Basketball: Breaking the Full-Court Press
One team runs a full-court zone press and the other must inbound from the baseline and get past half court in under 8 seconds. Students learn how to organize against pressure (tandem inbound and a middle outlet) and make decisions while tired.
How to play
- Make teams of 5 in pinnies; with more than 10 students, the third team waits on the sideline and runs the 8-second stopwatch.
- Whiteboard talk (3 min): the 1-2-1-1 press wants to trap in the corners; the offense counters with an inbounder, two staggered receivers, a middle outlet and a deep player.
- Phase 1 (5 min): 5-on-5 full court, the offense inbounds from the baseline and scores 1 point for getting past half court in 8 seconds; the defense scores 1 point for a steal or a violation.
- Phase 2 (8 min): play out the whole possession; if the offense breaks the press and scores, they get 2 extra points. After each possession the team that defended inbounds.
- Every 4 minutes the sideline team comes in and the team that's been on the court longest goes out.
Rules
- No grabbing or slapping arms in the trap: defend with your feet and hands up.
- No diving on the floor for loose balls; if two players tie up the ball it's a jump ball and the possession arrow decides.
- Anyone who gets tired can raise a hand and ask for a sub at any time.
Variations
Easier
The press starts at half court and the offense gets 10 seconds.
Standard
1-2-1-1 full-court press with 8 seconds to cross half court.
Harder
On each inbound the defense chooses man-to-man or zone press, and the offense must identify it and call it out before inbounding.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility can be the permanent inbounder and play caller without having to run.
- For shy students or students with autism, give a set role (for example, always the deep player) and a fixed spot to go to.
- For fitness differences, sub every 2 minutes and allow walking recovery between possessions.
Learning goals
- Organize a calm, structured inbound against full-court pressure.
- Recognize when to beat a trap with a quick pass instead of dribbling.
- Keep making good decisions while fatigued.
Equipment for a class of 25
- basketballs: 2
- pinnies: 15
- basketball hoops: 2
- stopwatch: 1
Teacher tip
This one is intense: watch for fatigue and collisions in the corners. The classic mistake is dribbling into the trap, so reward quick passes to the middle with a bonus point.
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