Best for
Creating a quick rim touch or corner shot from a compact box alignment.
5-on-5 set playHalf-court2 steps
BLOB Box Basketball Play
A baseline out-of-bounds box set with a screen-the-screener finish.
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When to call it
Use after timeouts, late-clock baseline inbound situations, or when the defense overplays the first cutter.
Main cue
Screen the defender, not the spot on the floor.
Step-by-step breakdown
Clear half-court diagrams explain what each player does, with movement, screens, and ball position labelled.
- 1
Start in a box.
Start in a box. 3 inbounds from the baseline while 4 screens across for 5.
- 2
5 dives to the rim.
5 dives to the rim. 3 hits the lob or bounce pass if the help stays late.
Coach's teaching guide
Use these notes to decide when to call the play, how to teach it, and how to adjust when the defense changes coverage.
BLOB Box is a baseline out-of-bounds alignment that gives young teams clear landmarks and quick options. Four players begin in a box, then screens and cuts create a layup, a corner shot, or a safe release to the top. The value is not trickery; it is a compact structure that players can run under pressure when the referee hands the ball to the inbounder.
When to call it
Use BLOB Box when the team needs a dependable baseline entry, especially after a timeout or when the defense is switching matchups. It works against man defense and can be adjusted against loose zone coverage. Because the players start close together, the action hides the first screen until the inbounder has the ball and the defense must react in a short space.
- Use it when you need a safe inbound before a special option.
- Use it when the defense face-guards your best scorer.
- Avoid it if players forget to screen before cutting.
Personnel fit
The inbounder should be a calm passer who can see over the first defender and avoid panic. The best cutter can start on either block depending on the option. A strong screener is important because the first contact often decides whether the layup window opens. Keep a reliable ball handler as the safety release so a missed first option does not become a five-second violation.
- Use your strongest passer as inbounder in late-game situations.
- Place a quick finisher on the first rim cut.
- Keep one shooter spacing to the corner after screening.
Primary reads
The inbounder reads inside-out. Look first for the cutter at the rim, then the player popping to the corner, then the safety release. If the defense switches the first screen, the screener should seal the smaller defender. If the defense stays attached to the cutter, the corner pop is usually open for a quick catch-and-shoot or immediate swing.
- Throw the layup only if the cutter wins the inside shoulder.
- Hit the corner when the low defender's back turns to the inbounder.
- Use the safety release before the four-count, not at the buzzer.
Teaching points
Baseline out-of-bounds plays are won before the pass. Teach players to set their feet, screen with purpose, and cut shoulder-to-shoulder. The inbounder should hold the ball high, use pass fakes sparingly, and keep the safety option in view. Players should also understand that a safe catch is a successful outcome if the defense takes away the layup.
- Practice with a loud five-second count from the coach.
- Make screeners hold their finish for one beat after contact.
- Teach the inbounder to step back from the line after made baskets when allowed.
Common mistakes
The biggest mistake is starting the cuts before the inbounder has the ball. That gives the defense time to recover and leaves no option when the count begins. Another mistake is everyone running toward the ball after the first read is covered. The box alignment needs one cutter, one pop, one seal, and one release, not four players in the same passing lane.
- Do not cut until the inbounder has eye contact.
- Do not let the safety release stand behind a defender.
- Do not force a bounce pass through the lane from the baseline.
Practice progression
Run BLOB practice in short pressure bursts. Give the offense five seconds, one first option, and one safety option. Add defenders who switch only after the offense can screen legally. Finish with score-and-stop segments: the offense must inbound, get a shot, then immediately defend a transition outlet so players connect special situations to the next possession.
- Track turnovers separately from missed shots in BLOB reps.
- Let the defense choose switch or trail so the inbounder must read.
- End each segment with one no-timeout rep to test recall.
Player responsibilities and adjustments
Use this section before practice so every player knows the job attached to their number.
1
Inbounder
Read the first shoulder, deliver safely, then step in as the pressure release.
2
Corner shooter
Set up the defender inside, then sprint to the corner with hands ready.
3
Rim cutter
Cut off the screen tight and expect the pass before looking back late.
4
Primary screener
Find the defender's chest, screen with balance, and seal after contact.
5
Second screener
Protect the inbound angle and become the last option at the rim.
Counters and adjustments
- If the defense switches every screen, slip the first screener to the rim before contact.
- If the corner is denied, throw back to the inbounder and flow into a quick pick-and-roll.
- If the rim cutter is held, use the second screener as a flash target in the middle.
Practice constraints
- Run each rep with a five-second count from the coach.
- The inbounder must make the safe pass if the first option is not open by count three.
- Alternate defense between switching and chasing so screeners learn the difference.
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