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.

Pick a Side

By Galen Harkness • April 6, 2026
Few actually decide to do what it takes. Every Gym Has This Two types of players. You’ve seen it. You might even know which one you are. Side 1 — The Complainers They talk about: The refs Their playing time Missed shots Bad courts Coaches There’s always something. And to be fair… some of it is real. But none of it helps them get better. Side 2 — The Workers They’re different. They: Stay after Get extra shots Ask questions Listen to coaching Fix mistakes They don’t ignore problems. They attack them. Same Gym. Same Situation. Different results. That’s the part most players miss. You don’t need a better team. You don’t need a better coach. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a better response. What This Looks Like Bad call? Complain… or sprint back. Missed shots? Blame it… or fix your feet and get reps tomorrow. Not playing much? Get frustrated… or earn trust in practice. Slippery court? Make excuses… or adjust and play stronger. Here’s The Truth Your future as a player is decided early. Not by talent. By how you respond. The Players Who Improve They walk into the gym already decided: “I’m going to figure this out.” So when things go wrong… They don’t look around. They go to work. The Players Who Stay The Same They walk in thinking: “This isn’t fair.” And every bad call… Every missed shot… Every tough moment… Just proves them right. That’s The Difference Same gym. Same opportunities. Different mindset. Different outcome. What We See At EYG The players who improve the most aren’t always the most talented. They’re the ones who: Take coaching Stay consistent Work when it’s hard Show up ready They pick the right side. Over and over again. The Question Next practice. Next game. Next workout. Which side are you on? Because that decision shows up in your results.

The Thief of Joy in Basketball

By Galen Harkness • March 21, 2026
Every player compares. They compare stats. They compare teams. They compare offers. They compare playing time. They compare skill level. And most of the time… They compare at the worst possible moment. A player sees someone score 25. Another makes varsity early. Someone gets attention online. Someone gets recruited first. Suddenly it feels like you are behind. But here is the truth most players don’t want to hear. They are not ahead. They are just further along their path. Basketball development is not a race. It is a long process that compounds over time. Some players grow early. Some players grow later. Some players get opportunities early. Some players earn them through years of work. The scoreboard you see right now is only a snapshot. It does not predict who you will become. What actually determines your future is much simpler. Work. Skill is not given. Confidence is not given. Game performance is not given. They are built. Through training. Through repetition. Through failure. Through consistency. Through time. Too many players spend their energy watching others. The best players spend their energy building themselves. You cannot control another player’s timeline. You cannot control another player’s opportunity. But you can control: How often you train. How focused you are when you train. How you respond to mistakes. How consistent you stay. How long you are willing to commit to improvement. Most players want results. Few players are willing to live in the process long enough to earn them. Comparison steals joy. But more importantly, comparison steals focus. And when focus disappears, development stops. The players who improve the most are not always the most talented. They are the most consistent. They show up when others don’t. They work when others watch. They stay patient when others quit. So instead of asking: “Why are they ahead?” Ask: “What am I willing to do to improve?” Then go to work. If you are a player who is ready to train with purpose, EYG Basketball provides structured, focused training designed to help you improve the skills that matter most in real games. Learn more at: 👉 www.eygbball.com
Youth basketball player training alone in gym focusing on skill development and improvement instead

Run Your Own Race

By Galen Harkness • February 26, 2026
Youth basketball players develop at different speeds. Learn why comparison slows growth and how focusing on your own development leads to long-term success.