Scouting Report and Game Plan for 3-on-3

Each team watches its next opponent play, fills out a scouting report (dominant hand, main shooter, defensive style, favorite play) and designs a game plan with two defensive keys and one offensive key. Then they face off in 3-on-3 and check whether the plan worked.

How to play

1. At each basket two teams play a 6-minute 3-on-3 while their future opponents watch and fill out the scouting sheet; they may film clips with the observed group's permission (8 min).
2. Each team writes its report and chooses the coach of the day, who writes the plan on the sheet: two defensive keys, for example “make number 2 dribble left,” and one offensive key (6 min).
3. The coach explains the plan to the team in 1 minute using a whiteboard or the sheet (4 min).
4. 8-minute 3-on-3 against the scouted opponent; the coach can call one 30-second time-out to adjust (10 min).
5. Each coach says in one sentence whether the plan worked and what they would change (2 min).

Rules

• The report describes plays and actions, never judgments about people.
• Videos are only filmed with permission and deleted at the end of class.
• The 3-on-3 uses basic 3x3 rules with self-called fouls.
• The coach also plays; if injured or resting, they coach from the sideline.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students who cannot play that day: serve as head coach and present the plan.
• Hearing impairment: the plan is explained with the whiteboard and the sheet, not by voice alone.
• Autism: gets the sheet with a completed example and one specific thing to observe.

Learning goals

• Observe and analyze an opposing team's tendencies.
• Design a simple game plan and communicate it to the team.
• Evaluate how well a tactical plan worked after using it.

Equipment for a class of 25

• basketballs: 4
• pinnies: 16
• scouting sheets: 16
• tablets or phones: 4

Teacher tip

Make sure all scouting matchups are crossed so every team both scouts and gets scouted. Remind students to be respectful in reports: talk about plays, not people.

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