Actions Offense – It Starts With Spots

In the Read and React Offense, players begin each possession positioned on specific perimeter or interior Spots that create optimal spacing across the floor.

These spots are not tied to traditional positions but serve as anchors to maintain floor balance and offensive structure.

As players execute actions like passing, cutting, or driving, they temporarily leave their spot, but the offense is designed so that every player eventually ends up on a new spot, maintaining the integrity of spacing.

This flow of starting on a spot and ending on a spot creates constant movement, keeps the defense engaged, and ensures that every offensive action leads to a reset of spacing, which in turn generates continuous opportunities to attack and score.

The Actions Offense follows this same philosophy, using Spots as the foundation for spacing and flow, ensuring that every Action begins and ends on a spot to maintain rhythm, structure, and scoring opportunities throughout each possession.

There are two types of spots.

There are two types of spots, Perimeter spots and Post spots.

Perimeter spots can be found along the three-point line, while Post spots can be found around the lane.

Spots are considered an area rather than an exact point on the court, players may adjust their exact location based on the defense.

Perimeter spots.

Perimeter spots are found along the three-point line.

Players setup about 3 feet or more off the three-point line to spread the defense, especially if the opponent is in a Man Defense.

Post spots.

Post spots are found around the lane.

Formations are pre-identified starting spots for players.

Formations have designated spots for players to start in.

For example, a 3-Out 2-In formation has three players starting on Perimeter spots, one at the Point Guard spot and two and the Wing spots, and two players starting on Post spots, usually one at the Nail spot and another on the Blocks spot.

For a complete list of Formations, see Formations.

Players must start on a spot, and when they move, they must end on a spot.

Like the Read and React Offense, the first rule of the Actions Offense is players that are executing an Action, such as a Cut Action, must start on a Spot and end on a Spot.

Let’s look at an example of this.

Player 1 does a Pass Action; Player 1 makes a chest pass to Player 2.

The Pass Action by Player 1 triggers a Cut Action for Player 1; Player 1 cuts to the basket.

The Cut Action by Player 1 triggers a Fill Action for Player 4; Player 4 fills the spot vacated by Player 1.

The Fill Action by Player 4 triggers a Fill Action for Player 5; Player 5 fills the spot vacated by Player 4.

After Player 1 completes the Cut Action, they decide to do a Fill Action; Player 1 fills the spot vacated by Player 5.

There it is all together!