Fastbreak
Encyclopedia
Fast break is an offensive strategy in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

. In a fast break, a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible, so that the defense is outnumbered and does not have time to set up. There are various styles of the fast break and the fast break attack is the best method of providing action and quick scores. A fast break may be caused as the result of cherry picking
Cherry picking (basketball)
Cherry picking is a strategic act sometimes used in basketball to give a team a higher scoring chance. A player who performs this act is known as a cherry picker. It is sometimes frowned upon, and in some cases it is considered "cheating", even though there is usually not a rule against it...

.

In a typical fast break situation, the defending team obtains the basketball and passes it to the fastest player who sets up the fast break. That player (usually the smaller point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...

) then speed-dribbles the ball upcourt with several players trailing on the wings. He then either passes it to another player for a quick basket, or takes the shot himself. If contact is made between him and a defender from behind while on a fast break, an unsportmanlike foul is called. Recognition, speed, ball-handling skills and decision making are critical to the success of a fast break.

Fast breaks are often the result of good defensive play such as a steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...

, obtaining the ball off a block or a missed shot by the opposing team and a rebound, where the defending team takes possession of the ball while the other team has not adjusted.

A fast break can sometimes lead to an alley-oop if there are more offensive players than defenders.

If the fast break did not lead to a basket and an offensive rebound is obtained and put back quickly, this is called the secondary break.

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