Floppy Action

Skill drill

Free a shooter off a choice of screens near the baseline.

12 min 4+ Half court
ShootingTeamworkU14U16

Read & react

4+ · 1 ball, half court

Get everyone ready

Shooter starts under the rimTwo screeners on the blocks; the shooter reads the defence. 4123X

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

A shooter starts under the rim; two screeners set up on the blocks/elbows, a passer up top.

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

Look for: Shooter: read the defender, then sprint off the screen.

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

A shooter starts under the rim; two screeners set up on the blocks/elbows, a passer up top.

  1. The shooter reads the defence and picks a side.
  2. They sprint off the screen on that side to the wing or corner.
  3. The passer delivers on time for a catch-and-shoot.
  4. If the first option is covered, the shooter uses the other screen.

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

  • Shooter: read the defender, then sprint off the screen.
  • Come off low and tight, hands ready to shoot.
  • Screeners: set solid screens and hold them.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Pick one side, no defence, groove the footwork.

Harder: Add a defender who must chase the shooter over both screens.

Top-lock: Tell the defender to top-lock so the shooter has to curl to the rim instead of popping wide.

What this drill teaches

Getting open without the ball. Floppy gives the shooter a screen on each side, so they must read their defender and choose — turning 'run to your spot' into 'read and react', with a passer who has to deliver on time.

In games: Frees your best shooter on game day when their defender face-guards them — and teaches the rest of the team that screening away from the ball creates shots too.

What good looks like
  • Shooter changing sides based on where the defender goes
  • Coming off the screen low, tight and hands ready
  • Screens held still until the shooter has cleared them

U14: pick one side with no defence until the footwork is smooth. U16: add a chasing defender and expect the shooter to counter a top-lock by curling to the rim.

Equipment

1 ball, half court

Setup

A shooter starts under the rim; two screeners set up on the blocks/elbows, a passer up top.

Steps

  1. 1The shooter reads the defence and picks a side.
  2. 2They sprint off the screen on that side to the wing or corner.
  3. 3The passer delivers on time for a catch-and-shoot.
  4. 4If the first option is covered, the shooter uses the other screen.

Coaching points

  • Shooter: read the defender, then sprint off the screen.
  • Come off low and tight, hands ready to shoot.
  • Screeners: set solid screens and hold them.

Why kids love it

Teaches shooters to read screens and come off them at game speed — how real off-ball offence works.

Variations

Easier

Pick one side, no defence, groove the footwork.

Harder

Add a defender who must chase the shooter over both screens.

Top-lock

Tell the defender to top-lock so the shooter has to curl to the rim instead of popping wide.

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