Umbrella Set Up
Player 1 sets up in the left corner, 2 is in the key, 3 and 4 deploy on the opposite sides of the key and 5 is the deep man.

NOTE: As a coach you have to teach the players to maintain their spacing to avoid creating double-teams. AND there must always be a middleman, a safety behind him, and an outlet over the top. Your best ball-handler will nearly always take the ball out and initiate the Umbrella by inbounding the ball to player 1 in the corner.

Intro Umbrella
This configuration shows this pass and the conversion of the play into the Umbrella. After inbounding the ball to 1, 4 steps into the backcourt for the return pass from 1, who moves into the key, as 2,3 and 3 rotate into their Umbrella positions.

NOTE: Remember 5 always sets opposite the ball.

Pairs – Another Umbrella set up
1 and 2 set up in the tandem at the foul line and then split. 1 cutting to the left hand corner and 2 breaks to the opposite flat. Meanwhile, 3 feints forward and comes back short, while 5 fakes backward and then cuts forward long.

Player 4, after inbounding to 1, will move into the flat on the right and 2 will return to the key. That will restore the Umbrella configuration, with 3 and 4 set in opposite corners at the baseline, 3 and 5 at opposite ends of the midcourt line with 5 opposite the ball and 2 back in the key.

1-4 – Another Umbrella set up
From a 1-4 set up, 4 inbounds the ball to 1 coming to 5’s side screen in the key, 3 feinting long and coming short over the midcourt line, and 2 feinting short and coming back long. That will put everyone into the Umbrella configuration: 1 and 4 at the baseline, 2, in the middle, and 5 and 3 at the ends of the midcourt line.

Football – Another Umbrella set up
This configuration is designed to send a man deep whenever the defense is contracted in the back court.

Player 4 takes the ball out, with 2 and 3 at the wings, 1 set at the left block and 5 at the elbow above 1. As 1 cuts down the middle of the court, 5 slips into the near corner and 2 cuts for the ball. The ball can be inbounded to either man. Player 3 feints long and comes back to the spot just over the center line. The Umbrella will take shape, with 5 and 4 forming the back line, 2 in the middle and 3 and 1 at the ends of the midcourt line.

Volleyball – Another Umbrella set up
This configuration is designed especially as a last second shot.

Player 4 takes the ball out, with 1 at the top of the key, 3 and 2 at the ends of the midcourt line, and 5 way up court behind the opposite foul line.

As Player 1 cuts to the left side as a possible receiver, and 3 and 2 go deep, inbounder 4 throws the ball long and high. If perfectly timed, the ball and the cutters (3 and 2) arrive at the key at about the same time.

Player 5 will leap high for the ball and tip it to either side for a floating layup by 2 or 3.