Q: If a player’s North/South drive attempt fails, the player closest to him in the direction that he was going circle reverses and comes back behind him. Do all of the other players reverse their circle as well or do they continue on and the player whose drive failed fills the spot of the teammate that just saved him with the circle reverse?

A: When the closest player, usually the Natural Pitch, Circle Reverses behind the ball for relief, none of the other players move. They’ve already Circle Moved once. The spot that the Natural Pitch reverses into, is an open spot - the spot where the Natural Pitch was originally located - so no one else needs to move. Here’s a typical example: 5 OUT, Top drives right, Right Wing slides to corner, Right Corner runs baseline to other corner, Left Corner slides up to left wing, Left Wing fills up top. Notice that the right wing is open. If the drive failed, then the Natural Pitch (now located in the right corner) must Circle Reverse to the open spot on the right wing.

If he/she receives the ball and then drives, then that’s another story - Circle Movement by everyone again.

The penetrator who failed and passed to the Circle Reverser can fill the open spot in the corner (in the above situation). However, in other formations and depending on how many Layers you have implemented, the failed penetrator can do what any player does after passing: Complete the basket cut and fill out to any open spot, back screen out, remain in the post, screen for a post, set a Pin Screen, or use a Pin Screen.