Pass

Purpose

Work on passing, player communication & conditioning.

Setup

Players from 3 lines on the baseline, each player in the middle line with a ball

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 2 passes to player 3 and follows the pass, going behind player 3.
  2. Player 1 cuts toward the middle of the court and receives the pass from Player 3 who follows the pass and goes behind player 1.
  3. Player 1 passes to Player 2, and the weave continues for 5 passes and a layup.
  4. Each group goes down and back twice and then repeats the weave with 4 passes.
  5. Each group goes down and back twice and then repeats the weave with 3 passes.
  6. Player 2 passes to Player 3 who turns, squares and throws a baseball pass to Player 1.

Coach’s Emphasis

Passes should lead the receiver and be caught in full stride.

Go full speed.

Make all layups.

Baseball passes should be on target.

 

Purpose

Improve court vision & communication.

Setup

Players from a triangle with 4 players as the bottom line, and one player as the point facing the line, 1 ball in the line, 1 in the point players hands.

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 1 makes a chest pass from the point to Player 3
  2. Player 2 passes to Player 1.
  3. Player 1 passes to Player 4.
  4. Player 3 catches and passes back to Player 1.
  5. Player 1 passes to Player 5.
  6. Passing continues. For simplification, Player 1 is always receiving passes and making passes to the next player in line.
  7.  

Coach’s Emphasis

Players will have fun with this drill and enjoy the quick reaction needed to catch and pass with all senses.

Make this drill competitive by counting how many passes each player can complete in 30 seconds.

Remind Players that speed will come from quick, crisp chest passes with the arms extended and thumbs down.

 

Purpose

Improve chest passing, bounce passing and player communication

Setup

Players from a star with 5 points at distance where all players can make good passes to any player in the star. 1 ball in the star and 1 on the baseline.

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 1 makes a chest pass to Player 3 and runs to Player 3’s spot.
  2. Player 3 makes a chest pass to Player 5 and runs to Player 5’s spot.
  3. Player 5 makes a chest pass to Player 2 and runs to Player 2’s spot.
  4. Player 2 makes a chest pass to Player 4 and runs to Player 4’s spot.
  5. Player 4 makes a chest pass to Player 1 and runs to Player 1’s spot.
  6. For simplicity, player always makes a pass to the 2nd person their right and follows their pass to take that person’s spot.
  7. Once comfortable introduce a 2nd ball or layup instead of a pass to the player under the hoop.

Coach’s Emphasis

If players are unable to make a crisp passes due to distance, move the line closer together so that focus in on form and fundamentals.

Once players have established comfort and rhythm, change passes to bounce passes, include and rhythm, change passes to bounce passes, include layups and time how many passes can be completed in 1 minute period.

 

Purpose

Improve Footwork with the ball.

Setup

All players line up at each of the 4 corners of the half-court forming a square. 1 Basketball in each line, player at the front of the line holding the ball. Ideally 3 players per line.

Drill Instruction

  1. Players dribble towards the middle of the square and come to a jump stop.
  2. Players reverse pivot 270 degrees to their right and make a chest pass to 1st player in the line they are now facing. After passing, players follow their pass to the back of that line.
  3. Players at the front of the line catches & repeat.
  4. Once the drill is understood, coach changes from reverse to front pivot, and/or from left to the right foot, or change pass type to bounce pass, overhead pass, etc.

Coach’s Emphasis

Keep the head level & stay on balance.

Crisp passes.

DO NOT TRAVEL & Stay low

Purpose

Improve player technique on bounce passes. Teaching exercises so that players are making passes with the proper fundamentals.

Setup

A player from 1 line on the baseline, facing the free throw line, facing & listening to Coach. Pull 1 player from the group as a partner for a demonstration.

Coach’s Emphasis

Emphasize zip on the basketball.

The ball should bounce from the ground to the receiver’s waist, again with 0 arcs before or after the bounce.

To make crisp passes, use legs for strength, and take a momentum step.

Keep equal pressure with a bounce pass, there should not be any dominant hand.

Choose a target just over ½ way between the passer and receiver.

Follow through with arms extended towards the target on the floor, finger stretched out towards the target and thumbs pointing down.

Receiving players should always show a target for where they want the ball, and the passer should make every effort to hit that target.

If the player does not make a target, aim for the waistline of the receiving player.

Bounce passes are best when passing through traffic or putting a player in a scoring position.

A bounce pass is also easier for the player to receive if running in full stride, as in a fast break situation for lay-up.

 

Purpose

Work on passing, and the habit of moving without the ball.

Setup

Players from the line of 2-3 players on each side of the half-court each other facing each other to pass. All the lines on the left start with 1 ball in the hands of the first person in line.

