Pivotman’s alphabet
Faculty of Sports Studies of Masaryk University
Mgr. Tomáš Pětivlas, Ph.D.

Getting Open without a Ball

Engagement for the position in the paint for pass receiving in a low-post and movement of the pivot in the paint

Getting Open is an action, which aim is to gain such a position or a stance, from which player can catch a ball passed by his teammate. It forms the major part of individual’s action in offense. It is not physically complicated and demanding. The base element is a running movement or its variation. It is not necessary using of strength features as starts, braking, sudden stop, changes of direction, speed, motion turnovers, jab-steps etc. Practise is simple and specific exercises are not necessary, on the other hand this pivot’s activity is underestimated beside the others. We can place it together with other warming exercises. It gets specific form in relation to the other actions.

According to our opinion it is the first and basic part of pivotman’s alphabet. Player’s cutting close to the basket is characteristic by using more contact game than at the perimeter. Therefore we call that as an engagement for a position.

Training methodology:

• Choosing the position for press – by the way player can choose cut to both sides or according to defender stance or ball position (Fig. 2)

• Choosing the way to get in the post-position – by L cut (Fig. 3), taking defender slowly away from the ball and then cut quickly to position – V cut (Fig. 4) or with turn (Fig. 5) or cutting down from high-post – S cut (Fig. 6) – passive defender can be added to make movement of forward more difficult.

• How to get open to position when the ball is at high post: By the contact and turn in front of defender – jab step (Fig. 7) x behind the defender – step across (Fig. 8) x directly in front of defender – step-up (Fig. 9) x cut for lob pass – step-up toward (Brown, Callero, 2003) (Fig. 10).

Movement of centre in the paint is linked with illustration above; in following figures (11–16) we refer to move after other actions (pass, screen, dribbling).

Exercise focused on engagement for a position

Exercise description

Four players, one ball, covering of the player in the paint, two passers, a coach, a forward and a defender; switching of passers, forward and defender is directed by a coach.

Forward without ball goes for pass in the paint (Fig. 17). Three second rule applies. Players at perimeter are free to make passes with an aim to pass to the forward in the paint. The forward tries to posture good position between the defender and a ball together with good position for receiving the ball.

We recommend during the practise

• Set the way of forward covering
• Indicate the banned pass for players at perimeter (lob, overhead pass)
• To choose position for pass to pushing player in low-post under extended free-throw line
• Not to continue with 1/1, after pass ball goes back to the passers

Critical parts:

• Tendency to push the defender utmost under the basket, wide base and low centre of gravity, elbows away from a body
• Inducing contacts, faking by look or turning a head
• Side defence – work with forearm of contacting arm
• Offensive player should stand the pressure from the defender and to point for ball by a free hand
• During defence from the front, how to step the defender and keep him behind
• Use of turn cut when side or front defence before receiving pass
• Reaction to change of ball position (modification of attitude to ball and basket according to strong and weak side)