Defense10U+
2-3 zone defense
The 2-3 zone defense puts two guards up top and three players across the lane.
Open in the play maker- Home
- Basketball
- Play maker
Free basketball play maker for coaches
Draw basketball plays on an iPad, laptop or phone. Add steps to animate them, then send your team a link they can open anywhere. Save as many plays as you want. No account needed.
Open the play makerFree · No signup
Works on iPad, laptop and phone
Works on iPad, laptop and phone
Unlimited playsStep-by-step animationShare links, no loginPDF, image and video export
How it works
How to create basketball plays online
- 01
Draw the play
Put players on the court and draw cuts, passes, dribbles, screens and handoffs with a finger, mouse or Apple Pencil.
- 02
Animate it
Break the play into steps. Players move between steps and the ball follows each pass.
- 03
Share it
Send one link. Players and parents can watch it on any phone without an account or an app.
- 04
Print it
Download a PDF play card with every step drawn out, an image, or a video of the animation.
Play diagram symbols
Basketball play diagram symbols, built in
The play maker uses the notation coaches already know, so a play drawn here reads the same on a whiteboard, a printed card or a phone.
- CutA solid line with an arrow. The player runs without the ball.
- PassA dashed line with an arrow from the passer to the receiver.
- DribbleA zigzag line. The player dribbles to the arrow.
- ScreenA line ending in a flat bar where the player sets the screen.
- HandoffA zigzag ending in two bars. The ball is handed to a teammate.
Free vs. paid
A basketball play designer with every feature included
Most basketball playbook apps let you save a few plays before asking for a subscription. Everything in this table is free in the Bravara play maker.
FeatureMost playbook appsBravara
Saved plays5 to 30, then a subscriptionUnlimited
Animated playsSometimes paid to shareIncluded
Share link, no player loginPaid or shows adsIncluded, no ads
PDF play cardsPaid on most appsIncluded
Video exportPaid or watermarkedIncluded
iPad and Apple PencilSeparate app downloadWorks in Safari
Embed on a league websiteRareIncluded
Youth plays by age groupRareIncluded
Basketball Play Maker
Basketball whiteboard
An online basketball whiteboard for iPad
Use it on the bench the way you'd use a dry erase board. Draw with a finger or an Apple Pencil, clear a step with one tap, and switch between half court and full court. It runs in Safari, so there's nothing to install.
- Big touch targets built for the sideline
- Lines snap to the player you start on
- Undo, redo and keyboard shortcuts
- High school, college, NBA and FIBA court lines
Free play library
Basketball plays for youth teams
Every play has an animated diagram and a teaching page, and opens in the play maker so you can change it for your team.
Defense10U+
3-2 zone defense
The 3-2 zone defense puts three players across the top and two near the basket.
Open in the play makerDefense8U+
Man to man defense
In man to man defense, each player guards one opponent, but four of the five are also helping.
Open in the play makerDefense12U+
1-3-1 zone defense
The 1-3-1 zone defense puts one defender at the top, three across the free throw line, and one along the baseline.
Open in the play makerDefense12U+
Box and 1 defense
A box and 1 defense (sometimes searched as "box in one") puts four players in a small box-shaped zone and assigns one player to guard the other team's best scorer everywhere they go.
Open in the play makerDefense10U+
1-2-2 zone defense
The 1-2-2 zone defense puts one defender at the top, two on the wings, and two on the blocks.
Open in the play makerDefense10U+
Pack line defense
The pack line defense is a man-to-man defense built around help.
Open in the play makerDefense12U+
Triangle and 2 defense
The triangle and 2 defense is a combination defense.
Open in the play makerPress10U+
Full court press (2-2-1 press)
A full court press guards the other team the length of the floor, starting on the inbound pass.
Open in the play makerPress12U+
1-2-1-1 full court press
The 1-2-1-1 full court press, often called the diamond press, puts one defender on the inbounder, two on the wings, one in the middle near half court, and one safety deep.
Open in the play makerOffense10U+
Pick and roll
The pick and roll is a two-player action.
Open in the play makerOffense9U+
Screens in basketball
Screens in basketball are the simplest way to get a teammate open.
Open in the play makerBasketball playbook maker
Print your plays as a playbook
Download a PDF with every step of the play drawn out and your notes underneath. Each card has a QR code that opens the animated version, so players can scan it at practice.
Questions
Basketball play maker FAQ
Is the basketball play maker free?
Yes. Drawing, animation, share links, PDF export and video export are all free, and you can save as many plays as you want. You don't need an account.
How do I draw basketball plays on an iPad?
Open the play maker in Safari. Pick a tool on the left, like Cut or Pass, and drag from a player with your finger or an Apple Pencil. Lines connect to the player you start on.
Can I make animated basketball plays?
Yes. Each line you draw adds the next step. Press Play and the players move from step to step while the ball follows every pass. You can also export the animation as a video.
Do my players need an account to see a play?
No. A share link opens in any phone or computer browser. Nobody has to sign up or install an app to watch it.
Where are my plays saved?
Plays save automatically in the browser on your device. Use Share or Export to keep a copy somewhere else or move a play to another device.
Can I use this instead of FastDraw?
For drawing, animating, printing and sharing plays, yes. It works in a browser on an iPad, laptop or phone, and the standard notation for cuts, passes, dribbles and screens is built in.
Draw your first play
It takes about a minute. Your plays save on your device as you go.
Open the play maker