Drill Instruction

  1. The player at the front passes across the half-court to the other line.
  2. After passing, the passer makes a jab step to one side and cuts to the other running to the back of the line they have just passed to.
  3. The opposing line catches the ball and passes back to the opposing line. This player then makes a jab step to one side and cuts to the other running to the back of the line they have just passed to.
  4. Once players understand the formation- change to bounce pass, overhead pass, etc. and eventually make the relay a race, with the winning group the first to make 20 complete passes.

Coach’s Emphasis

Use your legs to make crisp, strong passes.

Stay low to gain leverage in your pass.

 

Purpose

Improves chest passing, transition offense, conditioning & player communication.

Setup

Works best with 6 players in 2 separate groups. 2 players under the hoop. 1 player on each sideline at ¼ court.1 player on each sideline, ¾ court.

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 1 makes a chest pass to Player 2 follows his pass “go where you throw”
  2. Player 2 makes a chest pass to Player 3 follows his pass ”go where you throw”
  3. Player 4 makes a chest pass to Player 5 follows his pass “go where you throw”
  4. Player 5 makes a layup, gets own rebound, and goes the full length of the court back for a layup on the far end.
  5. Once comfortable start a 2nd player in the 1st line 3 seconds behind Player 1.

Coach’s Emphasis

Encourage speed, as this is an excellent conditioning drill.

Best to run this drill for several minutes and then move to a shooting drill.

 

Purpose

Improve passing ability

Setup

Make teams of 2 with one post player and one guard on each team. Match-up all players “2” on “2” with one guard on the wing, and one post on the block, each with a defender guarding them. Each guard on offense starts with a ball.

Drill Instruction

  1. Guard bounce passes into the post while defenders play 60% defense. (Punch-in)
  2. The player defending the guard follows the ball and doubles down on the post.
  3. After passing the guard cuts another area of the court to receive the pass back from the post. (Punchout)
  4.  
  5. Once players are comfortable and making good passes, defense plays 100% and attempts to deny the Punch in & Punch out passes on offensive players are allowed 1 dribble.
  6. If the defense can steal the ball, they switch to offense.

Coach’s Emphasis

Post players should fight for low post position as they catch the ball.

Teach Guard to fake first, then pass while punching-in to the post.

 

Purpose

2 ball Carolina helps in improving chest pass and communication between the players.

Setup

Players pair up and face each other 10 feet apart on the baseline. 1 ball in each players hands (ideally balls that can be distinguished from one another)

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 1 makes a chest pass to player 2 while at the same time Player 2 makes a bounce pass to Player 1
  2. Allow players some time to establish a rhythm and comfort level
  3. Once comfortable, players begin a horizontal slide in the stance position.
  4. An opposing player catches the pass instance and mirrors the opposing player in a horizontal slide.
  5. The opposing player catches the pass instance and continuing to keep the balls as a bounce pass and the other ball used as a chest pass.

Coach’s Emphasis

If players are unable to make crisp passes due to distance, move the line closer together so that focus is on form and fundamentals.

Once players have established comfort and rhythm, switch pairs, so that team can work on communication.

 

 

Purpose

Improves the player’s passing and post moves.

Setup

Players make groups of 4 and each takes 1 hoop. 1 player on the left block and 2nd player on the right block. 3rd player at the left-wing, 4th player at the right each having a  ball.

Drill Instruction

  1. Each wing player (3 and 4) makes a pass into the post Player.
  2. Post player makes a pass to the opposite wing and cut to the opposite block.
  3. Post players receive a pass from the Player they just passed to, make a quick finish post-move, and finish the layup.
  4. Post players grab their rebound and pass to the other wing, finishing to this post.
  5. Wing players ake the post entry pass, Posts make the pass to the opposite wing, and the drill continues.
  6. Run for 30 seconds, and rotate.

Coach’s Emphasis

This simulates a great way for post players to get open and teaches a team mentality on getting the ball into the post for a kick-out, and dumb right back in.

Make sure players are using good fundamentals in the post for offensive moves and pushing themselves for a conditioning element to the drill.

 

Purpose

Improve chest passes and communication

Setup

Player form lines of 2-3 at each corner of the half-court facing one another. Both lines on the left start with 1 ball in the hands of the first person in the line, ready to pass to an opposing player.

Drill Instruction

  1. Player 1 passes to player 2 and begins a horizontal slide in the stance position.
  2. An opposing player catches the pass instance and mirrors the opposing player in a horizontal slide.
  3. The 2 players slide across the length of the floor and go the back of the line.
  4. For advanced- once reaching the baseline, continue the sliding and stance back towards their original position as the other lines join in and also complete a “there and back”

Coach’s Emphasis

If players are unable to make crisp passes due to distance, move the line closer together so that focus in on form and fundamentals.