Galen Harkness • June 22, 2024

The Benefits of Running the Floor in Basketball

Running the floor is a fundamental skill in basketball that can elevate your game and significantly impact your team's success.

Running the floor is a fundamental skill in basketball that can elevate your game and significantly impact your team's success. Let's explore the benefits of running the floor and understand how, why, and where to run to maximize your effectiveness on the court.


Benefits of Running the Floor


1. Increased Scoring Opportunities

  - Fast Breaks: Quickly transitioning from defense to offense can catch the opposing team off-guard, leading to easy layups or open shots.

  - Open Shots: Running the floor can create open shots as defenders scramble to get back, often leaving shooters unguarded.


2. Enhanced Offensive Flow

  - Pace and Tempo: A team that runs the floor can dictate the pace of the game, wearing down the defense and creating a more dynamic and unpredictable offense.

  - Spacing: Good floor running improves spacing, allowing for better ball movement and more effective offensive sets.


3. Exploiting Mismatches

  - Transition Mismatches: Quick transitions can lead to mismatches where a faster player is guarded by a slower defender, creating advantageous scoring opportunities.


How to Run the Floor


1. Sprint with Purpose

  - Players should sprint hard with the intent to create scoring opportunities. Jogging or lackluster effort diminishes the effectiveness of running the floor.


2. Fill the Correct Lanes

  - Wings: The primary runners should sprint wide to the wings. This stretches the defense and opens up the middle of the floor for ball handlers and trailers.

  - Corners: Players should aim to reach the corners in transition. This provides spacing for driving lanes and open three-point shots.


3. Communicate

  - Communication is key. Players must call out their positions and be aware of their teammates' locations to avoid clustering and ensure proper spacing.


Why to Run the Floor


1. Pressure the Defense

  - Running the floor puts constant pressure on the defense, forcing them to react quickly and often leading to defensive mistakes or fouls.


2. Create High-Percentage Shots

  - Transition opportunities typically result in high-percentage shots like layups, dunks, or open three-pointers, increasing overall scoring efficiency.


3. Energy and Momentum

  - Fast-paced play can energize the team and the crowd, building momentum and creating a psychological advantage.


Where to Run the Floor


1. Wide and to the Wings

  - Players should run wide to the sidelines, aiming to fill the wings (around the three-point line extended). This maximizes spacing and forces the defense to cover more ground.


2. Corners

  - Runners should target the corners as the end point of their sprint. This positioning is crucial for spacing and opens up the middle for drives or secondary transition actions.


3. Middle of the Floor

  - The ball handler should push the ball through the middle of the floor, looking to either drive to the basket or pass to the wings or corners. Trailers (typically bigs) should follow the ball handler, ready to receive passes for easy scores or initiate secondary actions.


By understanding and implementing these concepts, you can enhance your ability to run the floor effectively. This will not only improve your individual game but also contribute to your team's success on the court. Remember, running the floor is about effort, awareness, and smart positioning. So next time you're on the court, run with purpose, communicate with your teammates, and watch how it transforms your game.

Jumping Up vs. Jumping Out: Two Finishes Every Undersized Player Needs

By Galen Harkness • June 9, 2025
At EYG Basketball, we train players to play smarter and finish stronger. If you’re under 6'4", you can’t rely on size alone at the rim—you need solutions. Two of the most important: jumping up and jumping out. Why This Matters The game gives you different looks at the rim. Great players know how to read the help defense and choose the right finish. These two options help you avoid blocked shots, keep defenders guessing, and finish through or around contact. What’s the Difference? Jumping Up Happens closer to the rim Follows a bump, shot fake, or pump fake Uses power, balance, and verticality Creates space by initiating contact with the inside shoulder Effective when you’ve already earned position Jumping Out Happens earlier, before the shot blocker fully rotates Uses speed and quickness off one foot Avoids contact by getting the ball on the glass fast Useful when you don’t have time or space to absorb contact In the video examples, you’ll see both finishes. Watch how the offensive player creates space, reads the defenders, and chooses the finish that fits the moment. How to Train These Finishes Jumping Up Work on shot fakes, shoulder bumps, and strong two-foot finishes Focus on balance and lift Practice against contact or padded defenders Jumping Out Practice one-foot takeoffs Use floaters, scoop layups, and high glass finishes Rep it with a rotating help defender to train timing What to Watch For How the offensive player creates space Where the help defense is The timing and angle of the finish Whether it’s a contact finish or an avoidance finish Final Thought from EYG We don’t teach generic moves. We teach game decisions. Knowing when to jump up or jump out is the difference between getting blocked and getting buckets. If you want to finish like a high-level guard, this skill set is non-negotiable.

