Half-Court Set Play

Scrimmage/finisher

Run a simple designed play to a good shot.

12 min 5+ Half court
TeamworkPassingU12U14U16

Step-by-step walkthrough

5+ · 1 ball, half court

Get everyone ready

Starting alignmentEveryone knows their spot before the ball moves. 12345

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Five players in a starting alignment; walk through one set.

Look for: Spacing and timing make the play work.

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

Five players in a starting alignment; walk through one set.

  1. Run the set: a pass, a cut and a screen to a shot.
  2. Everyone knows their spot and timing.
  3. Add light defence once the timing is clean.
  4. Finish with the designed shot.

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

  • Spacing and timing make the play work.
  • Screen and cut with purpose.
  • Hit the open player the play creates.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Run it with no defence until it's smooth.

Harder: Run the set against live defence and score only on the shot the play creates.

Counter: Add one counter for a denied first pass — the wing cuts backdoor instead.

What this drill teaches

Timing and trust in a shared plan. Running a designed play teaches every player that their cut or screen matters even when they never touch the ball — and gives the team a reliable way to create a good shot on purpose.

In games: For the possessions that need an answer — out of a timeout, against a set defence, needing one good shot late — your team has something to run instead of hoping.

What good looks like
  • Everyone at their spot on time, without being steered
  • Screens and cuts made at full effort even away from the ball
  • The shot the play was designed for actually getting taken

U12: run it with no defence until it's smooth — forgotten spots are normal. U14–U16: expect it against live defence, plus the backdoor counter when the first pass is denied.

Equipment

1 ball, half court

Setup

Five players in a starting alignment; walk through one set.

Steps

  1. 1Run the set: a pass, a cut and a screen to a shot.
  2. 2Everyone knows their spot and timing.
  3. 3Add light defence once the timing is clean.
  4. 4Finish with the designed shot.

Coaching points

  • Spacing and timing make the play work.
  • Screen and cut with purpose.
  • Hit the open player the play creates.

Why kids love it

Older teams love running an actual 'play' — it builds structure and confidence.

Variations

Easier

Run it with no defence until it's smooth.

Harder

Run the set against live defence and score only on the shot the play creates.

Counter

Add one counter for a denied first pass — the wing cuts backdoor instead.

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