Court Movement & Spacing: Don’t Stand Around
Watch the great Bulls teams from the late ’80s and early ’90s. They had a system where one player could always pass to another player. The ball moved because the players moved.
The short version: don’t stand around while your team advances the ball. Stay close to your teammates, and they will pass you the ball.
The spacing principle
If all five players crowd one area, the defense only has to cover a small space. If players spread out and stay in passing range (12–15 feet apart), the defense has to stretch — and stretching creates gaps.
Good spacing means:
- Every player is within a reasonable pass of at least two teammates
- No two offensive players are standing next to each other
- When one player drives to the basket, others move to open spots — they do not stand and watch
Moving without the ball
This is the single biggest improvement most youth players can make. When you do not have the ball:
- Cut to open space. If your defender looks away, move to where you are open.
- Set screens. Stand still with your body between a teammate’s defender and the ball. This frees your teammate.
- Fill the vacated spot. When a teammate drives, slide to where they were — this keeps spacing balanced and gives the driver a passing option if their path is blocked.
The “stay close” rule for young kids
For peewee and youth leagues, strategy can be simple: stay within 15 feet of the teammate with the ball. Do not chase the ball. Do not all run to the same spot. Just stay close enough that a pass can reach you.
Related pages
- Playing Both Ways — offense and defense are not separate skills
- Passing — movement creates passing opportunities
- Rules by Level — court dimensions and rules change by age group