2 on 2. Base game(II).

Hi! Today we continue with the base game, but in this post we are going to talk about 2 on 2 situations and plays. 

In the 2 on 2 base-game we have both a 1 on 1 situation with the ball and a 1 on 1 situation without the ball.

This exercise may be used with children from the age of 8 using different methods and techinques according to the age group. In the 1 on 1 seen previously, the offensive player had only one possibility, that of beating the opponent by dribbling or shooting. Now in 2x2 the offensive player with the ball has more possibilities; he/she can also pass the ball to his/her unmarked teammate, while in defense one player still defends the ball handler while the other defends the player that is not in possession of the ball. The player in possesion of the ball must decide what to do, that is whether it is better to drrible, pass or shoot (according to the distance from the basket and from the defender).

The initial action conceived by the child undergoes changes, meaning that the child must modify his/her plan of action: try to beat his/her opponent or pass the ball to his teammate. To do all this, he/she must be endowed with techincal resources that he/she can make use of every time different situations arise during the games.

The player who has not the possession of the ball must attempt to become "unmarked", going where there is no direct opponent to receive the ball and occupy the empty spaces. He/she must move quickly on court, because if he/she does not move it would be easier for the defender to intercept the ball in the event of a pass (he/she should make dummies and point out where he/she wants the pass). 

Adding together the two situations, 1 on 1 with ball and 1 on 1 without ball, we have a new situation of 2 on 2 in offense and defense (collaboration play). In the 2 on 2 base-game, it is very important from a didactic point of view to initially limit the number of dribbles while holding the ball, obliging the player with the ball to pass the ball more often (passing is quicker than dribbling). 

It is very useful to propose outnumbering situations (2 on 1) in a playful form (in a large or a small area) to make children understand that it is better to pass the ball to an unmarked teammate rather than continue dribbling.

Often the player defending an attacker not handling the ball forgets about his/her opponent and goes towards the ball, leaving his/her opponent unmarked.This leads to the following situations:

• the player handling the ball is marked by two defenders;

• the attacker that is not in possession of the ball is unmarked, but he/she cannot receive the ball because the ball handler is in difficulty;

• the player that is not in possession of the ball goes towards the ball handler to recieve the ball;

• the ball handler finds it difficult to dribble or pass.

Pic1. 2 on 2 situation. by Will Tomas. From Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

It would be a good idea to tell the player who is not in possession of the ball not to come too close to the ball handler, because in doing so, he/she could also bring his/her defender closer to the ball (thus impeding the movements of his/her teammate).This becomes possible only when the ball handler is in difficulty and shouts «help», in which case his/her teammate can move closer to receive the ball (either to receive a pass or to get the ball directly from his/her teammate´s hands). The use of the «pivot foot» in these cases must be explained and the player should understand it without making the technique automated.

• The 2 on 2 base-game may be used obliging children to pass the ball without dribbling, then one can introduce dribbling and finally the possibility of shooting. The game can be points- or time-based.

The coach may function as referee, running the game and stopping it in the event of rule violations, teaching the rules and being tolerant with younger children about their mistakes.

The coach must observe how children play and single out the problems that occur, working on them before returning to the base-game (2 on 2-free) to verify whether the corrections made have led to improvements.

The situations to be proposed are 1 on 1 with ball, 1 on 1 without ball, 2 on 1, 1 on 1 with the coach´s support, 2 on 2 full-court, 2 on 2 half-court and 2 on 2 close to the basket.

As they play, the children will undoubtedly improve, trying out real-play situations (which they will later come across in games) and at the same time further developing their creativity and motor imagination.

• Deep analytical work of gestures and movements should be avoided at all costs, but it is important to make children aware of «what» they must do during the game «in both offense and defense», and the coach must help them to solve problem situations that arise while playing.

"Talent is never enough, with a few expectations the best players are the hardest workers" Magic Johnson.

References

FIBA (2000). Mini Basketball.The Base Game. En M.Mondoni, Basketball for young players. (pp 152-155). Madrid: Dikynson S.L. [Consultado en 20 de Abril 2015 en:  http://www.fiba.com/downloads/v3_expe/coac/bask4YounPlay/english/06.pdf.

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