Special Attack Situations

Out-of-bounds plays shouldn't call for a lot of discussion, but I feel they are needed in a well-organized attack.

Every out-of-bounds play should have several options and should all look and begin the same way. It is with this in mind that I present in the next few diagrams; the famous Caterpillar out-of-bounds plays that have worked so well for us over the years.

Always have one of your good ball handlers taking the ball out of bounds and spot key players in certain positions on the floor. If you run your option where you work for the jump shot, of course, have your best shooter in the position where he will receive the ball and the shot.

Well executed out-of-bounds plays win many key games each year. An easy basket from an out-of-bounds play, will quite often "break the back" of your opponents, and allow you to pull out an easy victory from almost certain defeat.

Sideline out-of-bounds plays do not offer the scoring opportunities that the under the basket plays do, but on occasions a game is won with a well executed maneuver from center court. A few years ago, Springfield, Illinois, High School, scored the clinching basket on a well executed side-lines out-of-bounds play in the closing seconds of the finals of the Illinois State Tournament.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS PLAYS

FIRST OPTION

On the slap of the ball by #6, #3 sets inside pick for #2, and #5 sets inside pick for #4. #2 goes to the top of the circle, and #4 goes to the corner for the throw in by #6. #4 passes to #2, and then sets a screen along side of #5. #6 fakes to the middle and comes back around the double screen to get a pass from #2, for a jump shot behind the screen.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS PLAYS

SECOND OPTION
The men line up the same as in option #1.

#3 sets inside screen for #2, and #5 sets an inside screen for #4. #2 comes to the top of the slot, and #4 goes to the corner for the pass in from #6. #5 pulls back to the side of the floor, after screening for #4, and receives pass from #4. The ball goes around the horn from #2, to #3. #6 comes up and sets a rear screen for #5 who goes down the middle for a pass, and lay up shot. #6 wheels off his tail, for a possible trail shot.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS  PLAYS

 

THIRD OPTION

The men line up the same as before.

On the slap of the ball, #3 sets an inside screen for #2, who sets up at the top of the slot. #4 sets an inside screen for #5, who goes down the middle for a pass in from #6, and possible lay-in. After screening for #5, #4 rolls off to corner. If #5 does not receive the pass-in, he wheels out, and sets a rear screen on #3. The pass in goes into #4, who passes to #3 coming down the slot.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS PLAYS

FOURTH OPTION

The men line up the same as before.

#3 sets inside screen for #2, who goes across key. #5 picks for #4, who goes to the corner for a pass-in from #6. #6 goes up to set a double screen with #5. The ball goes from #4 to #2, to #3. #4 comes around the double screen to receive the pass from #3.  
OUT-OF-BOUNDS  PLAYS

On the slap of the ball, #2 fakes to the right with a stab step, then cuts to left side of the floor. #3, and #5 criss-cross, with #3 cutting first. #4 drops back as safety valve, in case #2, #3, or #5 do not receive the ball.  

OUT-OF-BOUNDS PLAYS

This option is used a lot by the Professional basketball teams to set up their good long jump-shooter from the top of the slot.

The men line up across the free throw line, and on the slap of the ball #4 takes a quick step back. #3, and #5 quickly use a lateral step to close the gap. #4 gets a long pass from #6 for the jump shot attempt. If he does not get the pass, he quickly moves into the corner for the pass-in. #2 and #5 have criss-crossed for possible pass-in while #3 drops back as the safety valve.

SIDE-LINE OUT OF BOUNDS

This is a very effective option against a pressing man-for-man defense.

On slap of ball, #3 and #5 set inside screens for #2 and #4. #6 passes in to #2, and #6 goes across very quickly to set a rear screen for #3. Meanwhile, #2 has passed to #4 who in turn, passes to #3 cutting down the middle. If #6 so desires, he may make the first pass-in to #4.

SIDE-LINE OUT OF BOUNDS  PLAY

 
#2 should be a tall agile boy if possible. You should let him go all the way to the basket for a possible high lob pass and a lay-in.

This is a very simple maneuver, which all of us have used on numerous occasions when we wanted to retain possession of the ball. Springfield High School (Illinois) scored the clinching basket with this play in the 1959 Illinois State Tournament.

On the slap of the ball, #3 and #5 make a "stab step" to the left, then move quickly to their right for a possible pass-in from #6. #2 and #4 make a stab step to the right, then move quickly to their left for a possible pass-in from #6.
 

JUMP BALL PLAYS

My team uses a set-play pattern on all jump ball situations. Statistics kept have shown these patterns to be very effective in producing key baskets and retention of the ball in crucial situations. Some set of signals should be devised so that each man will know who is to receive the tipped ball.

Diagram 1.

In this diagram the men rotate in the manner shown. Retention of the ball is all you are striving for here.

Diagram 2.

The men again rotate as shown. Again, you are merely striving to retain the ball. You should stress to the jumper, that he should attempt to tip the ball to a position where you have a definite height advantage and to keep the tip away from congested areas.
 

JUMP BALL PLAYS

 
Diagram 3.

In this diagram, you are attempting to set up a scoring play involving the center. The men rotate in the manner shown. #3 sets a rear screen for #6 who receives a long pass from #4. To confuse the opposition rotate your players clockwise the first half and counter-clockwise the second half.

JUMP BALL PLAYS

Diagram 4.

In this diagram #5 sets a rear screen for #6 then does a reverse pivot and goes down court for the pass from #4. If #5 is covered, #4 may pass to #3 who has gone down the sidelines after a screen from #2

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