Flex Cut

Skill drill

Run the flex action — a baseline screen into a layup, with a continuous, hard-to-guard pattern.

12 min 5 Half court
TeamworkU14U16

Read & react

5 players · 1 ball, half court

Get everyone ready

Reverse the ballSwing the ball to the top to trigger the flex action. 12345

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Two players on the wings and one at the top; two more along the baseline. Ball starts on a wing.

A coached example. In live play, players make their own decisions; the outcome can change.

Look for: Cutter: set up the screen, then cut tight off the shoulder.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Two players on the wings and one at the top; two more along the baseline. Ball starts on a wing.

  1. Wing reverses the ball to the top.
  2. A baseline player sets a flex screen for the opposite baseline cutter.
  3. The cutter uses the screen and cuts hard to the block for a layup.
  4. The player who passed down-screens the flex screener up to the elbow.
  5. The screener pops to the elbow for the jumper. Reverse the ball and repeat the other way.

Suggested reset

For a walkthrough, finish one action and stop. The shooter retrieves and returns the ball to the starting handler. Walk back outside the cutting lanes, then cycle the starting roles before repeating on the other side. Waiting groups replace the whole group between repetitions. When adding live defence, stop on a score, turnover, foul, ball out or controlled rebound; return the ball to the start and swap attack and defence.

Coaching cues

  • Cutter: set up the screen, then cut tight off the shoulder.
  • Screener: hold the screen, then step up to shoot.
  • Ball reversal is the trigger — move it quickly.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Walk one repetition slowly to learn the pattern.

Harder: Add three defenders and play it live to a make or a stop.

Flex to down-screen: Make the passer down-screen the flex screener up to the elbow every repetition.

What this drill teaches

Playing inside a continuity pattern. Flex loops the same actions — reverse the ball, baseline screen, cut to the block, down-screen up — so every player screens, cuts and scores, and ball reversal becomes the habit that triggers movement.

In games: Fixes stagnant, one-player offence on game day — your team learns that moving the ball side to side and screening for each other creates layups without anyone beating their man off the dribble.

What good looks like
  • Cutters waiting for the screen, then cutting tight off the shoulder
  • Ball swinging quickly on the reversal, not held
  • Screeners stepping up to the elbow ready to shoot, not spectating

U14: the pattern breaks down constantly — walk one rep at a time and that's fine. U16: expect flowing continuity both ways and live reps against three defenders.

Equipment

1 ball, half court

Setup

Two players on the wings and one at the top; two more along the baseline. Ball starts on a wing.

Steps

  1. 1Wing reverses the ball to the top.
  2. 2A baseline player sets a flex screen for the opposite baseline cutter.
  3. 3The cutter uses the screen and cuts hard to the block for a layup.
  4. 4The player who passed down-screens the flex screener up to the elbow.
  5. 5The screener pops to the elbow for the jumper. Reverse the ball and repeat the other way.

Coaching points

  • Cutter: set up the screen, then cut tight off the shoulder.
  • Screener: hold the screen, then step up to shoot.
  • Ball reversal is the trigger — move it quickly.

Why kids love it

A classic continuity offence that keeps flowing, so every player screens, cuts and scores.

Variations

Easier

Walk one repetition slowly to learn the pattern.

Harder

Add three defenders and play it live to a make or a stop.

Flex to down-screen

Make the passer down-screen the flex screener up to the elbow every repetition.

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