How to Run a Fast Break Offense

A fast break offense, when properly executed could lead to an easy basket.  Though speed is essential to successfully run a fast break attack, the main pre-requisite is good, tough rebounding. Why? Because, you must get the ball before you can run with it. During a basketball game, a fast break opportunity could arise either after your opponent missed a shot or a free throw, made a bad pass, you steal the ball, or from an out-of-bound situation.

The fast break usually forms a three-on-two or a two-on-one advantage where lanes are established and execution is good to capitalize on the advantage before the defense can recover.

When a fast break opportunity does arise, it must be executed in a well organized and calculated fashion for it to be successful.  Of course this implies that the players have been sufficiently coached during practise on how to run the fast break offense.  When the fast break is being ran, each player that is part of the fast break attack must know and carry out his responsibility; otherwise, the fast break could result in a disappointing finish--a wasted opportunity.

Sometimes the three-lane fast break attack is not spread sufficiently, so that the defense spreads with it. For instance, If two men are coming down the floor who are closer than approximately 15 feet, then one defensive man will be able to defense both of them.

A fast break is sometimes unsuccessful because the players are not able to appropriately adjust the speed at which they are running. Speed is very necessary after the first pass out that ignites the fast break offense, but as the attack nears the free throw area, the tempo must be slowed to allow successful completion of the play.

The middle man on a three-on-two fast break situation must make the defense commit and come out to force the play by keeping the ball as they approach the opponent's basket; the dribble will force the defense out quicker than the cross pass. If the side player in the fast break attack attempts the dribble instead, the defense can delay commitment longer. In other words, the defensive man off the ball can drop back, and defend the opposite wing man as well as the middle man.

Each player on the team must and should know his role in a fast break offense, regardless of his position during the attack; otherwise, the attack may be slowed down or compromised in other ways.

How do you make the fast break offense successful? As previously mentioned, good rebounding is the key to the attack. Good ball hawking and tight defensive play will cause your opponents to make mistakes that may result in a fast break situation leading to an easy score.  Good passing and dribbling are essential to the success of the fast break offense. For example, The baseball pass as well as the two-hand chest pass and the bounce pass must be executed well.

Furthermore, the position of the players running the two-or-three-lane fast break offense is important to maintain balance and keep the defense spread. The organization and tempo of the attack are also important parts of a fast break offense.

How the fast break offense is executed is influenced by the type of defense displayed by the opposing team.  The defense may be playing a two-man zone is front of the basket or a tandem defense. The tandem defense generally places one player defending at the free throw line. The other defensive player is directly behind him and in front of the basket.

If the defense is in a zone, the middle man on the fast break attack might be able to get a shot from the foul line since, most likely, the defense will not come out to stop the middle man.

In the event the defense is in a tandem, the front man's responsibility is to slow the dribbler. When he plays the dribbler, the other defensive man is forced to defend the two wing men moving toward the basket. After the pass is made to the wing man, the front defensive man will drop back opposite the pass to cover the other wing man.

The center man in the three-lane attack should then be open for a pass and the shot. The center man must always stop at the free throw line to allow an opening by forcing the defense to play the wing men. Of course, if the defense will allow the center man to go all the way to the basket on his dribble, that becomes desirable but not probable.

In case the defense recovers sufficiently to match the offensive attack with equal numbers, the trailer man may break free for a basket. The trailer is generally the fourth man down the floor on the fast break three-on-two situation. The trailer may be ahead of his defensive man to receive a short pass from the middle
dribbler. The middle dribbler has to veer to his left or right approximately 10 feet in order to pull his defensive man with him.  As the dribbler does this, it opens a path without opposition, and allows his trailer teammate to go all the way or force an opponent to switch. When the switch takes place, another area will open.

Generally, the rebounder passing the ball out will become the "safety valve" and does not go past mid-court. If there is an interception or a stolen ball taken by the defense, the safety man maybe able to slow the opposition as it returns on the offensive attack.

<b>A Two-on-One Situation</b>

When the offensive team gains a two-on-one advantage, the attacking procedure will be about the same as the three-on-two situation. However, the two men attacking would split the floor distance to be in position to attack the one defensive man.

In most cases, this position for each man will be halfway between the center of the floor and the sideline. If a gain of direction were to be made, it would be toward the middle of the floor and not to the sideline. The attacking dribbler must go as far as he can and attempt to force the defensive man to play him.

Many times the defense will drop off on a fake pass, which allows the dribbler to go all the way. The defense may zone to force the long shot or to play the offensive man after he takes off for his shot. When this occurs, the man with the ball can make a pass to his teammate.  When the defender goes into the air to block the driving layup, he creates the opening for the other offensive man.

<b>A Two-on-Two Situation</b>

In this pattern, many players on the offense will cross screen to evade the defense. In case the defense is playing tight, one of them may be screened. If the defense switches, the fast cut-away or the roll-off is possible. When the defense loosens to go through, the offensive man can shoot over the screen set by his teammate.

<b>Fast Break Off the Free Throw</b>

The fast break possibility is always present on the free throw attempt. If the free throw is made or missed, quick passing and the forming of attack lanes may result in an easy score. This pattern can be formed quickly and with the same organized plan as other fast break attempts.

<b>Out of Bounds Situations</b>

Quickness in getting the ball inbounds and down the floor with a long pass may catch the defense unprepared. This alertness will allow you to score some quick, cheap points. The baseball pass becomes an important factor in this development.

A fast break attack during a basketball game is fun and exciting to watch, if successfully executed.  However, the fast break offense cannot be taught and perfected overnight; it takes many hours of practice time for a team to learn it and do it well.