Screening is a key in many basketball offenses. If you can give a player some space to get his shot off uncontested it will increase that percentage by a good amount. Let’s cover some of the types of screens that are done and how they work.

1. Downscreen: This is a screen done when a player comes down toward the basket to set the screen and has a couple key components. First if you are the person who is setting the downscreen you want to bring your man up high with you and then go down to set the screen. The screen is set by making a wide base and grasping your left hand onto your right wrist or vice versa. Don’t move the shoulders or anything but make sure that solid contact is made. The offensive player needs to go close enough that he literally rubs shoulders with the screener. This is called shoulder to shoulder. The person setting the screen needs to really watch the defense to see what happens. If at any time the screeners defender goes to help then the screener needs to abandon or ’slip’ the screen and go to the basket. He’ll get a layup.

2. Flarescreen: As an offensive player this was my favorite to get shots from. A flarescreen takes place when the player benefitting from the screener flares to a spot because the defender is trying to go over the top side of the screen. The principle is the same in that if you are the screener you need to focus on your feet and hands and make sure your base is solid and that your hands are tied up. Don’t give the ref a chance to call a foul on you. As the screener you need to be aware of the players defense again and if he goes top side over you then let him go top side over you because a flare will be open. If the defender guarding the screener goes to help out then roll to the basket or slip the screen and all will be well again.

3. Backscreen: The most effective type of screen for a layup. This type of screen is set up by the cutter in bringing his defender into the screener. This is called a blind pick in some areas of the country because the cutters defender often runs or turns right into a wall. For a backscreen to be effective the screener must be set and not moving when the defender hits him because this type of screen is the most often type that is called for an offensive foul. The cutter should set his man up by taking him to a spot and waiting for the pick to be set up before cutting to the basket. If help defense is done then the screener should slip and roll to the basket.

If these types of screens are taught and done correctly then they will lead to good open shots. For coaches, don’t let your players practice screening either lazy or sloppy because they’ll get in games that way. A good screener should get 2-3 layups a game off either slips or rolls and sometimes that can make all the difference.

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