Five players. One ball. Simulate the play or choose a step below the court.
Teaching pace · choose 0.5× to slow it down.
When to use this example
Use this frontcourt sideline restart near the free-throw line extended to find a guard against man-to-man defense. It is an entry into your next possession, not a full offense or a half-court-line inbound. The example is set up for age 12.
Starting positions
- 3 has the ball outside the right sideline.
- 1 starts at the top; 2 starts on the right wing.
- 4 starts at the high post; 5 stays in the left corner.
Left and right follow the diagram. Player numbers identify jobs in this example; they do not assign permanent roles to children.
Run it in order
Open the receiving space
2 clears to the right corner. 4 moves to the right elbow as an outlet.
Guard changes direction
1 takes the defender toward the lane, then returns to the right slot with hands ready.
Enter to 1
3 passes to 1 if available. Use 4 as the outlet if the guard is denied.
Find spacing
3 joins at the right wing. 4 fills the left slot; keep the middle open.
If the first option is covered
4 is the second target at the right elbow. Ask to show the second option if 1 is denied.
A passing arrow shows an intended action, not a guaranteed opening. Rehearse the alternative and check your competition’s restart rules before using an inbound example.
Give players one cue at a time
- Clear space before the guard cuts.
- Change pace when changing direction.
- The inbounder must enter after passing.
What to watch for
- 1 cuts before 2 clears: rehearse the first two steps separately.
- The inbounder forces the guard pass: deny 1 in a controlled rep and identify 4 at the right elbow.
- 3 enters too soon or crowds 1 after the catch: rehearse the pass before the move to the wing.
Rehearse the decision
Walk through clearing the side, the guard’s change of direction, the pass, and the new spacing. Pause before the pass and ask 3 to find both targets. Then rehearse a denied guard. The animation shows the pass to 1; the pass to 4 is an alternative to draw and practice separately.
Use the actual restart location
A sideline entry near half court has different space from one near the baseline. Place the example where your situation begins and inspect the receiving window again. Walk the entry at a controlled pace, pause at the catch, and ask the receiver to identify the next passing option. Rehearse a covered first look rather than expecting the passer to improvise an alternative for the first time in a game.
Questions a coach might ask
What does SLOB mean?
Sideline out of bounds: a possession restarting from beyond a side boundary.
What if the first receiver is covered?
Use an available alternative and protect possession. Teach that decision during the walkthrough instead of forcing the illustrated pass.
Keep learning
For official development guidance, see USA Basketball’s Youth Basketball Guidelines. For another example of movement after a pass, see the Jr. NBA Post Pass and Cut Drill. These are further-reading resources; they have not reviewed or endorsed this HoopSketch example.
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