Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD Prepared by George Seff
(gaseff@verizon.net )

Main thoughts | Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD
This is a switching/match up m2m press
On the catch, jam the ball, make them dribble
On sideline dribble, beat sideline and trap from the middle
On middle dribble, Jump and Run
The easiest time to Run out of the run and jump is when the ball gets picked up

Coaching Nuggets | Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD
Get them leveled off
Make reads as you go.
Coaches cannot make players afraid to rotate. No fear of rotating. Lot’s of talking, call the
number of the guy you have. In a breakdown situation – take the closest man. Then match up into
the pack.
When the ball is caught inbounds, ALL defenders must get below the ball shade towards the
middle of the court.
Switch all screens
When trapping – keep your arms high to make them pass over you and to get deflections
Do not bring trappers up from the front court
You can install a system where the jumper calls the runners name, and THEN the runner goes.
After a made basket, THE CLOSEST person to the ball takes the inbounder.
Most times, you are OK if the catch the ball up front. Once they do, jam them and rotate.
If you get stuck with a LITTLE on a BIG, you must front at all times.
If you have a really slow player, try them on the ball. And then “slide them back” as the ball
moves up the court.
This works well with packline defense in the half court. Ball pressure and play the gaps
On the back side rotations – protect the basket FIRST, worry about pressure SECOND
When starting out – drop the press at ½ court and go man
It is all about commitment – BELIEVE IN IT!
Practice your rotations all the time. Rotation is everything.
At the start of the press, it is sort of like a zone match up – get to the 3 pt line and then
matchup – you do not have a specific player to match up with in the press.
Don’t have a FEAR of getting beat
Using the whistle to stop/freeze play is a good idea to point out positions and rotations

Larson’s Concepts | Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD
1- Pickup the basketball – 4 ways of starting the “press”
On the ball, all out denial – play solid denial
On the ball, side-by-side – play to the side, let them inbound
On the ball, cat and mouse – on ball defender turns around to stop the inbound
Off the ball – take the guy on the ball, put him at FT line ball side, and they take fly outs

If the offense screens – go under or over, – Or… if switching, the screened guy must JUMP
inside the screener to prevent the easy inbound
Against a good PG – double team the PG with the inbounder

2- Ball pressure – Get in their grille, make them dribble.
Never give up a straight line drive – need to fan the ball out to sideline, or make them change
direction – force sideline then trap,
Or – change direction to the middle and then Jump and Run

3- Always trap the dribble – NEVER trap the pass.
The trapper only traps the basketball, when the ball cannot see him coming. This is usually when
the player is dribbling to the sideline, or when the player is making a change of direction move.

4- NEVER be behind the line of the ball. Helpers are BACK IN THE GAP. Once the ball is dribbled,
they go for the trap.
DO NOT HUG YOUR MAN. Stunt at the ball as if you are coming to trap. If the guy can see you, do not
trap.

5- Have a SPRINT mentality. When you are on the help side, sprint to the paint to make a play.
SPRINT out of the trap. – Do NOT TURN and LOOK – just sprint in the direction of the ball. SPRINT
out of the trap.
In breakdown, ie. Straight line drive – SPRINT BACK TO THE PAINT. DO NOT STEP UP… SPRINT
BACK TO THE PAINT

6- Floor positioning – 1 pass away, be IN THE GAP to trap or run and jump
2 passes away, shoot the gap, rotate to next logical receiver. When you rotate, that guy is now
your man. The others need to rotate and pick up the closest man. Common mistake – rotate late will
hurt you. There is NO IN BETWEEN – either stay with your man or Rotate.

Basically leave the man furthest from the ball open | Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD

If the ball gets to the middle of the floor on a pass – it is crucial that everyone SPRINT back to
below the ball (most likely to the paint)
The press does break down – need to be prepared for that.

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes:

Forrest Larson – Simplified Run and Jump Press DVD Prepared by George Seff