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Basketball · Intermediate · i7

Show your hands, then go behind

Park or court 12 min 2 to 3 players Park, hall or court

Ready when: Pass and catch with a partner (b3) and Pivot and jump stop (i1) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

Getting free to catch the ball. Walk toward the basket, then cut back out with the hands up as a target: a V-cut. If the defender blocks the pass, cut behind them to the basket instead: a backdoor cut.

Words on this card Bounce pass, Lay-up, Top spot, Cut, V-cut, Backdoor cut
Bounce pass
A two-hand pass that bounces once on the way, reaching the team-mate at about waist height.
Lay-up
A one-hand shot from right beside the basket after two steps, laid softly off the board.
Top spot
Places on the court: the top is straight out in front of the basket; the wings are to each side.
Cut
A quick run into space to get free for a pass.
V-cut
Walking toward the basket, then cutting back out at an angle, the path making a V.
Backdoor cut
Cutting behind the defender toward the basket.

Set up

A hoop, a top spot and a wing spot. A ball.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for basketball

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. From the wing, walk two steps toward the basket.
  2. Plant the foot nearer the basket and cut back out to the wing at an angle, hands up, and catch facing the basket: the path makes a V.
  3. Backdoor: if the passer holds the ball, plant the outside foot and cut behind toward the basket for a bounce pass and a lay-up.

Your part while they practise

Be the passer at the top. Sometimes pass to the wing; sometimes hold the ball, so the child cuts behind toward the basket.

Step by step

  1. The child walks toward the basket.
  2. Cuts back out to the wing at an angle, hands up as a target, and catches facing the basket.
  3. When you hold the ball: plant and cut behind to the basket.
  4. Catch a bounce pass and lay up.
  5. 10 each way.

How much: 10 each way, 3 rounds 12 min a session 2 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Get free

With a defender, if the defender blocks the pass go behind; if not, catch and face the basket.

Who plays: 3 players: a passer (you), a cutter and a defender. Change roles after 10 tries.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. The defender guards the cutter at the wing
  2. The cutter makes a V-cut
  3. If the defender blocks the way, the cutter goes backdoor
  4. The passer passes only when the cutter is open
Fair play
A grown-up defender keeps the hands behind the back.
Points
The cutter scores 1 point for a catch facing the basket and 2 points for a backdoor catch and lay-up. The defender scores 1 point for each ball touched or caught.
Fouls
No points for that try
  • The cutter pushes off the defender
  • The cutter stands still and waits
  • The defender holds the cutter (the cutter gets 1 point)
Winning
The most points after 10 tries each as the cutter.
Stars
  1. 4 points for 1 star
  2. 8 points for 2 stars
  3. 12 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

No defender.

Harder

The defender may intercept.

What you will see, and what to say

  • no target shown Show me your handsHands up where you want the ball.
  • stops before the ball arrives Keep moving till you catchKeep cutting through the catch.
  • looks at the ball after catching Catch, then see the basketTurn and look at the basket at once.

Self-check

8of 10

8 of 10 catches on the move with the head up at the catch.

Stop and get a coach when

Collisions on the cut.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains getting free, catching, reading the defender.

awiseathlete.com/sports/basketball/basketball-i7