How to Play Basketball:
Basic Skills for Effective Offensive Players

Learning how to play basketball is not just about shooting and passing and ballhandling. Of course these skills should be a major aim of every player, and teaching them should be a major focus of every coach. And while the importance of these skills are not about to be debated here, there is another skill set that gets less press but is of equal importance - offensive movement.

Being able to move well on offense is a necessary basketball fundamental skill. Some aspects of offensive movement receive proper focus in youth sports - skills such as basic footwork, how to stop without travelling, etc. - but many other of these very important skills tend to be neglected, especially at the varsity level. I'm going to guess that many coaches feel that, at the varsity level, players should know how to perform these fundamental skills already and therefore don't need the practice. I know I have been guilty of this in the past.

But the truth is, players at every level need to consistently be practicing these basic fundamental skills if they want to excel. Even players that perform them well already can always use a refresher.

I don't believe it is an exaggeration to say that the player unable to perform these skills effectively will almost certainly be unable to contribute offensively to his team. Review the pages below for the skills and drills most important to playing a solid, all-round game, and check out UMass Coach Derek Kellogg's video package of basketball drills for some very effective drills.

How to Play Basketball: Offensive Fundamentals

Setting Screens and Running Pick 'n Roll Plays

• The Fundamentals of Setting Good Screens
  
  
• Types of Screens
  
  
• Scoring Opportunities with Pick 'n Roll Plays
  
  
• Basic Practice Drills for Pick n Roll Plays
  
  

Give and Go Fundamentals

• The Fundamentals of Effective Give and Go Plays
  
  
• Basic Practice Drills for Give and Go Plays
  
  

Fakes and Cutting Fundamentals

• The Fundamentals of Cutting and Faking
  
  
• Basic Practice Drills for Cutting and Faking
  
  
• Practice Drills for Fakes and Jab Steps with the Ball
  

Any basketball play is some combination of these moves, so by practicing these fundamental skills, players are really preparing for game situations. Players cannot learn how to play basketball if they can't perform these fundamental offensive movements.

And if you want to see some great drills put to practice, check out these drills run by a star coach that will help your team grow its skills.

Be sure your players are able to perform these movements well before introducing any offensive plays - strong fundamentals will lead to solid play-making, but even the best set play in the country can't help a player unable to execute proper fundamental movements.