What is a moving screen in basketball (explained)

Setting screens is a part of almost every basketball offense.

Whether it’s a cross screen, drop screen, or ball screen, usually teams use one type demonstrative action to give themselves an advantage.

However, there are times when these screens are not quite in the right place.

This can be caused by either an offensive error or the defense being aggressive, forcing the screener to move and make illegal contact.

The result of this is a moving screen.

This post will discuss what a rolling screen is, why rolling screens are common, and how players can avoid being called for a rolling screen.

A moving screen is a type of illegal screen in which the screener makes contact that is not allowed because they are not standing still or moving some part of their body to make contact.

Moving screens can occur either in on-ball situations where a screen is set for the ball handler, or in off-ball situations.

This often happens when the defender tries to avoid the screen by going over or under it and the screener moves his body to make contact.

Referees usually follow the following criteria to determine whether a foul is legal or a moving screen:

• Leg placement and position confirmed
• No bending or sliding
• No hip, shoulder or arm extension

If any of these three criteria are not met, a moving screen will likely be called for.

It’s called a crime illegal screen most often in these three cases.

Either because the ball handler was impatient or the screener was late, the screener was never set before the defender ran into him.

So, since the screener established contact before actually establishing a position, this would be a moving screen.

Once a screener makes legitimate contact, he must remain still until the defender clears his screen completely.

A moving screen occurs if the screener moves his body to maintain contact as the defensive player moves around or through the screen.

When the screener sees that the defender is going to avoid his screen altogether, he often makes the mistake of sticking his hip out or leaning in to at least make some contact.

Officials almost always whistle this for a moving screen because he didn’t stay still or in his cylinder.

While this may seem like a very simple question, the answer is not so clear-cut.

The real answer is that screeners CAN move to set their screens effectively…however, they must re-establish the screen so that the defender has enough distance and time to avoid it.

Therefore, the screener is allowed to move to set the screen as long as the movement occurs BEFORE any contact occurs, not as it occurs.

A common legitimate occurrence of this can happen during a shocking screen.

If the defender avoids the first screen, the second defender on his feet can move and recover to guarantee contact as long as he can do so by adjusting and giving the defender enough time and space.

In basketball, a moving screen is considered an offensive foul.

Therefore, it would be considered a turnover when the defense takes possession of the basketball closest to the moving screen.

It will also count as a team foul for the offending team.

However, even if the team is in the bonus, there will be no free throw on the moving screen, as this is considered a team control violation.

Players can commit moving screen violations for several reasons.

And frankly, all of this isn’t even the screener’s fault.

Here are some common causes of moving screens:

This usually means that the cutter or ball handler does not wait for the screen to be set before attacking.

This often results in the screener being called for a moving screen because he has not had time to actually set the screen before contact.

If a quarterback plays very solid defense and can effectively fight for screens, this can often lead to a moving screen being called, even if it wasn’t necessarily the case.

With a tight window between the ball handler and the defender, the defender will sometimes awkwardly hit the screen and draw the foul, even if there was no actual movement.

Sometimes screeners feel the need to make contact with a defender, even if it means openly moving a body part and calling for a foul.

It’s the receiver’s job to line up the defender well enough to force him to hit a screen.

The screener just needs to stay completely still and let the other player make sure the contact happens.

Being called for a moving screen is a very frustrating call for a coach because it is a turnover that is usually completely avoidable.

Here are some tips to help your players avoid moving screens:

In order to give defenders enough time and space at all times, displayers should focus on getting to their spot early.

Once there, they should learn to screen with their feet shoulder-width apart, arms crossed in front of them, knees bent for balance, and completely still.

To ensure that the screener has enough time to set up ahead of time, the receiving offensive player should always move his defender off the screen to set it up.

Once the screen is on, that’s when the cutter or ball handler should look to attack off the screen, rubbing shoulders as they pass.

This is primarily for ball screen situations, but the screener should wait to roll or slide to the basket only after the ball handler or cutter clears the screen.

While rolling or slipping a little early can be a great way to avoid the occasional moving screen, it’s technically against the rules and can be called, depending on the officials.

One of the most common causes of a moving screen again is due to poor timing between the screen and the player receiving the screen.

So it is imperative that your teams practice their display plays frequently and understand not only their roles in the plays, but also their teammates, especially when there is a screen.

There are as many annoying calls to basketball coaches as a moving screen, usually because they are so avoidable.

But due to poor timing, an aggressive defender or simply a lack of discipline, these calls continue to happen at all levels of basketball.

But if you can teach your screeners to come early and when to roll, your other players to set screens effectively, and all of your players to understand your game inside and out, then hopefully you can make moving screens a thing of the past for your team.