BLOBs & SOBs The Key5 BLOBs & SOBs (Baseline Out of Bounds & Side Out of Bounds) course was created to help coaches gain an 8-10 point advantage per game in their special teams. In this course coaches will first see four different BLOB formations that can be run versus zone and man-to-man defenses with a total of four sets in each, for 16 total sets. For each formation there are three sets you can use against a man defense and one versus zone defense. Sam also shows a SOB formation with three different sets with multiple looks and options in each. A couple of reminders as you go through this course: • Each set is shown 5 v. 0. Layer your teaching of each set so that the important details are properly emphasized as you progress to 5 v. 5 competitive live action. • Be open to moving your personnel around to what best fits your team to create greater scoring opportunities. • Like everything, it’s more about the execution and how you do it than what you do. General Teaching Points • Each series was designed to keep the same formation which allows you to disguise which action you are going to run and makes it harder for teams to scout and prepare for. • Have your inbounder take a step off the line to ensure vision and good passing angles. • Teach your inbounder to have the ball in a powerful position and be ready to make a variety of different passes with or without a defender in front of them. • Teach your inbounder to wait to get into the inbounding position and receive the ball from the ref when their teammates are ready. This may include some clever stall tactics by your player. You’re trying to avoid your inbounder being handed the ball from the ref before everyone is on the same page and ready to execute. • When going 5 v. 0, it’s important for players to have an imagination so they execute game-like passes, screens, cuts and ball control in every rep.
Transcript
BLOBs & SOBs
The Key5 BLOBs & SOBs (Baseline Out of Bounds & Side Out of Bounds) course was created to help coaches gain an 8-10 point advantage per game in their special teams. In this course coaches will first see four different BLOB formations that can be run versus zone and man-to-man defenses with a total of four sets in each, for 16 total sets. For each formation there are three sets you can use against a man defense and one versus zone defense. Sam also shows a SOB formation with three different sets with multiple looks and options in each.
A couple of reminders as you go through this course:
• Each set is shown 5 v. 0. Layer your teaching of each set so that the important details are properly emphasized as you progress to 5 v. 5 competitive live action.
• Be open to moving your personnel around to what best fits your team to create greater scoring opportunities.
• Like everything, it’s more about the execution and how you do it than what you do.
General Teaching Points
• Each series was designed to keep the same formation which allows you to disguise which action you are going to run and makes it harder for teams to scout and prepare for.
• Have your inbounder take a step off the line to ensure vision and good passing angles.
• Teach your inbounder to have the ball in a powerful position and be ready to make a variety of different passes with or without a defender in front of them.
• Teach your inbounder to wait to get into the inbounding position and receive the ball from the ref when their teammates are ready. This may include some clever stall tactics by your player. You’re trying to avoid your inbounder being handed the ball from the ref before everyone is on the same page and ready to execute.
• When going 5 v. 0, it’s important for players to have an imagination so they execute game-like passes, screens, cuts and ball control in every rep.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 2
Box Series
Stack
• Simple, but effective, screen the screener action.
• Focus on the timing of the screens, emphasizing 5 screening up right away.
• Involve some cleverness to setup the first screen with 2 looking to screen in before using the screen from 4.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 3
Elevator
• This play can be used to get your shooter or inbounder a great look at the top of the key.
• The timing of the elevator screen is key so that there is not a moving screen called.
• There needs to be a connection and good timing between the inbounder and the 4 player who needs to be able to hold off their defender and come down with the ball on balance.
Back
• This set has a variety of actions, the main two being a back screen for a potential lob inside and a double-stagger for a shooter.
• Timing is key especially when ball reversals are combined with screening actions so that defenders can’t disrupt the play.
• If the 5 has an advantage inside this can be a great way to get them a 1 v. 1 opportunity deep in the post.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 4
3
• The weak-side shooter must sprint immediately upon the inbounder getting the ball from the referee. This ensures if they are not open the second action with the bigs slipping can happen.
Diamond Series
Regular
• The first option is to pass over the top of the defense to 3 –a great way to steal an easy basket. 3 can work on being clever and seeing if the defense will relax.
