Setting Picks: Youth Basketball Basics

how to set a pick in basketball youth

The pick and roll, also known as the screen and roll, is one of the simplest and most effective offensive plays in basketball. It involves an offensive player setting a screen for a teammate to free them up for a pass or shot. Setting a good pick is a difficult skill to master, but it's important to create an open look on the pick and roll. To set a good pick, players must be stationary, with their feet set and arms within their shoulders, and communicate the pick to their teammate. The angle and timing of the pick are also critical factors. Mastering the pick and roll can be a powerful tool for any basketball team, from youth to professional levels.

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Be stationary before the offensive player comes off your pick

Setting a good pick is a difficult skill to master, but it can create many opportunities to score. When setting a pick, it is important to be stationary before the offensive player comes off your pick. If you are moving as you set the pick, it is considered an illegal screen and will result in an offensive foul. To be stationary, you must first pick a spot on the court and let the offensive player run off your pick. It is important to communicate the pick to the offensive player by raising your hand and calling out their name. This will ensure they are ready to utilize the pick effectively.

While being stationary, you should position your body in an athletic stance with your knees bent. This will allow you to absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around the pick. Make sure to keep your feet set and not moving, as moving your feet can result in a turnover. Your arms should be within your shoulders, and you should not extend them towards the defender. Instead, place your hands in a position to protect yourself.

As the offensive player comes off the pick, they should get low and bring their shoulders to the same height as yours. This will prevent the defender from knocking them off their path. Additionally, the offensive player should think "curl" as they come off the pick. This will create an aggressive mentality that will be challenging for the defender to guard.

By being stationary when setting a pick, you provide a solid foundation for the offensive player to work with. This allows them to utilize the pick effectively and create scoring opportunities for themselves or their teammates. Remember, mastering the art of setting picks takes time and practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right away.

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Protect yourself and keep your arms within your shoulders

When setting a pick in basketball, it's important to protect yourself. This means placing your hands in a position on your body to protect yourself, but also ensuring that your arms are within your shoulders. Do not extend your arms towards the defensive player, as this is not considered a legal position if contact occurs.

To set a pick effectively, you should position your body in an athletic stance, with your knees bent, so you can absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around. As you come off the pick, get low and bring your shoulders to the same height as the player. This will prevent the defender from knocking you off your path and will help you maintain balance.

It's important to note that you should be stationary before the offensive player comes off your pick. If you are moving while setting the pick, it is an illegal screen, and a foul will be called.

Additionally, when setting a pick, you want to create as much separation as possible between yourself and your defender. This will decrease their ability to provide help to their teammate and increase the chances of creating an open shot opportunity.

By keeping your arms within your shoulders and following these other tips, you can effectively set a pick while also protecting yourself and maintaining a legal position.

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Communicate the pick to the offensive player

To communicate the pick to the offensive player, the ball handler must first communicate with one other offensive player to set a pick for them. This can be done verbally or through non-verbal hand signals such as raising a fist in the air or raising a hand and calling out the player's name. This will let the offensive player know that the pick is coming.

It is important to be clear and concise when communicating with youth basketball players. Use simple language and avoid jargon or complicated instructions. Ensure that your players understand what is being asked of them.

Additionally, when an offensive player is going to set the screen, they should explode towards the position of the screen to gain an extra step or two on their opponent. This will create further separation and give the defence less time to react.

It is also crucial to be patient when setting a pick. The ball handler should wait for the picker to get set before exploding past the pick. This will ensure that the timing of the pick and subsequent offensive moves is well-coordinated.

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Set your feet and bend your knees

Setting a good pick is a difficult skill to master, but it's important to create an open look on the pick and roll. While setting a pick, it is important to set your feet and bend your knees.

When setting a pick, your feet must be stationary and firmly planted on the ground. Moving your feet while setting a pick will result in a turnover or an offensive foul. It is also important to pick an area and let the offensive player run off your pick.

As the player approaches the person they are picking, they need to position their body in an athletic position with their knees bent so they can absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around. This will allow the ball handler to dribble past the defender and create an open lane.

The angle of the pick is also important. The player setting the pick should position themselves with their back facing the corner of the court. This makes it difficult for the defender to slip under the screen and gives the dribbler an advantage when attacking.

Additionally, the player setting the pick should create as much separation as possible between themselves and their defender before setting the screen. This will decrease the ability of the defender to provide help and increase the chances of the dribbler getting an open shot.

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Be patient and keep the dribble alive

When setting a pick in basketball, it is important to be patient and keep the dribble alive. This is key to executing a successful pick and roll, which is an effective offensive play that can be used at all levels of basketball.

The pick and roll involves two offensive players and is designed to create an open shot or force a switch in the defence, causing a mismatch. The ball handler must communicate with the other offensive player to set a pick, and this can be done through a verbal signal or a non-verbal hand signal. Once the pick is set, the ball handler should attack the basket, forcing the defender to switch onto them.

To keep the dribble alive, the ball handler should maintain a low, defensive stance with their feet shoulder-width apart and their knees bent. This protects the ball and gives the player mobility. They should use their fingertips, not their palm, to control the ball, and keep their head up to observe their teammates, the defender, and the basket. The ball handler should be able to dribble, pass, or shoot at any time, and should wait for the picker to get set before exploding past the pick.

The picker, meanwhile, should turn their outside shoulder towards the side the ball handler went and then roll to the basket, keeping the defender on the outside. This creates separation and opens up scoring opportunities. The picker should also be stationary before the offensive player comes off the pick, and communicate the pick to the offensive player by raising their hand and calling out their name.

By being patient and keeping the dribble alive, the players can effectively execute the pick and roll, creating scoring opportunities and causing mismatches in the defence.

Frequently asked questions

A pick, also known as a screen, occurs when an offensive player blocks or screens a defender to free up another offensive player for a shot or pass.

The player setting the pick should have their feet stationary and wider than shoulder-width, with their knees bent. Their arms should be within their shoulders, and they should not lean into the defender.

The angle and timing of the pick are critical. The picker should anticipate the direction of their offensive teammate and make contact with the defender to block their path. The picker should also create separation from their defender before setting the screen to give the ball handler more space.

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