Passing Refinement Drills

By: Ryan Goodson

Originally Published in: Basketball Essentials

Provided by: Human Kinetics

You now have a firm understanding of individual passing and catching fundamentals as well as how to break down the defense with the pass in the team setting. Now it's time to elevate your skills with refinement drills. This is where the real training begins!

CONE PASSING DRILL

Refinement

Setup

• Use two players, one basketball, and one cone.
• Player 1 has the basketball at the top of the key. Player 2 stands behind a cone that is placed on the low block.

Execution

1. Player 1 must stay behind the three-point line, complete a two-hand bounce pass at the cone, and then run to the free-throw line (figure 2.11).
2. If the basketball knocks the cone over, player 1 receives a point.
3. After the pass, player 2 retrieves the basketball and passes it back to player 1, who then takes a shot near the free-throw line.
4. If player 1 makes the shot, an additional point is awarded.
5. No points are given for missed shots or for inaccurate passes that do not strike the cone.
6. After player l's shot attempt, it is player 2's turn. Player 2 repeats the previous steps.
7. Players complete the drill for five minutes and remember their scores.

Coaching Point

If you want to elevate the drill, add a second basketball; this forces the passer to make accurate passes with one hand. In this progression, the offensive player starts the drill outside the three point arc with two basketballs. Player 1 must make a one hand pass to the cone with one basketball and then dribble the remaining basketball to the free throw line for a shot attempt.

PASSING TAG DRILL

Refinement

Setup

• Use two teams of five players and one basketball.
• The clock starts when the offensive team makes their first pass.

Execution

The goal of the drill into pass, move, and communicate in an attempt to tag one of the opposing team's players with the basketball (figure 2.12).

1. The offense is not allowed to dribble; they may only pass and pivot.
2. The opposing team is not allowed to touch the basketball, and they should try to evade it while staying inbounds.
3. When a player is tagged or goes outside the baseline, sideline, or half-court boundary, that player is out.
4. The possession ends when all five players have been tagged out. Stop the clock and record the time.
5. The opposing team then gains offensive possession and repeats the drill.
6. The team with the shortest time wins.

Coaching Point

This is a great drill to teach teamwork and communication. If the players do not speak and do not work together, there is little chance of success in this drill.