Sideline inbound plays
Sideline out-of-bounds (SLOB) plays with every step drawn, coaching points and a version you can add to your playbook.
See the playsAbout sideline out of bounds plays
A sideline out-of-bounds play (SLOB) inbounds from the sideline. In the frontcourt it can be a scoring play; late in a game, or against pressure, its first job is a safe catch for the right player.
Carry one of each: a set that scores, and a set that gets the ball in against full denial.
How to choose a sideline out of bounds play
- You need a score
- A back screen for a cut to the rim with the screener popping to the ball, or a stagger for your shooter.
- You need a three
- Staggered screens that bring your shooter to the top of the key, with the last screener slipping to the rim.
- Protecting a lead late
- Your best ball handler and free-throw shooter catching away from the basket, with a short option and a long release deep.
- Against full denial
- A screen for the receiver, a backdoor cut if they overplay, and a timeout before a five-second call.
What every good one has
- Receivers catch moving toward the ball and away from traps.
- Have a deep release: a long pass over the top beats a defense that denies everything short.
- The screener is the second option: open to the ball after the screen.
- Know your outlet before the official hands over the ball; count the five seconds.
The inbounder has five seconds to release the pass and must stay at the designated spot on a sideline throw-in. Backcourt and late-game rules differ by level: check your state association's rules.
15 plays
Back Screen Pop-Out
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A sideline play. 5 back screens the ball-side guard toward the far corner, then screens away so 4 can pop out for the entry pass. The inbounder cuts into a dribble hand-off from 4 and drives the lane, with the weak-side corner ready for a kick and 5 looping to the opposite block for a lob if his defender helps.
Back Screen Stagger Three
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A sideline play for a late three. 5 back screens the shooter's defender to send the shooter to the rim, then shapes up to receive the inbounds pass. 2 relocates off a staggered down screen from 4 and 3 to the opposite wing. The shooter's defender must trail through the stagger. If the top screener's defender switches out, 4 slips to the rim.
Box Double Down
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A half-court sideline play from a box. 5 steps out for the entry, 3 steps out for the reversal, and the inbounder runs the baseline off a double screen from the two block players to catch on the far wing. The second action is the counter: 5 and 3 stagger a double down screen for 2, who pops to the top for a catch-and-shoot three.
Four-Across Elbow Back Screen
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 4 steps
A four-frame sideline play from a four-across line just above the arc. 3 steps to the ball as the release while 5 dives to the block to post. 4 sprints to the elbow and back screens 3 for a lob at the rim. If the lob is covered, 4 re-screens for 1 and comes back to the ball, giving the inbounder two outlets. If 1 is denied, he back cuts off 4 for the layup.
Scissor Three
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 3 steps
A sideline play for a late three. 1 V-cuts to the ball while 4 and 2 scissor off 5 at the free-throw line to occupy the help. 5 then screens 4 back above the arc for a safe entry. The moment 4 catches, 5 re-screens for 2, who pops from the lane out to the far wing for the three. If the defense jumps the entry, 1 is on the ball-side sideline as the release.
Sideline Back Screen Lob
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A sideline out-of-bounds play for a last-second catch and finish. Three players stack on the left lane line. Two decoys, a cut to the near corner and a curl toward the ball, pull the defense away from the rim. Then the low player back screens for the screener, who cuts to the rim for a lob off the glass.
- Decoys first. 3 cuts to the near corner, running off the screen from 5. 4 curls around 5 toward the ball. 1 can pass to either one.
- The read is the back screen. 2 back screens 5's defender and 5 cuts to the rim. If 5's defender trails or switches late, 1 throws the lob high off the glass.
Sideline Baseline Screen Flare Three
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A sideline out-of-bounds three-point play. 3 cuts hard on the baseline off a screen from 5 while 4 flare screens for 1, and 5 shows back to the ball for the pass from 2, the inbounder. Then 4 screens for 2, who cuts hard to receive a pass from 5 for a three.
- - 3 cuts hard on the baseline off a screen from 5 - 4 flare screens for 1 - 5 shows back to the ball to receive a pass from 2
- - 4 screens for 2 cutting hard to receive a pass from 5 for a 3
Sideline Down Screen Stagger Three
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
Sideline out-of-bounds set using crossing cuts and a down-screen to free 1 for a catch-and-shoot three. If 1 cannot shoot, 5 clears and 2 runs off staggered screens from 4 and 3 for a second wing three.
- - 4 runs off 5 to the block, 2 repeats weakside. - 5 downscreens 1 for the catch and shoot 3pt.
- - If 1 can't shoot, 5 clears and 2 runs his defender off staggered screens from 4 and 3 looking for the 3pt on the wing.
Sideline Inbound Ball Screen Drive
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
Inbound to 5 as the weak side clears and 4 lifts to the corner. The action flows into a right-side ball screen for 5, with the primary read to attack the lane and the secondary read to hit the corner or the inbounder relocating weak side.
Sideline Safety Release
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A sideline out-of-bounds play near midcourt for getting the ball in safely against full-court man-to-man. Three players clear long and wide to pull their defenders away, and the fourth screens and then releases toward the inbounder for the safe catch.
- Clear the floor. 2 sprints the length of the court up the left side, 4 clears wide to the right, and 1 curls back toward the ball. 5 sets a screen near the inbounder.
- 5 releases toward the inbounder after the screen, hands up, and catches: the safe entry. The long and wide cuts have pulled the defenders away.
Sideline Screen-the-Screener Lob
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
End-of-game sideline inbound built around screen-the-screener action. 3 screens across for 2 to receive, then uses 4's back screen to cut to the rim; read the lob first, with 4's release as the secondary option.
Stagger Diagonal Entry
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A full-court sideline play near the far free-throw line extended. 3 and 4 set a staggered screen so 1 can catch the diagonal entry in the frontcourt. 1 dribbles into a hand-off for 2, 4 turns and screens the ball, and on the back side 3 back screens 5 for a lob. If the lob defender helps on the ball screen, throw the lob over the top.
Three-Look Pin Down
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 3 steps
A sideline play with three three-point looks. 2 pins down for 3 to pop to the top. Then a screen-the-screener sends 2 off a double from 4 and 5 to the corner. If both are covered, 5 pops back for a safe inbounds, 4 clears, and 3 back doors to the rim. The last option is 2 back screening for 1 to fade to the corner while 5 keeps a live dribble.
Triple Stagger Three
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 3 steps
A sideline play. 5 down screens for 1 to get the entry pass, then the inbounder (2) sprints the baseline off a triple stagger from 5, 4 and 3 for a catch-and-shoot three on the far side. If the shot is not there, it flows into a wing ball screen from 4 with 5 diving to the rim and 3 lifting to the weak-side corner. The read is the defender on the baseline run: trailed means shoot, jumped means come off the ball screen and attack the middle.
Wall Back Screen Cut
Version 1 · Ball Coach · 2 steps
A half-court sideline play from a three-player wall across the foul line. 1 breaks high off the wall to receive the ball. 2 back screens so 3 can enter off the sideline and cut to the rim. As 1 dribbles to the weak-side wing, 3 seals on the ball-side block and 4 and 5 flip into a double stagger for 2 at the top. Rim first, shooter second.