with Mike Lonergan,
former George Washington University Head Coach; 2016 NIT Champions;
former University of Vermont Head Coach, America East Coach of the Year (2007, 2011);former Catholic University of America Head Coach - 2001 NCAA Division III National Champions, 2001 NCAA D-III National Coach of the Year; over 20 years of coaching experience with over 450 victories, 12 regular season conference titles and six conference tournament championships

Not every program is littered with dynamic play makers and supreme athletes who can create points off the dribble. Some programs must search for alternative means to find open shots and will be reliant on motion and various off-the-ball screens to create scoring opportunities. One such highly successful - but seldom used - approach is the Flex Offense.

The flex offense is a timeless system that has been used for ages in basketball. Using a progression of on-court demonstrations, Mike Lonergan shows you how he uses this system to win championships in today's game with its constant screening action and emphasis on inside-out play.

You'll see how to push the tempo with five set plays that flow into the continuity offense. You'll also learn how to execute multiple options in the flex offense in addition to six quick hitters that diversify how you attack your opponents.

Plays that Transition Into the Flex Offense

As with any offensive scheme, different looks must be present in order to avoid predictability of player movements. Coach Lonergan accomplishes this feat by displaying five unique sets that flow directly into the Flex scheme if an initial score is not achieved. Using 5-on-0 on-court demonstration, each set adds an additional wrinkle to the normal Flex rotations in order to keep the defense guessing.

"Stay" is the backbone of these plays and will show you how to initiate the flex cut off a quick ball reversal. "Push" tweaks this basic option to score with a talented shooter off a screen-the-screener action. Three additional set plays show you how to score through lobs, high ball screens, and dribble hand offs. You'll also learn how Coach Lonergan installs these plays in his offense through the 14 Lengths drill.

The Flex Offensive Scheme

Coach Lonergan displays the base Flex offense, complete with a rundown of the various cuts involved. Stressing that organization is far more important within the scheme than speed, Coach Longergan again uses a 5-on-0 approach to emphasize spacing and timing requirements. For such an approach to find success, all five players must be in sync and have an understanding of what the end-goal is. To help aid players, Coach Lonergan uses the segment to discuss:

• Four reasons why the Flex system can be successful
• Four components necessary to create open shots within the scheme
• Three rules critical to the system that guide players on who cuts and when
• Two approaches to advancing the ball from wing-to-wing if the defender denies the cross-court pass attempt

See how to counter defensive pressure with the Replace and Back Door options and get strategies for feeding the post off high/lows, post seals, and the cutter roll back off flex cuts. Additionally, Coach Lonergan shows you the down screen option to get your best cutters along the baseline.

Quick Hitters

To vary the initial alignment the defense must face, quick hitters are used to supplement Coach Lonergan's attack. The fast-striking plays all begin with a 3-out 2-in alignment, but flow effortlessly into the 4-out 1-in Flex alignment if a score is not achieved. Individual plays are provided for each of the positions on offense outside of the point guard spot, as well as two additional sets that are sure to create help/stay confusion within the defense.

As an example, Colonials calls for three players to converge at the point of the initial flex screen. With such offensive proximity, the defense can be caught guessing as to which offensive player is to receive the flex screen and which is to receive the pin-down screen for the shot attempt.

Constant motion and screening is a great way for teams to create offensive flow without an over-reliance on dribbling. Coach Lonergan displays several components of the Flex offensive system in order to achieve scoring opportunities. You'll learn how to take a simple half court offense and expand it into a difficult to defend full court system.

Produced at the Fall 2014 Philadelphia (PA) Clinic.

61 minutes. 2016.

Product Code: BD-04958
SKU: CHMP-BD04958