The Rules for Basic Basketball Screens

A well set screen in basketball is one of the most effective techniques to clear a path to the basket. A screen is when one or more offensive players move into the path of a moving defensive player or insert themselves between a defender and the man he is guarding. It sounds simple but it takes practice to learn how to set a good, legal screen. Despite seemingly lenient game officials, setting a proper screen has strictly defined rules.

  1. Movement

    • The first rule of setting a basic basketball screen is that the player setting the screen cannot be in motion when contact is made with the defender. That's called a moving screen and is illegal. The rules allow the screener to insert himself into the path of the defender but he must come to a complete stop with both feet on the ground. The corollary to this rule is that the player setting the screen cannot lean into the defender or extend body parts (arm, leg, knee, shoulder, etc) after the screen is set to attempt to better position himself to impede the defender. Players are required to pick a spot, set the screen, and hope the defender runs into them, allowing the offensive player he is guarding to break free.

    Position

    • Another rule regarding screens is that the defender must be given adequate space to see the screen and avoid it. The decision as to what constitutes “adequate” room often seems to be a discretionary call by the game official and, judging by the number of serious collisions in this “no contact” sport, open to great interpretation. However, to go by the strict rules of the game, the player setting the screen cannot suddenly throw up a screen in front of defender who has no time to react.

    Blind Screens

    • A blind screen occurs when an offensive player comes up behind a defender to set a screen. This particular maneuver has been the cause of some truly spectacular high-speed collisions over the years. High school rules state that a screener approaching a defensive player from the blind side must allow a distance of one normal step before contact, giving him time to avoid the screen. Once a legal screen has been set, the responsibility rests on the defender to avoid contact.