Dick BennettMover Blocker Offense

Spacing, ball movement, player movement, cutting, screening, wise shot selection, team play, taking care of
the ball, rebounding, and scoring are the key ingredients that make for a great offense. Our Blocker/ Mover
offense is a combination of everything that can be done on the basketball court with the main ideas and
concepts taken from former Wisconsin Coach Dick Bennett. We signal this offense by raising our fist in the
air.
Blockers
We designate three players on offense as Blockers. Our three Blockers are the backbone of this offense.
Blockers must be tough, excellent screeners, and unselfish team players. Blockers are constantly looking to
set screens for our two Movers. Blockers never screen for other Blockers. It is our Blockers responsibility to
free our Movers so they can get open to create offense.
In our Blocker/ Mover offense we have two types of blockers. One is a called a Free Blocker and the other is
called a Lane-to-lane Blocker. Because we use three screeners in our system, we designate two of them
(players #2 and #3) as Free Blockers and one of them (player #5) as the Lane-to-lane Blocker.
Free Blockers
Free Blockers have the freedom to move all over the court. They are constantly looking to set screens on
the perimeter for our two Movers (down screen, flare screen, and the double screen).
We never allow Free Blockers to set ball screens. If one of our Movers has the ball, then our two Free
Blockers are moving to set a double screen for the other Mover. This action is very difficult to defend.
Another great action we ask our Free Blockers to execute is the dribble-weave. Free Blockers are
encourage to initiate the dribble weave action with a Mover whenever possible on the perimeter. The
dribble-weave is very hard to defend and creates some excellent dribble penetration opportunities for our
Movers to exploit. After handing the ball off to a Mover, the Free Blocker rolls to the basket looking for the
return pass.
Lane-to-lane Blocker
Our Lane-to-lane Blocker (#5) is our big post player. We want our #5 to stay close to the lane area to take
advantage of draw-and-kick situations, to post up, and to get weak-side offensive rebounds. Our Lane-to-
lane Blocker screening responsibilities include the following:
1. Player #5 sets a back-screen for our #4 player (Mover) after he passes the ball on the perimeter. After
setting the back-screen, he rolls back to the lane in the opposite direction in which #4 made his cut with his
hands up looking for the ball. This back-screen action for the passer is very hard to defend and often
produces either a lay-up or a short jump shot.
2. Player #5 sets a ball-screen on the perimeter for our #1 player (Mover) whenever he catches the ball on
the perimeter. Player #5 steps out away from the lane and looks to execute the pick-and-roll with our point
guard. As soon as the point guard moves shoulder-to-shoulder with #5, he rolls to the basket looking for the
return pass. This pick-and-role action is a thing of beauty when run to perfection.
Blocker's Rules for Setting Screens
• It is the Blockers responsibility to free the Mover from the defender. Set your screen on the
defender's numbers (head hunt).
• Communicate -- call the Mover's name to let him know you're coming to set a screen for him.
• Come to a jump stop with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Bend your knees when setting the screen.
• Place your hands in front of your midsection.
• Set the screen approximately an arm's length away from the defender.
• Be firmly set and ready for contact.
• Hold all screens for a "two count."
• After the screen occurs, read the defense and flash into the open area as the "second cutter."
Movers
Movers (players #1 and #4) are the cutters in the Blocker/ Mover offense. The primary job of the Mover is to
play tag with the defense. Movers must be hard to guard. After setting their defender up with a v-cut, Movers
must cut toward the basketball or the basket in a manner that will take them away from their defender.
Simply put, a Mover's job is to attack the basket. A Mover must love to penetrate into the gaps (north and
south) and look to either draw-and-kick or kick-out to the open shooter. His dribble penetration sets up
himself and others for open shots.
Mover's Rules for Receiving a Screen
• Set up your defender -- make a v-cut prior to using the screen.

• Wait for the screen -- do not go early. Give the Blocker time to get set.
• Drive your defender into the screen. Make shoulder contact with the Blocker as you cut.
• Read the defense. The type of cut you make is determined by the defensive player's position.
• Be ready for the pass. Get your hands up as you come off the screen.
Blocker/Mover Offense Fundamentals
• Play unselfish team basketball.

