Knockout

Knockout, sometimes called Lightning, Bump, Gotcha, Bumpout, Tornado, Speed, or Killer is played by 2 or more players and requires 2 basketballs.

All players line up behind the selected shooting point, typically the center of the free throw line or the top of the key. The first player in line shoots. If they miss, they rebound the ball and continue shooting until they make a goal. Once the first player throws the ball for their first attempt, the second player may make their first attempt.

The goal of the first player is to make a basket before the second player does. If so, the first player recovers the ball and passes it to the next player in line. The goal of the second player is to make a basket before the first player does. If so, the first player is out and play stops until both balls have been returned to the players in line.

Once the new first and second players each have a ball, play resumes. This pattern follows until all players have been eliminated except one, who is declared the winner. Typically a new game then starts with everyone lining up at the same shooting point according to the order they were eliminated, with the winner in the front of the line and the first person eliminated in the back of the line.

Double dribbling and out-of-bounds are not enforced. Players are required to dribble, though traveling is not heavily monitored. It is common for players to bump an opponent’s ball further away from the basket, but some players discourage this behavior or place limits on it.

It is also common for a player to throw their ball up through the bottom of the hoop to knock the opponent’s ball out and away. Again, some players consider this to be poor sportsmanship. Soft-tossing the ball so a player can pick it up and shoot closer to the basket is also considered cheating. Whenever someone is guilty of poor sportsmanship or cheats, it is said that they have to shoot a second time.

Additional common rules:

• When there are three shooters left, the players can decide to start shooting from the 3 Point line instead, then when there are two shooters left, they can decide if they want to shoot from the half court line or circle.
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• If they decide, the players that have been eliminated can stand under the hoop. If the shooters shoot an air-ball (a shot that does not touch the basketball hoop or backboard), the players under the hoop can catch the ball. The player that catches the ball switches places with the shooter that shot the air-ball. Nothing happens if the players under the hoop do not catch an air-ball. This rule is often disputed by the players to be dangerous because many times the players under the hoop sit-down directly under the hoop, waiting for air-balls and not paying attention if a ball will hit them.
• The winner is allowed to pick where the new shooting point is.
• The winner of the previous game must go 1st or 2nd in the next game, thus putting them at risk for the former or in safety for the latter.
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• When a player is eliminated, any other players that player previously eliminated return to play at the end of the line. For example: Alice, Bob, Cami, Dan and Edgar are playing. Dan eliminates Cami and Bob. Later, Edgar eliminates Dan so Cami and Bob return to play at the end of the line. This variant is called Revenge. The logic for this version is that the winner must eliminate all other players in order to win. A game of revenge can take a long time to finish since any player can be eliminated and return to play any number of times. Some versions of revenge put a limit on how many times a player can return to play; i.e., once a player has been eliminated 5 times (for example), that player cannot return to play.
• Forcing the second shooter to wait for the shot from the first shooter to touch or pass the rim or backboard before taking a first shot.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
• When a player is eliminated, there is a variation not to wait until both balls return to the line. As soon as the first ball is returned, the next player may shoot.

Knockout is an excellent game to work on player development and home in on these fundamental skills and techniques in the game of basketball.

1. Free Throw Shooting: As the old saying goes “Practice makes perfect”. The best free throw shooters take several hundred shots a day. Knockout can help a player practice good shooting form. Good shooters make following their shot a habit.
2. Rebounding:Knockout helps players learn what direction a ball will go on a missed shot. Players will learn to anticipate where the ball is going and quickly move to that spot. The game also reinforces quickly going up with the ball for a shot after getting a rebound.
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3. Layups:If the rebound goes long, it is best to do a layup for an easy shot. Players can practice both right handed and left handed layups during the game of Knockout. Knockout helps reinforce the importance of speed and accuracy when shooting layups.
4. Shooting Under Pressure:In Knockout, every second counts. It’s a race to make your shot to stay in the game and remove your opponents. It is a great way to practice shooting under pressure.
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5. Passing:After shooting the player passes the ball to the next player. Solid, crisp passes are expected.
6. Speed:Knockout helps players practice quick bursts of speed as they quickly sprint to the ball to get the rebound.