2-on-1 Fast Break with a Chasing Defender

Two attackers push a fast break against a defender waiting at the basket while a second defender chases from behind with a few yards' head start against them. It forces students to play the 2-on-1 advantage quickly before it turns into a 2-on-2.

How to play

1. Three lines on the baseline: two lines of attackers and one of chasers, who start from a cone 3 yards back. One defender waits in the far lane (2 min).
2. Phase 1: the attackers pass up the court in separate lanes and the chaser goes once the first attacker crosses half court (3 min).
3. Phase 2: the chaser starts at the same time from the cone, and the attackers must finish within 4 combined passes or dribbles (4 min).
4. Scoring: a basket before the chaser arrives is 2, a basket in a 2-on-2 is 1, and a steal or defensive rebound is 1 for the defense (4 min).
5. Rotation: the shooter stays as the basket defender, the defender becomes the chaser, and the rest go to the lines. Review when to pass or attack the rim (2 min).

Rules

• Attackers must stay spread out in their own lanes, not bunched up in the middle.
• The chaser may not push or touch the attacker from behind; only steal the ball or block cleanly.
• Safety: the next wave goes when the previous one is finished, and nobody runs under the rim during a shot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility: play the basket defender, which requires less running and lots of reading.
• Students who are deaf or hard of hearing: signal the chaser's start by raising a cone in addition to the whistle.
• Adjust the chaser's head start for each group's speed so the challenge stays balanced.

Learning goals

• Take advantage of a 2-on-1 situation quickly.
• Fill separate lanes to make defending harder.
• Defend outnumbered by slowing the attack until help arrives.

Equipment for a class of 25

• basketball: 6
• cones: 8
• basketball hoops: 2

Teacher tip

The typical mistake is both attackers drifting to the middle; mark the lanes with cones at half court. Remind chasers to go for the ball, not the body, because they arrive at full speed.

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