A useful animated play shows two things: where players move and when they move. For your first diagram, try a pass and screen away. It is a small enough action to check every position without getting lost in a full offense.
This walkthrough uses the Elite Hoops basketball play designer. You can create in a browser or use our iOS apps.
Watch the action first
In a screen away, a player passes the ball and screens for a teammate away from the pass. Watch this example, then replay it with your attention on the screener and cutter rather than the ball.
Your team's spacing and reads may differ. Use the example as a reference for the action, not a requirement to copy every position.
1. Place the players and ball
Start a play and choose a court that matches the space you want to show. Place the passer, receiver, screener, and cutter in their starting spots. Include the other players when their spacing affects the action.
For this example, think about three jobs: the ball moves to a receiver, the passer moves away to screen, and a teammate uses that screen. Check that everyone has room before adding arrows.
2. Draw the pass and the screen
Add the pass to the receiver. Then draw the passer's movement toward the teammate who will use the screen, using the screen symbol to make the action clear.
A pass line and a player movement path explain different things. Check which one you are drawing so the diagram shows both the ball's destination and the player's route.
3. Add the cutter's next step
Build the next step to show the cutter using the screen. A curved path can help show a curl; another route may better explain a straight cut or a back cut. Choose the read you want to teach first rather than putting every option in the same diagram.
Add a short note such as “wait for the screen” or “read the defender.” Keep the note focused on the decision a player needs to make at that point in the play.
4. Preview and adjust
Play the sequence, then scrub the timeline to inspect the action. Look for three things:
- Does the pass finish before the next action depends on it?
- Is the screener in position before the cutter reaches the screen?
- Do the other players leave space for the receiver and cutter?
If something looks crowded, adjust the positions or paths. If the action looks rushed, review the steps and timing. A clean diagram is useful, but an animation that teaches the intended sequence is the goal.
5. Save it and get it to your players
Give the play a name you will recognize later and organize it in your playbook. With Pro, send a public link for browser playback without a viewer account, or export a video, images, or PDF.
Open the shared play on your phone before sending it to the group. Check that the notes are readable and that the action still makes sense on a smaller screen.
Build the practice around the action
Once the play is clear, use practice planning to organize the reps that teach it. You might isolate the pass and screen first, then add the cutter's read before running the complete set.
For more actions to draw, explore 37 basketball screens with animated examples. To start building your own, open the basketball play designer or review Elite Hoops Pro pricing.
