Transforming Basketball
メンバーシップに参加すでにメンバーの方 ログイン

Coaching Guide

Basketball Passing Drills

To design an effective passing drill, coaches need to consider how an opponent shapes the outcome of a pass. Instead of drilling the same passes over and over, constraining a defender allows for different types of pass to emerge. Many times, the passes we see in games are completely different to the linear, predictable chest passes that coaches spend time on in practice.

2 min read
A young player driving with the ball against a defender at a Transforming Basketball camp session in Roseto

Make the Receiver Part of the Activity

In a simple 2-on-1 pass keepaway activity (e.g. piggy in the middle), the offense keeps possession while a defender tries to intercept or deflect the ball. Coaches can then use a constraint to greatly improve the base activity. For instance, if the defender deflects it, or the receiver needs more than two steps to collect it, the passer becomes the defender. This simple constraint dramatically changes the quality of the pass. Implicitly, players start to explore different passing angles, speeds and trajectories.

Create More Than One Passing Option

Passing problems also involve the players without the ball. If one defender can guard two receivers, the ball-handler has fewer opportunities.

Use 1 can’t guard 2 to help teammates understand why their spacing matters. Their positions should change as the ball and defenders move. The appropriate distance depends on the space available and the players’ passing capabilities.

Try It in Practice: Keepaway

Add a second defender and challenge the offense to complete eight consecutive passes in a small playing area. Now the passers are allowed to move but can't dribble, and they can only play inside the 3PT line.

The offense must keep creating passing options as the defenders move. Watch whether teammates become available before the ball-handler runs out of options. This allows teammates to work on off-ball cuts and finding a window.

As the coach, you can adjust the playing area to change the challenge. To make it harder, shrink the space. This leads to more pivots and harder catches. To make it easier, play in greater space or allow a permanent +1, e.g. 3-on-3+1, 4-on-4+1, etc.

A player holding the ball and scanning for a teammate as a defender closes

Connect the Pass to a Scoring Opportunity

Use a 2-on-1 situation to connect passing with shot selection. Two players space on the perimeter, and receive a pass from a defender closing out. The offensive players can shoot or pass, but they can't drive or cut. This immediately helps players understand the context of a "one more" pass. If the pass is not on-target, then the defender earns a point.

Explore passing

Keep learning

Free

21 SSGs for Your Next Practice

21 small-sided games you can run and adapt at your next practice — representative, game-like activities built around the Transforming Basketball approach.

リソースと、ときどきコーチングのヒントをメールでお送りします。配信はいつでも停止できます。 プライバシーポリシー.

教材の言語:英語. 無料ダウンロードとその後のメールは、現在英語のみです。

Cover of the Small-Sided Games Book PDF.

The Small-Sided Games Book

$49 USD

Go beyond your first 21 games. Build your practice around 50+ small-sided games, with diagrams and constraints you can adapt to your players.