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Youth Basketball Fast Break Drills

A well-run fast break is one of basketball's most thrilling plays. Most fans of the game love to see a fast-paced tempo with plenty of running and scoring. Strategically, the basketball fast break makes sense in the simple fact that the goal is to push the ball up the floor quickly and efficiently in order to have a numbers advantage over the other team.

Author: Trevor Sumner
Date: Oct 23, 2009 - 4:06:30 PM

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A well-run fast break is one of basketball's most thrilling plays. Most fans of the game love to see a fast-paced tempo with plenty of running and scoring. Strategically, the basketball fast break makes sense in the simple fact that the goal is to push the ball up the floor quickly and efficiently in order to have a numbers advantage over the other team. Either way you look at it, a well-executed fast break can be an important weapon for your team's offensive arsenal.

You will often hear a coach use the phrase "no numbers." Or he/she may instruct your team to run when "we have numbers." These phrases simply identify if your team has more players than your opponent on a given play. For example, if your team rebounds your opponent's miss and makes a quick outlet before your opponent transitions back to defense, you may have three of your players attacking two of your opponent's. This is "having numbers."  When you have such an advantage, attacking your opponent for a quick score makes good sense.

Before you can consider transitioning quickly for a fast break opportunity you obviously first must have the ball. Sometimes a steal will result in a fast break score, but far more often your transition offense will begin with good defensive rebounding. Your youth basketball team cannot run if it does not rebound. Transversely, if you want to stop a good fast break basketball team, control the boards.

Once you have rebounded an opponent's miss, a good outlet pass should be thrown to a guard. Usually you don't want your post players dribbling up court. However, if the rebound comes to a guard or a forward that is a great dribbler, they can start the fast break on their own. Once the ball is passed out, it should be passed again or dribbled to the middle of the court. Available players should then "fill the lanes," running along the side of the court. This gives the middle passer two options at the offensive end. The fourth player up the floor should trail the play and look for a late pass. The fifth player should hang back as a safety.

If your team has a numbers advantage, you should look to score. If not, it is usually better to bring the ball out and set up in your half court offensive set. Keep in mind that this aspect of the game is also referred to as transition offense or early offense.

Below are some tips for running a good fast break as well as some drills for your youth basketball team's practice. You can also find more free basketball skills & drills videos and tutorials online at websites like Weplay.com.

Fast Break Tips for Basketball

• You must secure the ball via a steal or a strong defensive rebound to start your fast break.
• Outlet the ball to a guard.
• Take the ball to the middle of the floor for maximum offensive options.
• When you are dribbling the ball in transition, do not stop until a defender makes you stop. If you can dribble all the way to the basket for a lay-up, do.
• Remember the ball travels up the floor faster by passing than by dribbling.

Basketball Fast Break Drills

• Chase Drill
  Make two lines under a basket. The players in one line will be trying to go full court for a layup. The players in the other line will try to stop the layup. The coach throws a ball slightly ahead of the offensive player. The defensive player cannot begin "chase" until the offensive player has touched the ball, giving them a slight head start. The chaser should be able to make up ground because they do not have to dribble the ball. The offensive player is trying to score without letting the chaser catch up. The players trade lines and continue.
  
  
• Three on Two
  Send two players to the far basket as defenders. Three players will remain near the opposing basket. The coach will then throw the ball off the glass and the team of three will rebound the ball, make an outlet pass, and fill the lanes on a fast break to the end where the two defenders wait. The goal is to make proper decisions with the ball and score with the numbers advantage. You can keep score and rotate players in whatever way works best with your team.

View all articles by Trevor Sumner

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