A 6 on 5 Shift and Defensive Counter Rotations
The clip below is from Mater Dei vs. Newport Harbor1 from a couple of years ago.
I like this clip because it shows what a basic shift during 6 on 5 can do for both the offense and the defense.
Watch it several times. Pay attention to the offense first. Watch the two post players and how they split their positions as the lefty brings the ball in. Then pay attention to where the perimeter players end up on their final shift.
When watching the defense. Pay attention to how they react to the shift and where each defender goes. Especially the wing defender at the top of your screen. Most people in the U.S. number this X1 and outside the U.S. it’s usually X4.
Offense & Defense Numbering
Before I get too far this is the numbering system I will use to talk about the Offense.
And the numbering for the defense.
Offensive Shift
This is the basic shift that Mater Dei is doing.
Usually, teams put their best or one of their best right-handed shooters at the 4 Spot. This shift is to move them up into a stronger shooting pocket and a better angle on the cage.
And it’s obvious Newport is worried about the shooter wrapping up from the 4 spot because X4 races out to put him down.
And how the rest of the defense shifted.
But in their haste to put down the wrapping 4 spot, Newport has created an issue on the right side of the pool with the left-hander.
The X1 defender is strung out.
If they jump to put down the lefty then the 6 post is wide open for a dunk. But if they don’t put down the lefty he is all alone against the goalie with a great angle on the cage.
This is what you want with an offensive shift. You want to move the defense out of their core 5 man shell, get them to overreact to your shift, and have the defense end up out of position, creating an easier scoring opportunity for you.
Defensive Counter Shift
Before the offensive shifts, who do you want to shoot when you’re man down?
The 2 Spot.
Most likely it is a right-hander on their weak side of the pool. Usually, they’re more of a facilitator than a shooter but can shoot when needed.
Now the defense shifts to their right. Who do you want to shoot the ball now?
The same guy!
The 2 spot has moved further to their right making their angle even worse.
When the 4 wraps up the defense wants to counter-rotate to force the ball into the 2 Spot’s hand.
A basic counter rotation is this.
So you end up like this.
X1 still has the left-hander at the 1 spot and help on the 6 post. And now you‘re forcing the 2 spot to beat you.
If the 2 Spot attacks in you have two blocks in front and back side help from X2.
Communication
Like all team defenses, communication is key.
Either the goalie or the X5 defender needs to be quarterbacking this. Working together is ideal.
They need to see that 4 is wrapping up and the offense is shifting to their right (defense’s left) and call out a counter-rotation play.
It is very likely that after one shift the offense may shift again and the defense will have to shift back into their regular shell and possibly shift again into a different counter rotation. At the high school level, you’ll probably only face one shift. Regardless, a strong man-down defense is built on strong communication.
Full game Mater Dei vs Newport Harbor