Group Drill: the Pick and Roll

In this video, you will learn an exercise to help you practice pick and roll situations.

To understand this exercise fully, you'll need to know what a screen is in basketball. To find out more, check out our video "Setting and using a screen".

To master this exercise, work on these two points: Offence and defense.

Firstly, the offence.

One player stands with the ball in line with the two baskets behind the 3 point line, facing a defender.

A second offense player stands at the low post, with a defender next to them.

The aim of the team on offense is to score, dribbling as little as possible.

To start the exercise, the second player on offense comes to set a screen for the ball carrier.

At this point, the ball carrier can attack the basket using no more than 7 dribbles.

The ball carrier should first try to prepare a shot. This can be from the three point line, after a dribble or whilst moving.

To make the best use of the screen, the offense players should be practically touching when the ball carrier starts dribbling.

Depending on the defense, if the ball carrier hasn't managed to shoot, they should help ltheir partner.

After setting their screen, the partner can receive the ball by turning towards the basket.

They can also turn outwards to receive the ball wide of the basket.

If they receive the ball, they're only allowed one dribble before they try to score.

Secondly, the defense.

The aim of the defense is to prevent the offense from taking easy, unopposed shots.

When the screen is set, the defender marking the player who set the screen should shout"left screen" or "right screen" to their teammate so that they can anticipate it.

To avoid presenting the offense with an open basket, the defender marking the ball carrier should try to get over the screen, to get closer to their opponent.

Be careful- in this situation, the offense player will easily be able to outrun their defender, so the two defenders will have to work together to prevent the offense.

If the offense player is quick, the defender can also try to pass under the screen, meaning getting away from their defender.

In this situation, however, the attacker will have enough space to try a long-distance shot.

The defender marking the player setting the screen can shout "Change" if they see their teammate has been outrun. In this case, the defenders switch the players they're marking.

They can also call "Guard" if they see that their teammate is managing to defend despite the screen. In this case, the defenders stick to their marked players.

In the meantime, they need to stand between the two players to prevent any passing and to stop the ball carrier from dribbling.

You can also do this exercise on one side of the court by starting behind the three point line. Over to you!