How to Teach Players to Move Without the Ball
V-cut
Setup:
Used on the wing to get open against tight defense. A classic way to initiate ball movement.
Execution:
Start near the low block
Walk the defender down a step or two
Plant your inside foot hard
Explode back out at a sharp angle toward the wing
Show hands and catch facing the basket
Coaching cues:
“Start slow, then go fast.”
“Make it a real ‘V’—don’t round it off.”
“Catch ready—don’t float into the catch.”
L-cut
Setup:
Used to get open at the elbow or free-throw line extended. Common for mid-post or motion offenses.
Execution:
Begin at the block
Cut vertically up the lane
Plant into the defender’s body
Pivot outward and cut horizontally to the elbow
Catch on balance with your outside hand
Coaching cues:
“Make contact—create separation.”
“Use the L shape—tight angle, sharp change.”
“Catch ready to shoot or drive.”
Zipper cut
Setup:
Often used to bring a guard from under the basket up to the top. Great for initiating plays or handoffs.
Execution:
Start beneath the rim
Cut vertically up the center of the lane
Use a screener or time the cut with a ball handler lifting the dribble
Catch at the top, squared up and under control
Coaching cues:
“Cut tight—no drifting wide.”
“Time it—go when the ball lifts.”
“Stay vertical and balanced.”
Blast cut
Setup:
Ideal for catching the ball on the wing. Can be used as a clean entry for guards and shooters.
Execution:
Begin just inside the baseline or short corner
Step out to widen the angle
Sprint straight toward the wing
Catch facing the hoop with feet set
Coaching cues:
“Blast out—don’t jog out.”
“Get wide first, then go.”
“Square up the second you catch.”
Iverson cut
Setup:
Named after Allen Iverson, this cut takes the player across the foul line over two screeners. Designed to create scoring chances or kick off movement.
Execution:
Start on the wing or low block
Sprint shoulder-to-shoulder over the two screeners at the elbows
Read the defense:
If they trail → curl inside
If they go under → pop to the wing
Catch and attack immediately
Coaching cues:
“Don’t leave space between you and the screen.”
“Read it—don’t pre-decide.”
“Catch on the move, not flat-footed.”
Laker cut
Setup:
Triggered by a post entry pass. The passer then becomes a cutter—either over the top or along the baseline.
Execution:
After feeding the post, decide based on spacing and defense:
Cut high over the elbow
Cut low along the baseline
Look for a give-and-go or screen from the big
If nothing’s open, finish the cut and clear space
Coaching cues:
“Don’t stand after the pass—move.”
“Finish the cut—don’t hang near the post.”
“If you don’t get it, space out or screen.”
Post feed & relocate
Setup:
A movement pattern after passing into the post—used to maintain spacing and become a secondary threat.
Execution:
Pass to the post
Immediately slide to the corner or top
Keep your body squared and hands ready
Be available for a kick-out or a second pass
Coaching cues:
“Always move after a post feed.”
“Stay in vision—don’t hide behind the defense.”
“Be shot-ready, not just watching.”
eaching off-ball movement: the foundation of smart, unselfish offense
Off-ball movement is more than a footnote in your playbook—it’s the backbone of team offense. Most coaches spend too much time on the ball and not enough on what players should be doing without it. But the truth is this: cuts create spacing, cuts create open shots, and cuts create pressure.
Why it’s essential for youth basketball
At the youth level, defenders often ball-watch. That’s exactly why teaching smart cuts can transform your team’s offense.
With good movement, you don’t need isolation plays or advanced reads. Just teach your players how and when to cut, and the defense will do the rest.
Benefits:
Cuts force defenders to make decisions
Movement leads to more layups and fewer turnovers
Every player feels involved—even without dribbling
Helps build spacing, timing, and feel
Even basic actions like a V-cut or blast cut can lead to clean passes, better floor balance, and open looks.
Why it elevates high school teams
At higher levels, defenses get smarter. They rotate faster, switch more, and collapse hard on penetration. Without purposeful off-ball movement, your offense stalls.
That’s why motion-based teams thrive when players learn to:
Set up cuts with pace
Cut to score (not just relocate)
React off post entries
Use their movement to occupy defenders
Systems like 5-out motion, continuity offenses (e.g., Flex or Chin), and even spread pick-and-roll all rely heavily on players cutting, clearing, and screening away without needing the ball.
How to drill it
1. 3-on-0 cutting patterns
Practice V-cuts, L-cuts, and blast cuts without defense. Add a pass and a catch into a shot or layup.
2. Post entry + relocate
Teach players to move immediately after feeding the post. Add guided defenders to increase decision-making.
3. 2-on-2 read drills
One cutter, one passer vs. two defenders. Work on reading help defense and cutting into open space.
4. Small-sided scoring games
Play 3-on-3, but only allow points off movement-based actions (cut to score, relocate and shoot, etc.).
Final thoughts
You don’t need 20 set plays to run good offense. You need 5 players who understand where to move—and when.
Start with these seven foundational cuts. Coach the footwork, the timing, and the reads. Then let players rep it, over and over, until it becomes instinct.
Off-ball movement makes your team smarter, harder to guard, and far more fun to watch. And once your players master how to move with purpose, you’ll see the entire floor open up—one cut at a time.
