Partner Passing While Sliding or Running

This drill is taking the stationary partner passing and adding movement to the drill.  The players will start on the lane lines or just slightly outside the lane and either slide down the court or run or jug while passing the ball back and forth with a teammate.  The pair of players will use a defensive slide to go down the court and pass the ball between them moving from baseline to baseline.  As the players get comfortable using a defensive slide, then the players can start to jog until finally being able to fully run and pass the ball. 

The passes for this drill will be restricted to bounce, chest and overhead.  The wraparound pass is a stationary pass and not able to be done while moving.  The bounce, chest and overhead can all be passed and caught while in motion.  When the players are sliding, the leading arm should be doing the passing.  The leading arm is going to help ingrain the need to lead their teammates in the open floor by passing and catching the ball in front of them rather than behind them.  This means that the two partners will be using different hands to make the pass while doing the drill.  It is important that the drill is done down and back.  This means a player will use one hand going down and the other hand coming back. 

When the players are able to pick up the pace and start a jog or run, then I always have the players both use their inside hand, or both use their outside hand to make the passes.  By using the same inside or outside hand the players are better able to match their speeds in order to make better passes. 

This passing drill increases players ability to pass the basketball.  But it also helps players learn how to catch a pass and become more comfortable handling a basketball.  A player who is comfortable with a basketball in their hands is going to be less likely to make turnovers because of the comfort they have with the ball.  The less turnovers a team has, the higher chances that team has to win the game. 

The three passes used in this drill is the bounce, chest and overhead.

A bounce pass is a pass that bounces between the passer and the catcher.  The passer is going to bounce the ball about ¾ of the way to the partner.  The ball will bounce at the ¾ mark and come up to a catchable height for the partner.

A chest pass is when a player makes a pass that travels completely through the air and is aimed at their partner’s chest.  The catcher should catch the ball at their chest.

An overhead pass is a two-handed pass over the head and releasing so the ball is caught at the chest of the partner.  This is a good outlet pass in basketball.  It is also the same motion as a soccer throw-in.

As the players progress in their ability to pass the ball, the need to keep challenging players is a must for the players to continue to develop and get better.  The stationary passing drill is the beginning drill for any new player to basketball.  This moving passing drill is the next step.  It takes the skills the players have learned already and makes the players use them in a different situation.  This drill increases the difficulty level but not to a level where the players will be unable to complete the drill.