The Diamond is a flexible offensive set that uses four players on the perimeter and three players inside. It gives the offense plenty of space and allows players to work together through dodges, picks, screens, and cuts.

Why Use the Diamond?

There are a few reasons to use this set.

First, midfielders may need a quick breather during a game. The Diamond gives them an opportunity to catch their breath while the attackers inside do more of the work.

Second, the elbows create a lot of space for defenders to navigate. This area can be difficult defensively because there are fewer field lines to help defenders understand their positioning.

The Diamond can also be useful when you have a strong inside player. For example, a tall player who is particularly good at catching inside can work from the middle while teammates work to free her up.

Let Players Read the Defense

The Diamond can be more of a freelance look.

The perimeter players should generally be your dodgers, while the inside players should be strong off-ball players who can:

  • Read the defense

  • Set picks

  • Catch and shoot

  • Work off the ball

  • Recognize when defenders are sliding or hedging

You can also run specific set plays from the Diamond, including isos and pick plays.

Draw and Dump

One simple option for the perimeter players is the draw and dump.

Drive hard. When the defender slides, drop the ball to the open player.

This can be an easy look, especially at the high school level, and it can also be turned into a shooting drill with a shadow defender.

Watch Your Defender

Off-ball awareness is extremely important.

Players often watch the ball instead of watching their defender. Instead, ask:

What is your defender doing?

If the defender is hedging, the attacker should recognize it and react.

This allows players to take advantage of the space created by defensive movement.

Use Picks and Screens

The inside players can work together through different patterns.

You can use:

  • Double picks

  • Screens

  • Picks for the picker

  • Cuts

  • Rolls

  • Isolations

For example, one inside player can pick for another, followed by another player coming up to pick for the first player.

Screens can be especially difficult for defenders to navigate because they have to determine whether the attacker is stopping, continuing, or changing direction.

Give Midfielders a Breather

If your midfielders are tired, the Diamond can allow the attackers on the inside to do more of the work.

Instead of asking tired midfielders to create every opportunity, let them catch a short breather while the inside players work through cuts, screens, and picks.

Playing Against a Zone or Backer

The Diamond can also be used against a zone.

With three players inside, the defense has to account for those players rather than leaving someone open in front of the cage.

Against a traditional backer, the open player will often be on the backside, opposite the ball.

That makes quick ball movement especially important.

Move the ball quickly to the backside and look for the inside player who becomes available when a defender slides.

Build It Through Drills

The Diamond can be broken down into simple shooting drills.

Start with skeleton drills, then add shadow defense before progressing to live defense.

You can isolate individual actions such as:

  • Backdoor cuts

  • Crease cuts

  • Double screens

  • Draw and dumps

  • Picks

  • Skip passes

Once players understand the individual pieces, bring them together in 7v7.

The Diamond can be scripted when needed, but experienced players can also be given more freedom to read the defense and make their own decisions.

Adjust to Your Personnel

The best way to use the Diamond depends on your players.

If you have strong dodgers, use the perimeter to create opportunities.

If you have a strong inside player, use the Diamond to create space and free her up.

If your inside players are good at picking, screening, catching, and shooting, give them more freedom to work together.

The set can be scripted or freelance, depending on your team's experience and ability to read the game.