4-on-4 Half Court

Scrimmage/finisher

Play team basketball with spacing, movement, and help defence.

14 min 8+ Half court
DefenseTeamworkU12U14U16

Game guide

8+ · 1 ball, half court

Get everyone ready

Four on four — space the floorTwo guards, two forwards, everyone spread and matched up. 1234X1X3X4X2

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Four vs four in the half court; sub teams in on rotation.

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

Look for: Keep good spacing — fill the gaps.

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

Four vs four in the half court; sub teams in on rotation.

  1. Play live with a 'pass before you shoot' rule.
  2. Space the floor — don't bunch up.
  3. Move the ball and cut with purpose.
  4. Coach freezes play to teach spacing or help defence.

Suggested reset

Secure the same ball after a basket, turnover or ball out and restart with the agreed possession rules. Reset any per-possession passing requirement. Rotate waiting players or teams between possessions at the agreed score or time, with a fresh check or inbound after the substitution.

Coaching cues

  • Keep good spacing — fill the gaps.
  • Move the ball side to side.
  • Help and recover on defence.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Coach-guided, stop-and-teach often.

Harder: Cap the shot clock at eight seconds so they have to attack the first opening.

No Middle: Defence must keep every drive out of the lane — a drive down the middle gives the offence a free point.

What this drill teaches

Team offence and team defence made visible. With one fewer pair than a real game, the floor opens up enough for kids to actually see spacing, gaps and help rotations — concepts that vanish in the crowd of 5-on-5.

In games: Fixes the game-day bunch — five kids in a ten-foot circle around the ball — by making good spacing and side-to-side ball movement something they've seen work.

What good looks like
  • Players spread and re-spacing after every cut or drive
  • The ball swinging from one side to the other before a shot
  • Helpers sinking in on drives, then recovering to shooters

U12: freeze play often — the teaching stops are the drill. U16: expect self-organised spacing and an eight-second clock forcing decisive attacks.

Equipment

1 ball, half court

Setup

Four vs four in the half court; sub teams in on rotation.

Steps

  1. 1Play live with a 'pass before you shoot' rule.
  2. 2Space the floor — don't bunch up.
  3. 3Move the ball and cut with purpose.
  4. 4Coach freezes play to teach spacing or help defence.

Coaching points

  • Keep good spacing — fill the gaps.
  • Move the ball side to side.
  • Help and recover on defence.

Why kids love it

It's close to a real 5-on-5 but simpler, so team concepts are easier for kids to see.

Variations

Easier

Coach-guided, stop-and-teach often.

Harder

Cap the shot clock at eight seconds so they have to attack the first opening.

No Middle

Defence must keep every drive out of the lane — a drive down the middle gives the offence a free point.

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