In, Out & Up: 3 Places to Look with the Ball

By Galen Harkness • June 9, 2025
Places for Basketball Players to Look—and Why 🎥 Clips of the Week What’s Happening: Three game clips show players making passes that lead to scores by: Looking In – Inside the paint to find cutters Kicking Out – To perimeter shooters Passing Up – The floor in transition Why It Matters: Great decision-makers scan all three zones—In, Out, & Up—to find the best option. This habit leads to smarter decisions, better shots, and more team success. Who Can Learn From It: Guards, wings, and any player who handles the ball. Learning to scan in these three directions keeps pressure on defenses and opens up opportunities. https://youtu.be/Ec1RWcIYnqw?si=NfmzLwPkWZ-KuanX Don’t just see the game. Scan it. 🛠️ How to Apply This Players: As you dribble or catch, train your eyes to scan: In – Cutters and post mismatches Out – Perimeter shooters and spacing Up – Rim and teammates in transition Build the habit. Clip it. Study it. Rep it. 👋 Final Note This one decision-making pattern—In, Out & Up—can shift how you play. It’s not flashy. It’s just smart basketball. Thanks for being here. Let’s keep learning. Let’s Play Smarter. Elevate Your Game.

Train Like a Pro This Summer: Lessons from Caitlin Clark’s Offseason

By Galen Harkness • May 14, 2025
Summer is the season where real growth happens. Summer is the season where real growth happens. For serious high school basketball players, this isn’t the time to coast. It’s the time to separate yourself. If you want to take your game to the next level, take a page from WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s offseason playbook. Here’s what she focused on—and how you can apply it this summer: 1. Get Stronger to Play Stronger The game only gets more physical at higher levels. Caitlin Clark used her offseason to build strength so she could handle contact, maintain her balance, and stay efficient even when tired. You can do the same: Bodyweight strength work like pushups, squats, lunges, and planks builds a powerful base. Core strength helps you finish through contact and protect the ball under pressure. Strong legs = better defense, more explosiveness, and more consistency in your shot. This summer, commit to strength training 2–3 days per week. 2. Recovery Is Part of Training Recovery is not just for pros—it’s what allows you to train hard again the next day. Clark’s offseason wasn’t just about grinding—it was about taking care of her body with sleep, nutrition, hydration, stretching, and downtime. What does recovery look like for you? Go to bed early. Drink water throughout the day. Take time to stretch, roll out, and cool down. Don’t train yourself into the ground—train to be consistent. Recovery helps you show up every day with energy and focus. 3. Work on Game-Specific Skills Clark didn’t just shoot 1,000 shots a day. She trained the shots she actually takes in games: pull-ups, deep threes, quick releases, contact finishes, tight handle under pressure. This is where most players fall short—they train skills in perfect settings instead of game situations. This summer: Add contact to finishing drills. Practice handling under pressure, not just cones. Get game-speed reps on your shot. Compete in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 as much as you can. Your training should look like the game you want to play. 4. Put It All Together Clark’s offseason success wasn’t magic—it was a smart, consistent plan. She got stronger. She recovered with purpose. She trained her game with intensity. You can do the same. Strength builds your body. Recovery protects it. Skill work sharpens your game. This summer, train with a purpose—not just sweat, but skill. Final Thought: The offseason is where players are made. The ones who train smart, recover well, and stay consistent will come back in the fall stronger, sharper, and more confident. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up and doing the work. Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you this summer: Committed Skills Academy – Weekly high-level skills training for players who want consistent work on ball-handling, finishing, shooting, and playmaking. Summer Camps – Fun, challenging, and competitive camps in Superior, Northglenn, and Longmont. 1v1 to 3v3 play every day. Training Memberships – Serious about your game? Memberships are for players who want more. Train 2–3 times per week with a structured plan and coaching. Check out all our summer training options at www.eygbball.com
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