Inbound Plays

🏀 Team Offense: Inbound Plays

The Secret Weapon Nobody Sees Coming

Imagine you’re at a birthday party. The cake is on the table, but there’s a wall of kids blocking the way. How do you get to the cake? You need a plan—a sneaky path to reach your goal!

In basketball, inbound plays are exactly like that. When the ball goes out of bounds, your team gets to start fresh with a clever plan to score. It’s like having a secret handshake with your teammates that the other team doesn’t know!

🎯 What Are Inbound Plays?

Think of the basketball court as your backyard. When the ball flies over the fence (out of bounds), someone has to throw it back in. But here’s the cool part—you get 5 whole seconds to make magic happen!

Two Types of Inbound Plays:

1. Sideline Inbound - Throwing from the long side of the court
2. Baseline Inbound - Throwing from under the basket

It’s like having two different doors to enter your house. Each door has its own advantages!

📍 Sideline Inbound Plays

What Is It?

Picture the basketball court like a swimming pool. The sidelines are the long edges—the ones that run from one basket to the other. When the ball goes out here, you throw it back in from the side.

Why It’s Special

You can move! When throwing from the sideline, the passer can walk along the line (like a crab walking sideways). This gives you more options to find an open friend!

The “Stack” Play

     🏀 (Passer on sideline)
      |
   [4][3][2][1]  ← Players lined up
      |
   --------

How It Works:

1. Four teammates line up in a tower (one behind another)
2. On the signal, everyone scatters like surprised birds
3. One player pops out to catch the ball
4. Easy pass, easy catch!

Real Example: The passer stands at mid-court. Four teammates stack near the three-point line. At “GO!”, the first player cuts to the basket, the second goes to the corner, the third pops out for the ball, and the fourth sets a screen.

The “Box” Play

   [1]     [2]
      🏀
   [3]     [4]

How It Works:

1. Four players make a square (like corners of a box)
2. The passer slaps the ball (the secret signal!)
3. Players cross and switch spots
4. Someone gets open in the confusion!

Real Example: Players at four corners. When the ball is slapped, player 1 and 2 switch spots, while 3 and 4 do the same. The chaos creates an open player!

🎪 Baseline Inbound Plays

What Is It?

The baseline is the short line under each basket—where all the action happens! When you throw in from here, you’re super close to scoring.

Why It’s Extra Exciting

You’re just feet away from the hoop! A good baseline play can lead to an easy basket faster than you can say “slam dunk!”

The “UCLA” Cut

        [BASKET]
     [Screen Player]
          ↓
    [Cutter] → → → 🏀

   (Passer under basket)

How It Works:

1. One teammate sets a wall (screen) near the basket
2. Another teammate runs around that wall
3. The defender gets stuck behind the wall
4. WIDE OPEN layup!

Real Example: The passer stands under your own basket. A big player sets up near the hoop. A quick guard runs around them, gets the ball, and scores an easy layup!

The “Backdoor” Play

   [BASKET]
       |
   [Defender: X]
       |
   [Your Player] ← First, fake going OUT
       |
       ↓ Then CUT IN!
      🏀

How It Works:

1. Your teammate pretends to run away from the basket
2. The defender follows (fooled!)
3. Suddenly, your teammate reverses and runs TO the basket
4. Perfect pass, easy score!

Real Example: A player stands at the three-point line. They take two steps toward the corner (the defender follows). Then—SURPRISE—they spin and sprint to the basket for a pass and layup!

The “Screen and Roll”

        [BASKET]
           |
    [Screener] ← Sets wall
         /
   [Cutter] ← Runs past wall
         |
        🏀 (Passer)

How It Works:

1. A tall player becomes a human wall
2. A quick player runs past this wall
3. The wall-maker then rolls to the basket
4. Two players open—pick one!

Real Example: Your center sets a screen near the free-throw line. Your point guard uses the screen to get open. After the pass, the center rolls toward the basket for a possible pass and dunk!

🔑 The Golden Rules of Inbound Plays

For the Passer:

• Don’t rush! You have 5 seconds—use them wisely
• Make eye contact with who you’re passing to
• Fake passes to confuse defenders
• Use your voice to call out the play

For the Receivers:

• Be on time to your spot—not early, not late
• Set strong screens (be a solid wall!)
• Catch the ball with two hands
• Look before you move after catching

🌟 Why Inbound Plays Matter

Think about it: In a close game, you might have 10-15 inbound situations. If your team knows secret plays and the other team doesn’t—that’s like having a cheat code!

The Best Teams:

• Practice inbound plays every day
• Have different plays for different situations
• Change plays so opponents can’t predict them

🎮 Quick Comparison

🏆 Pro Tips

1. “Stack” and “Box” are your bread and butter for sideline plays
2. “UCLA Cut” is the classic baseline play every team should know
3. Mix it up! Don’t run the same play twice in a row
4. Timing is everything—move at the same moment as your teammates

🎬 Putting It All Together

graph TD
    A["Ball Out of Bounds"] --> B{Where?}
    B -->|Long Side| C["Sideline Inbound"]
    B -->|Under Basket| D["Baseline Inbound"]
    C --> E["Stack Play"]
    C --> F["Box Play"]
    D --> G["UCLA Cut"]
    D --> H["Backdoor Play"]
    D --> I["Screen & Roll"]
    E --> J["Score!"]
    F --> J
    G --> J
    H --> J
    I --> J

💡 Remember This Forever

Sideline = Side of the pool (you can walk along it) Baseline = The goal line (right under the basket)

Both are chances to outsmart the other team with your secret plays!

Now you know the secrets that coaches spend years learning. Practice these plays with your friends, and watch how easy it becomes to score from out-of-bounds situations. You’re no longer just “throwing the ball in”—you’re executing a master plan! 🎯🏀