• If it’s not there, 3 should immediately set the back-screen to ensure a 5-second violation isn’t called.
• Feel free to put any player in the 3 spot who you think has a mismatch or an advantage.
• For the screen the screener action to be effective, it’s important to have 4’s screen at the same time as 3’s backscreen. This would also allow 5 to use 4’s screen instead of 3’s as a wrinkle within the same play if 5 can shoot from the perimeter.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 5
Fish
• The “fish” set with floppy action is great for getting a good shooter/scorer the ball off the inbounds. You will want to place a good shooter as the inbounder in this set.
1-4 Low Series
Regular
• Again with the intitial pass and angle, be mindful of who you put on the ball-side block along with the timing and ability to hold off their defender.
• The inbounder wants to come off that screen quickly after the pass is made to 5.
• The shot for the inbounder will likely be a quick catch and shoot, layup or floater type shot.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 6
Back
• Having the right timing of both the drift by 5 and the screen up by 4 is essential.
• 2 lifting out of the corner will help keep their defender from pinching in and helping on the action inside.
Cross
• Emphasize the timing of the low forward coming off the cross-screen as the DHO exchange is taking place.
• The last action is a good pin-down where the 1 can read how their defender is playing as well as how 5’s defender helps.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 7
1-4 High Series
Regular
• It’s important that the screener creates a good angle by taking 1 to 2 steps towards the baseline.
• Adjust the screening angle to take advantage of how the defense is playing it.
• Designate the 2 or 3 as a safety in case you have trouble getting it in and know who’s the get back or safety on transition defense with everyone being across the baseline when the ball is inbounded.
Curl - (“C”)
• Both cutters need to come off tight and quick. The key is the speed of the cutters. If the screener’s defender becomes detached from their player, the screener can look for the slip.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 8
Invert
• This action can be effective if you have a 4 or 5 that can shoot the 3. Defenders of forwards aren’t usually as equipped to defend flare screen action which can create good 3pt looks for you in this set.
Zone Series
Box v. Zone
• A teaching point or phrase you can use with your players is “screen first, seal and slip second.”
• Make sure your players understand which players in the zone to screen.
• Not all zone defenses are created equal. Help your players understand the principles behind the zone so they can make the proper reads.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 9
Diamond v. Zone
• In the Diamond and 1-4 high formations, it’s important that the ball-side forward occupies the middle defender on their dive. The inbounder must read the weak-side defender on whether they fight inside the post or play behind.
1-4 Low v. Zone
• The forwards are hunting the two low defenders to screen and create a gap for the ball-side wing coming for a short jumper or floater.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 10
SOB Series
The three set plays introduced here are “fist”, “thumbs up”, “side thumb/waggle”. The regular fist look can be run the first few times in a game. After the defense gets used to the same actions, you can surprise them with a different look and execution. Fist
• The 2 player should take off to ball-side corner immediately while the 4 screening across after a 1-second delay.
1-4 High v. Zone
• The forwards are hunting the two low defenders to screen and create a gap for the ball-side wing coming for a short jumper or floater.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 11
Thumbs Up
• Screen the screener action that puts 4’s defender in a decision box.
• The 5 needs to flash hard to ball to occupy their defender so the weakside lob is open.
• If there is a mismatch created by a matchup or switch the 3 should look to throw the pass over the top to 4 or visa versa to 2, whoever has the advantage over their defender even if they’re closely guarded.
Side Thumb/Waggle
• The guard should have an agressive, attack mentality to score or engage two defenders.
BLOBs & SOBs p. 12
Conclusion
It’s always good to take a look inside your own program and playbook.
• Make sure you have a deep understanding of how you did or do in running your special teams both offensively and defensively.
• Find common themes for your team and your opponents.
• Think about your personnel and what fits your team’s talent the best.
Lastly, success lies in the little things and how you execute. Your ability as a coach to get your players to understand the importance of taking pride in executing their job is critical to the team’s success and failure. Knowing that you can steal 8-10 points per game by improving this area of your program could be the difference in making a deeper run into the post-season or having your season end early.
