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This is the second installment of a drill series by Rich Czeslawski designed to accelerate Circle Movement training by using the Bounce Off Dribble. You can find the first part of the series here.




Wing Bounce – Safety Valve Back Cut


The next 3-player drill we use in the series (which was very aptly foreshadowed in the Forum Comments by Rick after Part 1) is to run the Wing Bounce drill the other direction so that the player bouncing off is pulling a teammate into the Safety Valve spot.  We have the defender step over the Read Line for the Safety Valve Back Cut.  Do this on both sides of the floor as well as with the ball starting at the top of the key.

Bounce Series Drill Frame 1



1 starts at wing, drives left and Bounces Off to the Escape Hatch.
2 Circle Moves left to Safety Valve.

Bounce Drill Series Frame 2









2 fills Safety Valve and cuts back door when defender steps over Read Line, 1 delivers bounce pass for back cut layup.








3-on-3 Bounce Off Live


Once we feel the players have begun to grasp the Bounce Off footwork and habits in the 3-player drills, we move to a 3-on-3 Bounce Off Drill.

3-on-3 has been an excellent way for us to teach Bounce Off and Circle Movement because it is much more difficult for a player struggling to grasp these principles to hide in a 3-on-3 drill.  Having 2 fewer players on each side allows you to run diagnostics for Read and React habits in a competitive situation with fewer Next Best Action decisions to be made.  This brings habits to the forefront and seems to magnify who is “getting it” and who isn’t.

Bounce Series Drill Frame 3

Start in 3-on-3 with ball at top and require a Bounce Off (can drive left or right) to start the drill.
Play 3-on-3 Live from there using Read and React Principles, but give 2 points for a bounce off basket (bounce off-back cut, bounce off-drive, etc.) and 1 point for any other basket.

Bounce Series Drill Frame 4





Move the ball to the wing and do the same drill, requiring a bounce off (can drive left or right) to start the drill.
Play 3-on-3 Live from there using same rules as above. (Wing Bounce Off, Corner Post up shown here).






You can find Part 3 here. And, if you have any drills of your own, let us know in the comments.

2 Responses

  1. To answer your first question, I think the bounce off is effective against a zone as well for the same reason that the safety valve is always open against zones. Against any zone, if you can make “2 guard 1” you are going to create offense. We use the Dick DeVenzio terminology for attacking 2 defenders by saying “Engage them” (but don’t marry ’em!). The bounce off does exactly that, attacks a gap and engages 2 defenders without picking up your dribble and committing yourself to a dead call. I think for beginning Read and React teams, a designed Bounce Off with a Pin & Skip on the back side would be an effective quick hitter against a zone. For advanced teams, that repeated action could be devastating as the 5th (circling) player hooks and looks. That would give you a bounce off into the escape hatch, a safety valve, a hook and look and a pin and skip. Good luck zoners.

    To your second question, I think there is great merit in using 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 to teach any layer since those situations give the advantage to the offense because of the amount of open space they have to use. A high school basketball court is 42’x50′ (2100 sq. feet). Would you rather try to defend that area with 3 players or 5? The 5th player is the one that swings the advantage back to the defense unless the offense has great spacing and movement (which the R&R provides in bulk!). This concept of spacing is why 4-man shell is a sacred zombie cow in basketball. 4-on-4 puts the defense at a disadvantage and makes defenders better.

    Building your players’ confidence in the layers is much easier in a 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 scenario because of that offensive advantage. You are not only putting the offensive players “in the spotlight” for easier diagnostics, you are also putting your defenders at a disadvantage, which will help make you better defensively.

    Yet another way the Read and React helps make your team better on both ends of the court!

  2. Rich,

    Thanks for sharing this. Seems like a great way to break down stiff man-to-man pressure. Might this apply to a zone as well? Would the bounce-off be as effective?

    Secondly, I was pleased so see you say this:
    “3-on-3 has been an excellent way for us to teach Bounce Off and Circle Movement because it is much more difficult for a player struggling to grasp these principles to hide in a 3-on-3 drill. Having 2 fewer players on each side allows you to run diagnostics for Read and React habits in a competitive situation with fewer Next Best Action decisions to be made. This brings habits to the forefront and seems to magnify who is “getting it” and who isn’t.”

    Would love to know your thoughts about the merits of running 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 when teaching any layer.

    Thanks!

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