Dominoes Principle: Floor Is Lava

Importance of having space on the court, Plus a small-sided game (SSG) on how you can teach Floor is Lava.

The 3 Principles of Dominoes

• 0 Second Decisions
• 1 Can’t Guard 2
• Into and Out to Space (Floor is Lava)

If there is an advantage situation, players can play with these principles to keep dominoes alive until they find the shot they want.

Enter: Floor Is Lava 🔥

One of the most powerful constraints to teach spacing. This constraint, simply put, states:

The area inside the 3-point line, outside the paint, is lava and will burn your feet if:

• You catch the ball here, OR
• You stand here for more than 2 seconds without the ball.

Like any good rule, there are exceptions:

• When a player is positioned strategically in the dunker spot.
• When a player catches the ball on a cut that has led to dominoes (e.g., a ghost cut or back door cut).

Importance of Space

• More driving lanes
• More space inside the paint for gold medal finishes: shots at the rim inside the restricted-area arc (the “smile”).
• Forces longer close-outs

And these bullet points contribute to another rule of dominoes:
1 Can’t Guard 2

Principle Breakdown

0 Second Decisions
Helps players execute the skills needed to continue dominoes (i.e., shoot, drive, pass).

1 Can’t Guard 2
Helps players react to how the defense is playing to get into spots on the floor to stretch the defense.

Into and Out to Space
Helps players continue to recycle the spots on the floor after moving from them.

How to Teach Floor Is Lava

Small-sided game: 4-on-3 half-court – Dominoes Bursts

• 4 offensive players and 3 defensive players.
• Offense will stay for 60 seconds OR 3 turnovers.
• If there are subs, new defense will come in after every stop or score.

Constraints:

• Turnover = players catch the ball in the lava
• Turnover = players stand in the lava for more than 2 seconds (except if in dunker)
• Gold medal shots (finishes inside the smile or free throws) = double points

Coaching Notes

Whenever introducing a game, coaches should explain the rules and let the players play without saying too much. This way coaches get to observe the recurring behaviors.

Usually, players will play straddling the 3-point line and catch the ball 1 or 2 feet inside the line.

After I add the first constraint, “Floor is Lava. Cannot catch inside the 3” the behaviors change instantly.

And of course, when they catch the ball inside the 3-point line (which will happen as learning unfolds), I whistle immediately to signal a turnover.

Within minutes, the players have learned a powerful principle of keeping advantages alive:
Into and Out to Space – or as it is better recognized…
Floor is Lava.