Drag Screen in Transition
Flow a ball screen into the offence early, during transition.
What this drill teaches
Screening before the defence is ready. The trailing big sets an early 'drag' ball screen in transition, so players learn that the best time to run an action is while defenders are still sprinting back and unmatched.
In games: Turns half-chances into points on game day — instead of walking the ball up and letting the defence set, your team attacks in that messy first few seconds when easy baskets live.
- Big sprinting to screen early, before defenders match up
- Guard keeping full pace off the screen, attacking downhill
- Wings already spaced to the corners as the screen arrives
U14: run it 3-on-0 — timing between guard and trailer takes weeks. U16: expect it to beat two recovering defenders and a live corner-or-rim kick-out read.
Equipment
1 ball, full court
Setup
A guard pushes the ball up the floor; a trailing big fills behind.
Steps
- 1Guard pushes the ball up the middle in transition.
- 2The trailing big sets an early 'drag' screen near the top.
- 3Guard uses it before the defence is set.
- 4Attack the rim, hit the roller, or kick to a runner in the corner.
Coaching points
- Screen early, before the defence matches up.
- Guard: keep your pace up — attack downhill.
- Wings space to the corners to open the drive.
Why kids love it
Teaches teams to attack before the defence is set — one of the highest-value ways to score.
Variations
Run it 3-on-0 to learn the spacing and timing.
Send two defenders sprinting back so the drag has to beat a defence that is getting set.
Score two for a corner pass and one for a rim finish so the kick-out read stays live.