Step-In Ball Screen
A baseline out of bounds play against man-to-man or switching defense: 2 steps with diagrams and coaching points.
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How it works
A baseline play that becomes a side ball screen. 5 steps up the lane for a high entry, the inbounder steps onto the floor to get it back on the wing, then 5 climbs into a ball screen and rolls. If the low defenders help off the weak-side shooters, the roll to the rim is open; if they stay home, the ball handler has a lane to the middle.
When to use it
Under your basket, against man-to-man or a defense that switches, when you have a ball handler who can attack off a screen and a big who rolls to the rim.
Personnel
5 is the entry target and the screener, and must roll to the rim with hands ready. 1 is the inbounder and ball handler, who steps in for the return pass and then uses the screen. 4 and the weak-side shooters space the floor so their defenders are pulled away from the rim.
Step by step
Step 1. Diagram only.
Step 2. Diagram only.
Reads
- First read. 5 rolling to the rim off the ball screen. Pass to the roll if the low defenders help off the shooters.
- Second read. The ball handler attacking the middle if the low defenders stay home.
Counter
If they switch the ball screen, the roll becomes a post-up on a smaller defender: get the ball to 5 early on the block.
Teaching cues
- Inbounder: step in as soon as the ball is passed, and call for the return.
- 5: climb to the screen, set it with your feet set, then roll with your hands up.
- Shooters: stay spaced, do not let your defender sag into the lane.
Use this play
- Version
- 1 (current), approved October 1, 2026
- Published by
- Ball Coach
- Source
- Published by Ball Coach under its first-party license, credited to Ball Coach. Released as a fixed version; any later edit gets a new version number.
- Use
- Free to view, print and add unchanged to your playbook.
Topics
- Baseline out of bounds
- Man-to-man
- Switching defense
- Ball screen
- Give-and-go
- Lob
- Roll
- High post