3-on-3 Rush Transition is an advanced, disadvantaged transition drill that simulates real-game scramble situations. Offensively, it teaches pushing the ball with pitch-ahead passes, attacking the paint to finish through contact, and converting the early numbers edge into a quick score (ideally within one pass or less). Defensively, it demands sprint recovery, paint-first positioning, building a wall behind the ball, and using quick stunts to buy time until help arrives. The drill always runs down in transition and immediately back for a second possession, reinforcing both conversion and counter-conversion habits. Progression later adds a fourth player per team for a 4-on-4 version.

Setup & Organization
Split the team into two units: one starts on offense, the other on defense. Run five-minute segments, then switch roles so each unit plays offense and defense for equal time. On the court, three offensive players line up on the baseline facing the open floor. Three defenders line up across the foul line: one at the nail, two near the lane lines closer to the sidelines. A coach stands on the sideline with a ball to initiate play.

Step-by-Step Progression
The coach passes to any of the three offensive players on the baseline; the moment the pass leaves the coach’s hands, the offense is live. The matched defender for that receiver must first sprint to touch the baseline before joining the play, briefly creating a 3-on-2 advantage. Offense should advance the ball quickly—prefer a pitch-ahead—push through the middle, and fill wide lanes, attacking downhill to score without overpassing (finish in one pass or less whenever possible). Defense communicates immediately: one defender sprints to the paint to take away the rim, one contains the ball to slow the drive, and the delayed defender recovers to even the numbers. As the baseline-touch defender re-enters, the advantage collapses into 3-on-3. Play the possession to a natural end (make, miss, turnover, or whistle). Without resetting, convert immediately and come back for the second possession, emphasizing the same transition principles both ways. Reset new trios and repeat. In the advanced progression, add a fourth player per side and retain the same trigger (one designated defender touches the baseline) to start 4-on-4 Rush Transition.

Scoring
Score from a defensive perspective over each five-minute segment. A defensive stop on the initial transition possession is worth one point. If that unit then converts the immediate trip back (the second possession) into a score or draws a shooting foul, add one more point. Track total defensive points; then switch units and repeat.

Coaching Points
Offense: pitch ahead early, run wide, attack the paint to finish through contact, and avoid multiple passes through the lane (don’t invite the recovering defense). Drive to score first; pass only when the defender commits. Defense: paint first, ball contained second—build a wall, stunt late and short, and buy one to two seconds for the trailer to recover. Communicate matchups on the fly and protect the rim over everything. Pace, spacing, and decisive reads are non-negotiable.

Variations
Change which defender must touch the baseline to vary the recovering angle. Alter the coach’s pass target and location to change the advantage side. Impose a one-pass maximum for the offense, or a “no-middle” rule for the defense. Progress to 4-on-4 using the same triggers and scoring.