Matthew Cline, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, Missouri
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The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Implementing Offense with a Constraints Led Approach
WHAT ARE DOMINOES?
Dominoes is a decision-making concept built on one core rule: one defender cannot guard two offensive players. The moment an advantage is created, players must make a 0.5-second decision to capitalize on it — just like a chain reaction.
THE 0.5 DECISION STANDARD
Players must make reads and decisions in under half a second after catching the ball. The philosophy: you are most open the moment you first catch the ball. The Indiana Pacers are cited as a real-world example, with average ball hold times consistently under one second.
HOW TO TRAIN IT — KEY DRILLS
2v1 Shooting Drill
- No dribbles, maximum two passes
- Only “silver medal” shots (high-quality looks)
- Deflection = -1 point, made shot = +1
- Players must crash the offensive glass if they don’t shoot, then respace — building habits through repetition
4v3 Dominoes
- Offense stays on for 60 seconds straight
- Defense rotates in from the baseline each rep
- Only layups or threes allowed — no mid-range
- Constraints: 0.5 decisions, respace, one can’t guard two
THE COACHING PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT
Constraints are simply boundaries placed on players to manipulate a desired behavior. The drills are intentionally messy and chaotic — because that’s what games look like. The goal is transfer and carryover, not clean-looking practice. Players should be exploring, problem-solving, and figuring things out rather than running predetermined plays.
CULTURE & BUY-IN
The staff rewards domino execution after games with a large painted wooden domino (black and gold). The language used daily is “hunting dominoes” — reinforcing the mindset of always seeking and attacking advantages.
