Published in Rupp's Championship Basketball 2nd Edition, 1957, pp. 119-122

by ADOLPH RUPP

Basketball continuites are used most successfully by teams with a slow set style of game. However, some fast-break teams make good use of a continuity when they fail to get the desired situation for a shot at the goal. There are many different continuous-action plays but the accompanying diagrams (Charts 60 and 61) explain only the one we use.

Continuity plays are very effective especially in the sections where close screening is permitted. There are three-man continuities and five-man continuities. They need not necessarily be as exact as the one that is diagrammed here because the freedom style of offense that is taught by some coaches is really a continuous movement and therefore may be considered a continuity.

Our most successful continuity is our figure eight with its variations. This play is very valuable to any coach as a fundamental drill, as an offensive play, or as a stall game or possession game. The drill gives the boys stamina and endurance and helps teach the lay-up shot when going in with the greatest speed.

Charts 60 and 61

This five-man figure eight, showing three men out and two in, gives a team a good pass and cut game with an equal distribution of the five players over the front court leaving the middle lane to the goal open for the cutting.

It is possible to run this continuity and instantly go to our pattern from which we are confident we can score. Making this play occasionally during a game has a tendency to loosen up a defense by changing our offensive assignments. We have three boys who can play the pivot position; therefore, by running this continuity we can switch our players and bring any of these three to the pivot. This may cross up the opponents' defense.

The movement starts when our team has tried a fast break and has failed to get the shot, or when it has brought the ball down slowly and got set in our positions as in Chart 60A. The ball moves to the player cutting from the sideline and the passer cutting for the goal. If the passer gets open he should be given a lead pass as he goes to the comer of the front court on the opposite side of the court that he cuts from, as in Chart 60B. Player 4 passes to 5 who meets the pass. No.4 cuts for the goal and, if open, receives lead pass from 5. If 4 does not get open he goes to the right comer. - Player 5 now passes the ball to 3 and cuts for the goal. If 5 does not receive pass, he cuts to corner as is shown in Chart 60C. The play continues as is shown through Charts 60 and 61.

Should your opponents play away from you, good medium length shots may be taken, or if they use a "pressure" defense the short shots should be gotten. This play is very good if you have a lead going into the last stages of the ball game. It is a good stall play and will make the zone defense come out and play man for man if they get a chance at the ball. When each player has played each spot and moved as he should, the action has gone through a figure eight movement. In Chart 61F it will be shown how easy' it is to set up a pivot post offense from this variation, and that is our basic formation.

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