Kick, Run or Pass Possible.
The ideal forward pass formation is one from which a kick, pass or run is possible. As the play starts it should be difficult to diagnose whether a run or pass is intended. In fact, as a team becomes finished in its performance it may often switch in its intention, running out a play on the call of the passer that was intended for a pass, because the defense laid back and waited; and conversely, though not so often, a pass may be made to an open man on the call of the passer, though the signal called for a run. This represents high art in team work but it can be developed. Much depends upon the alertness and head work of the passer in this connection. Such changing of plan should not be allowed in the early season, but it may be encouraged later as the team becomes unified and comes to know itself. Such a combination, operating with basketball intuition, becomes exceedingly difficult to stop.
If in addition to this a kick is occasionally worked on something besides the fourth down, the game becomes a real test of wits.
Naturally not every forward pass will be “pulled” from an ideal formation. Many splendid forward pass plays can be built up from ordinary close running, bucking formations.
All Eligible Men Open—“Choice” vs. “Mechanical” Method.
An occasional forward pass play is developed where only a single eligible man is open to receive the pass. Such a play depends for success upon its speed of execution, its unexpectedness and its similarity to other regularly used running plays. A few such plays should of course be included in the team’s attack, but they are the exception and when successful are so because of that fact. They the more strongly emphasize the fact that as a general principle a regular forward pass play should aim to get as many eligible men as possible open to receive the pass. These men should be so spread that they cannot all be covered by the defense. The passer then selects an open man or the best open man to whom to pass.
This method puts great responsibility upon the passer. It fits in with the idea of putting him well back and giving him as much time as possible to make his choice. It requires a passer of special mental type, and one of considerable basketball ability who can dodge and get his pass off accurately even when apparently covered. The ease of choice can be much facilitated by having an order for each play in which the passer is to look for possibilities. The first choice should always be the signal called. That play should always be made if it is at all possible; in early season and during practice it should be executed whether possible or not. But as the passer develops ability he should be allowed when the pass signalled is covered to select second, third and even fourth choices, and the order of looking for the choices should be so arranged that a quick sweep of the field in front of him will give the passer his open men.
Not all coaches agree to the principle outlined above. Many have had difficulty in finding passers who could make the choice required. They have felt, therefore, that plays had to be designed to special men, calling these men to special zones, one time one place, next time another place, and then the play made as quickly as possible to this special man. If the defense was confused and the man got loose, the play succeeded (barring mechanical failure); if he did not it failed. This represents a purely mechanical method. It harks back to the “old” game where everything was as mechanical as possible and there was little need of brain power and little occasion to make quick decisions. The quarter made the decisions; the player did what he was told to do. The new open game is not played that way; it opens up a world of choice and possibility to the player. Therein lies its greatly increased mental value.
The big reason that many coaches have failed with the “choice” method of passing is that their plays have not been so designed as to give their passer the necessary time for making a choice. They have allowed the defense to “hurry” the passer. Some of the methods of preventing this have already been indicated. Occasionally it may happen that a team possesses a passer of great ability who cannot work the “choice” method. For such a player “mechanical” plays must be built. But the probabilities are that many men would develop this ability if they were given practice and the opportunity.