Run and Gun: A Blog in Transition Offense

Transition offense is critical for a team to start to put big time scoring numbers on the board. Scoring all your goals in the arc, in settled offense, can be tough at times. If we look to get some quick ones in transition, it can really open up the floodgates.

Let’s take a look at Boston College’s win vs Virginia and show how they attack in transition. Below, I share a quick checklist of things that I try to promote to my players when it comes to transition offense:

1. Get Up and Out!
2. Recognize Numbers
3. Read the Slide, Hit the Point(s)
4. Follow the Slides
5. Be a threat!
6. Trailers - Finish your Cuts!
7. Test the Waters- look for “Green” situations in even numbers

Our mindset in transition is to attack. As soon as we make a save, or a caused turnover, let’s look to get up and out. The more we race to get upfield, and move it ahead upfield, we can create opportunities in lower number odd or even situations.

Odd Situations

In this first clip, Rachel Hall throws an absolute dime of an outlet pass to the midfield line.

This triggers an advantage in transition. As they push the situation, notice 2 middies get ahead to create a 6v4. This is where BC does a great job of recognizing numbers, reading the slide, and hitting the point.

Both point defenders slide, and BC hits the point. Because Charlotte North is such a step down threat, she is comfortable stepping in for the time and room off the first pass. Notice the pump fake. These are key for players to incorporate into their arsenals. You can manipulate the slides and use them to open up lanes, freeze rotations, and deceive defenders. I love how she pumps the “one more” look and steps in! Be a threat!

This next clip demonstrates another great example of getting up and out of a caused turnover.

Watch how quickly the BC player in the 8 meter hustles to get ahead of the ball. She gets rewarded with the upfield pass, and triggers another 54 scenario. Instead of sprinting all the way by yourself, let the ball do the work!

BC quickly gets into a box setup as they hustle to their spots. The slide comes early from the righty point, and now the defense is rotating. The “one more” pass to the base is a good look, and we can also see the 3rd slide quickly rotating cross crease (more on this later).

One thing I think is key to emphasize here once the rotation happens is “following the slide”. If we wait for it, we afford the defenders shorter slides. If we follow the slide, we make those slides longer and at tougher angles. UVA’s crease defender does a great job of arriving on hands with the pass to the base, however the initial BC transition starter does a fantastic job of finishing her cut to the ball. Great look inside for the finish. Trailers - finish your cuts!

Let’s take our reads to the next level now to elevate our decision making in these scenarios.

If we draw both high defenders, we can usually hit either point attacker if we are in a box. If we draw one, the defense helps us make that decision. Here, we hit the lefty point. If we don’t have 2 lefties, we can run this with a righty. However, it gets tougher when that base slider rotates up if we don’t give ourselves proper spacing (and follow slides). The more defenses delay sliding (and sliding upfield), the shorter the slides will be and more chance for midfielders to get in the hole.

These slides occur farther out, giving BC time and space to read. The last clip we saw “one more” to the base. Here, the point attacker does a fantastic job of reading the cross crease rotation. She looks towards the base, and then fires a skip pass to the pipe! This is a sick look, and the feed was on the money. Notice how the BC base attacker follows the slide and stays tight, not allowing #3 to rotate down in time from North!

Lastly, BC recognizes a slide upfield and hits the point. With the trailer continuing to run the field, they throw back and allow her to skip it from the point. When players balance hitting the singles with the home runs, they tend to push for better looks. This is a great read on the skip, and North is a possible option on a slight fade. The one more cross crease is open too, as all players are in sync as they push tempo.

As a quick recap, here are 4 simple looks the point attacker can hit once she catches high off the slide:

1. Step in to shoot
2. “One more” to the base
3. Skip to the opposite base
4. Give and go/hit the trailer

These decisions and spacing allow BC to run and gun and push breaks. Let’s take a look at some decisions we can make if uneven numbers aren’t as clear.

Even Situations

When we recognize a 4v4, a 5v5, sometimes a 6v5, and a 6v6 situation, I like to refer to these as great times to give a teammate a “green” call, which is our lingo to dodge and attack a matchup. In these even break situations, defenses are typically less settled, slides are less ready, and slides are longer. If numbers are even and the defense hasn’t rotated, let’s “test the waters”!

This first clip, BC is actually a woman down on the break. We can still test! It’s a great dodge down the alley and she draws the adjacent slide. The base attacker on the opposite does a fantastic job of sneaking ball-side!

This is such a heads up play and again, very tough to cover. The 3 Second rule makes it difficult for rotating defenders to get ball side “heavy” and steal space. Savvy attackers can work the crease and take advantage. This is a great example why we want to test the waters and probe the D in even scenarios!

Next, UVA does a nice job handling the initial 54 break.

I think this is an example where if we “follow the slide” from the base attacker and come up the field, we keep our feet moving and can find the skip (North) or the cross crease one more. However, it's great poise and decision making to not throw it. The trailer is covered.

This is where we can continue to attack. She probes, bounces and then gets back underneath where there is no slide. Again, attacking in unsettled even opportunities can yield high percentage looks before we get to settled offense. As coaches, if you can empower the decision making, and clarify the quality opportunities we want to get, you will yield more of these looks in unsettled offense.

Lastly, here’s a great example of pushing the tempo in a 4v4 (essentially 4v5) scenario. Long slides allow athletes to push and get downhill. If we test the waters, we might gain an advantage. Here’s a great dump pass before the 2 slide can arrive!

As we conclude, we hope you found this blog helpful. These clips from Boston College showed a predominantly box setup in transition. Owning the details and nuances in a transition situation can result in a couple more goals per game and momentum shifting plays. Cash in, and bring the juice!

Save it, share it with your players and friends, and let us know what you’re seeing out there this spring!

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