• Read the defense.
• Always pass to the open man.
• Play smart. Take care of the basketball.
• Don't force shots.
• Don't force passes.
• Catch, turn, and face - see the court.
• Chin the ball and bend your knees.
• Make the extra pass.
• Pass away from the defense.
• Get open as a receiver.
• Make maximum use of the v-cut to get open, with or without a screen.
• Show a hand target and call for the ball.
• Create offense for your teammates.
• Look to dribble penetrate to the elbows to create offense.
• Stay off the baseline unless you can score.
• Attack the basket to pass, not shoot. We want to use the dribble to create draw-and-kick and kick
out situations.
• Use two hands to pass the basketball.
• Don't jump to pass the ball.
• Pass and move; don't stand still.
• Maintain floor balance. We do not want more than three players on one side of the court.
• When overplayed, a backdoor cut is automatic if the ball is being dribbled towards you.
• After passing the ball into the low post, cut to the basket looking for a return pass.
• Rebound the offense. Players #5, #4, and #3 must crash the boards. Players #1 and #2 must get
back.
The Blocker-Mover Offense:
"Go Where the Action Is!"
Introduction
One of the more popular offenses making it around the basketball world in the
1990's was brought to us by Washington State University's Head Coach Dick
Bennett who began his career more than 35 years ago as a high school coach in
Wisconsin. Coach Bennett went on to success at Wisconsin-Stevens Point
where his team lost in 1984-85 NAIA National Championship game but where he
earned National Coach of the Year honors. Further success as the Head Coach
at Wisconsin-Green Bay leading the Phoenix to several NCAA tournament
appearances landed him the Head Coaching job at Wisconsin where back to
back 20 wins season produced the Badger's first Final Four appearance in 2000
since 1947. The Blocker-Mover Offense came about as the result of many years
of experience and adjustments trying to get players with greater scoring ability
the ball more often in scoring position.
Blocker and Mover Offense Concepts
The Blocker-Mover is based upon the notion that some players on your team will
have better ball handling and scoring skills than do others. There are different
variations of the offense but the one we will show you today in our Highway
Feature clinic animations is based upon Dick Bennett's version where he
designates two players primarily as blockers (B), and the remaining three players
as movers (M).
Prior to introducing the offense it is important to understand three offensive

concepts Coach Bennett believes are productive for attacking any defense. To
begin with it is important for any offense to develop a "side-top-side" mentality.
This involves reversing the ball from one side of the court to the other. Another
important offensive concept taught within the Blocker-Mover Offense is for
players to be deliberate and patience when the ball is on top in order to read
screening actions, and encourages quicker decision making when the ball is on
either side of the court. Finally, Blockers are encouraged to look to screen first
and find looks off of all screening actions, while Movers are to "create" action and
look to shoot first prior to distributing the ball for further action. Applied to other
offense these are sound concepts as well. In today's feature clinic we will teach
you the four basic sets used by Coach Bennett but it is first important to
understand the basic rules for what to teach both Blockers and Movers. These
sets are called the Lane: Lane Set, the Wide: Wide Set, the Lane: Wide Set and
the Top: Bottom Set. We will look at each of these in more detail as this clinic
progresses.
Blocker- Mover Responsibilities

Regardless of which of four different sets are run in Blocker-Mover the primary
responsibility of the Blocker is to first screen for a Mover and then look to seal or
shape up a position looking for the ball. The Blocker-Mover does not limit a
Blocker from scoring but rather emphasizes the importance of their screening
first and using the defenses attempt to help or switch situations to shape up and
create scoring looks for the blockers. In a sense the Blocker becomes the
counter-punch in the offense. Blockers are limited in the areas they are allowed
to set screens as well by the specific set that is being run.
The Movers are required to be active all over the court with their primary
responsibility being to create scoring opportunities off of blocker's actions.
Movers can also be screeners but that is of secondary importance to their
primary duties. The techniques for Blockers and Movers vary slightly with a
particular set begin run and these will be discussed as each set is presented.
Teaching the Blocker-Mover
Coach Bennett is a strong proponent of having your players learn Blocker-Mover

options by practicing these sets as a whole. He spends an inordinate amount of
time working on shooting footwork coming off of screens and screening
fundamentals where the goal is repetition to the point of automation. He is less
concerned with a specific screening action location than on adhering to the
principles of good ball movement and perfect execution. Coaches who try to
teach this offense should listen to his experience rather than focusing to much on
a specific pattern and failing to practice individual execution. If your players can
catch and shoot off of quick screening actions, and set rock solid screens you will
get scoring opportunities. Scoring against quality opponents comes down to
successful execution. The more you practice the individual skill components of
the Blocker-Mover and then practice the sets as whole systems allowing your
players the ability to learn to read and react to each other the more effective this
offense will become.
Lane: Lane Set
There are times offensively when you want both keep your post players at home.
In this particular set called Lane: Lane the blockers are instructed to set screens
anywhere on their side of the lane but are not permitted to cross to the other side
of the lane. They are not allowed to step out away from the basket as well.
Movers again are given the freedom move anywhere on the court to create
action but are strongly encouraged to use one or more blockers to set up open
perimeter looks. Blockers in the Lane: Lane set are instructed to pin or screen to
the inside whenever there is "action" to the inside of them. When there is no
Mover in their area to screen for, Blockers are encouraged to either shape-up in
the low post, or move to another area up the lane.

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Spacing, ball movement, player movement, cutting, screening, wise shot selection, team play, taking care of

Blocker's Rules for Setting Screens

Mover's Rules for Receiving a Screen

• Set up your defender -- make a v-cut prior to using the screen.

Blocker/Mover Offense Fundamentals

• Play unselfish team basketball.

Blocker and Mover Offense Concepts

Prior to introducing the offense it is important to understand three offensive

Blocker- Mover Responsibilities

Teaching the Blocker-Mover

Coach Bennett is a strong proponent of having your players learn Blocker-Mover

Lane: Lane Set

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