How to Attack a Man-to-Man Full Court Press in Basketball

There are several ways to break a Man-to-Man Full Court press. Following is an easy to learn press break that will lead to many easy baskets.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basketball team

1. Instruct your team that facing a full court press is an opportunity to score easy baskets. It is important that the team has an offensive attitude towards breaking a press. If the team becomes passive and just content with getting the ball across half court, the opposing team will have a huge advantage.

2. Get the ball out of bounds quickly. After a made basket, have your team take the ball out of bounds and start moving up the court before the pressing defense can get set up. If you want to see how this is done, watch a University of North Carolina game...as soon as the ball goes through the net, they are stepping out of bounds and getting the ball to the point guard. If you are unable to get the ball out of bounds before the defense gets set up, proceed to Step 3.

3. Choose the players to be in the following positions:
   A - Inbounder - able to throw long pass and decent ball handler
   B - good dribbler
   C - best dribbler
   D - fast player and good target for long pass
   E - good target for a pass

4. Get players into position:
   A - takes ball out of bounds
   B - positioned at elbow on same side as A (Elbow is the point where the free throw line intersects with the lane line)
   C - positioned at opposite elbow from A
   D - positioned 15 feet from B along the sideline
   E - positioned 15 feet from C along the sideline
   
   If positioned properly, you will have a straight line of four players across the court even with the free throw line

5. A slaps the ball to start the movement of B,C,D, and E.

6. D and E take two steps toward the baseline calling for the ball and then run straight toward the half court line. If either of these players is wide open, A should throw the long pass ahead. If they do not receive a pass, D and E position themselves in from the sideline and just beyond half court.

7. B sets a screen for A. A comes off the screen and towards the ball for a pass. After B sets the screen, he/she rolls toward the ball opposite from A.

8. A inbounds the ball to B or C and steps inbounds.

9. Player (B or C) with ball dribbles up his/her lane until stopped. The other player (B or C) stays even with them across the court. Player A stays in the middle of the court about 5 feet behind these players.
   
   If done properly, A-B-C form an equilateral triangle.

10. D and E flash to the middle of the court when the ball is opposite from them. The goal is to get a pass to one of them and start a fast break to the basket.

11. If the pass to D or E is not available, pass it back to A. A then moves it to the other side of the court. Continue moving the ball from side to side until the defense breaks down and leaves an opening to get the ball up the court. D and E are rotating into the middle depending on the side that the ball is on.

12. Be aggressive and try to score an easy basket as you should have an advantage after you have broken the press.

Tips & Warnings

• Passes should be no more than 15-20 feet unless there is a wide open player that a lob pass can be effective
• If you have a very good dribbler, you can allow this player to dribble up the court until he/she sees a double team coming.
• If D or E is wide open during the inbounds, the inbounder should throw a leading baseball pass so they can catch up to it and go in for a fast break lay-up