The Fence Offense

with Eric Bridgeland,
University of Redlands Head Men's Basketball Coach;
former Whitman College Head Coach;
led Whitman to a 273-62 record;
back-to-back-to-back unbeaten conference records in 2017, 2018 & 2019;
2018 Basketball Times D-II Men's Coach of the Year;
2018 HoopDirt.com D-III Men's Coach of the Year;
2018 NABC West District Coach of the Year

With three seasons back-to-back-to-back of undefeeated conference play, former Whitman College head coach Eric Bridgeland has clearly figured out an offensive system that consistently wins games. That system? The Fence Offense!

The fence offense is similar in many ways to the popular dribble drive motion offense with a few slight differences. Bridgeland has incorporated more dribble hand-offs, flare screens, and relocation keys that make the fence offense equally, if not more effective than the dribble drive. This video contains everything Bridgeland uses to teach the fence offense and will help you learn to use it within your own program.

Spacing and Positioning

Using the NBA 3-point line, players space into the baseline corners, short corner post, and have their heels on the sideline as they're free throw line extended. From there, Bridgeland shows how to create slides and reads as a ball handler gets downhill and touches the paint, creating a scoring opportunity.

Whether it's scoring off the dribble or hitting a pitch, throw back or post slide, your players will learn to attack the rim fast and furious. Bridgeland enforces a "no standing zone" (baseline to free throw) as a way to gauge when and where players are supposed to move during a drive.

Offensive Actions

The best offenses have multiple actions that can be used to score the ball. Beginning with flare screen action, your players will learn to over-exaggerate their screens, preparing them for game speed action. As the ball handler attacks the paint, weak side players use a flare screen to set up an open 3-pointer. If the flare isn't open, the corner pitch is open to reverse the ball and use a two pass reverse to attack the paint again.

When the flare isn't available, your players will be able to initiate action through dribble hand-offs on the strong side of the floor, opening up a gap for wing players to attack the rim. Off of the dribble hand-off, athletes have multiple options, including:

• Catch and shoot
• Catch, fake, and shoot
• Catch, fake, two dribble attack
• Throw back for a shot after a paint touch

Bridgeland also demonstrates how to put both the flare and the dribble hand-off together for the main action in the offense. Using both actions together on ball reversals or initial action, your offense can get the ball into the paint and create easy scoring opportunities.

Reads and Film

Rounding out Bridgeland's in-depth look at the fence offense is a read drill where players learn to read the help-side and middle defenders. From there, athletes can create multiple attacking actions. Coach Bridgeland also provides a few game clips from previous seasons so you see the action in real speed.

For coaches looking to implement an offense that's similar to (but simpler than) the dribble drive offense, look no further than Coach Bridgeland's fence offense!

84 minutes. 2019.