their feet.
• Scrape Shoulder to Shoulder: Cut so closely past your screener’s shoulder that your defender cannot slip through the gap between you.

🔄 Variations & Progressions

• Make It Easier: Walk through the action 3v0 without defense so all three players understand the passing, screening, cutting, and slipping geometry.
• Make It Harder: Add 3 live defenders playing strict Man-to-Man defense; the cutter must read whether the defender goes over or under the screen, curling to the ring or fading to the corner accordingly.

📺 Video Demonstration