If your child is interested in improving their basketball skills, one area that shouldn’t be overlooked is passing. Good passing is an essential skill in basketball, as it helps to create scoring opportunities for the team. In this article, we will explore a variety of basketball passing drills specifically designed for kids. These drills will not only help your child develop sharper passing skills but also enhance their overall basketball knowledge and teamwork abilities. So, let’s get started and take your child’s basketball game to the next level!
Basic Passing Drills
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball that all players, including kids, should master. These basic passing drills are a great way to introduce young players to the art of passing and help them develop their skills.
Stationary Chest Pass
The stationary chest pass is one of the most common and simplest passes in basketball. To perform this drill, stand facing your partner with your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold the ball at chest level with both hands, and then push the ball forward by extending your arms and snapping your wrists. Your partner should catch the ball and repeat the process. This drill helps players learn proper technique and develop accuracy in their chest passes.
Stationary Bounce Pass
The stationary bounce pass is another essential passing technique. It involves bouncing the ball on the ground to your teammate. Start by standing facing your partner, with the ball held in both hands. Squat down a bit and push the ball downward towards the floor, using your wrists to generate a bounce. The ball should bounce once before reaching your partner. This drill helps players work on their timing and coordination, as well as their ability to deliver accurate bounce passes.
Stationary Overhead Pass
The stationary overhead pass is a useful skill for passing the ball over defenders or to teammates who are positioned farther away. Stand facing your partner, with the ball held above your head using both hands. Extend your arms and push the ball towards your partner, releasing it with a slight backward spin. Your partner should catch the ball and repeat the process. This drill helps players develop upper body strength, as well as their ability to make accurate overhead passes.
Moving Passing Drills
Once players have mastered the basic passing techniques, it’s important to introduce drills that simulate game-like situations. These moving passing drills help players develop their passing skills while on the move.
Two-Line Chest Pass
In the two-line chest pass drill, players form two lines facing each other, with about ten feet of space between them. The player with the ball starts by chest passing it to the player across from them. After passing, they move to the back of the line opposite to where they passed the ball. The receiving player catches the ball and then passes it back to the other line. This drill helps players practice chest passing, as well as footwork and timing in a dynamic setting.
Partner Bounce Pass and Layup
The partner bounce pass and layup drill combines passing and finishing at the basket. Players pair up, with one player standing on the wing and the other player positioned near the free-throw line. The player on the wing starts with the ball and performs a bounce pass to their partner, who catches the pass and drives to the basket for a layup. After the layup, they switch roles and repeat the drill. This drill helps players improve their accuracy on bounce passes and their layup technique.
Zigzag Passing
The zigzag passing drill is designed to improve players’ passing skills while on the move and under pressure. Set up cones or markers in a zigzag pattern on the court. Start at one end and dribble or jog through the cones, performing various passes to a teammate stationed at the end. This can include chest passes, bounce passes, and even overhead passes. This drill helps players develop their passing accuracy, decision-making abilities, and the ability to pass under pressure.
Advanced Passing Drills
Once players have mastered the basic and moving passing drills, they can move on to more advanced passing techniques. These drills challenge players’ skills and help prepare them for higher levels of competition.
Outlet Passing
Outlet passing drills simulate the situation where a player receives the ball from a rebound or turnover and quickly passes it to a teammate to initiate a fast break. Set up two lines of players, one under the basket and the other at the top of the key. The player under the basket throws an outlet pass to the player at the top of the key, who then passes it back. This drill helps players work on quick decision-making, accuracy, and the ability to deliver long passes.
Wraparound Pass
The wraparound pass is a flashy and effective technique used to bypass defenders. To perform this pass, start with the ball in both hands and step towards your teammate. As the defender approaches, quickly rotate your wrists and wrap the ball around the defender’s outstretched arm, delivering the pass to your teammate. This drill helps players improve their hand-eye coordination, passing accuracy, and creativity on the court.
Behind-the-Back Pass
The behind-the-back pass is another advanced passing technique that requires skill and practice to master. Start by dribbling the ball with one hand and then quickly transfer it behind your back to the other hand. Simultaneously, pass the ball to a teammate who is cutting towards the basket or positioned on the perimeter. This drill helps players improve their coordination, passing accuracy, and the ability to make difficult and unexpected passes.
Group Passing Drills
Basketball is a team sport, so it’s important for players to practice passing with their teammates. These group passing drills enhance communication, teamwork, and passing skills when multiple players are involved.
Circle Passing
Circle passing is a simple yet effective drill that involves players forming a circle and passing the ball around. Players should pass the ball in both directions, using various types of passes such as chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes. The goal is to maintain a smooth and quick ball movement without any turnovers. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, communication, and overall ball handling skills.
Triangle Passing
The triangle passing drill is a great way to work on passing and movement off the ball. Players form a triangle, with one player positioned in the middle and two players on the wings. The player in the middle initiates the drill by passing to one of the players on the wing, who then passes to the other wing player. The drill continues with quick and accurate passes, with players constantly rotating positions within the triangle. This drill helps players improve their passing under pressure, court awareness, and movement without the ball.
Four Corner Passing
Four corner passing is a challenging drill that requires players to work together and communicate effectively. Set up four cones or markers in a square shape, with one player positioned at each corner. The player with the ball starts by passing to any corner and then follows their pass to that corner. The receiving player then passes to another corner, and the drill continues with quick and accurate passes. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and the ability to move without the ball.
Competitive Passing Drills
To make passing drills more engaging and competitive, incorporate these drills that challenge players in terms of accuracy, speed, and decision-making.
Passing Accuracy Challenge
The passing accuracy challenge is a fun and competitive drill that tests players’ ability to deliver accurate passes. Set up targets or hoops in different locations on the court, assigning different point values to each target. Players take turns passing to the targets and earn points based on the accuracy of their passes. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and adds an element of competition to their training.
Passing Relay Race
The passing relay race is an exciting drill that combines passing and speed. Divide players into teams and set up cones at various distances on the court. Each team forms a line, and the first player in line starts with the ball. They pass the ball to the next player in line who then passes it to the next, and so on. The goal is for each team to complete the relay race in the shortest amount of time. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, speed, teamwork, and adds a competitive element to their training.
Passing Obstacle Course
The passing obstacle course is a challenging and interactive drill that tests players’ passing skills under pressure. Set up cones, chairs, or other obstacles on the court, creating a course for players to navigate through while passing the ball to their teammates. Time each player/team to see who can complete the course with the fewest turnovers or fastest time. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and the ability to pass under pressure.
Passing Drills for Specific Positions
Different positions in basketball require different passing skills. These drills focus on the specific passing techniques needed for point guards, wings, and post players.
Point Guard Passing Drills
Point guards are often responsible for running the offense and making quick, accurate passes. Point guard passing drills should focus on decision-making, court vision, and the ability to make accurate passes in tight spaces. One effective drill is the pick and roll passing drill, where the point guard practices executing pick and roll plays with a teammate. This drill helps point guards improve their passing accuracy, decision-making, and communication skills.
Wing Passing Drills
Wings, or players positioned on the sides of the court, need to be able to make accurate passes on the move and from various angles. Wing passing drills should focus on passing while cutting to the basket or shooting from the perimeter. One useful drill is the partner bounce pass and layup drill mentioned earlier, where wing players practice passing and finishing at the basket. This drill helps wings improve their passing accuracy, timing, and ability to make accurate perimeter passes.
Post Passing Drills
Post players, or players positioned near the basket, often need to pass out of double teams or find open teammates when they are being guarded closely. Post passing drills should focus on passing under pressure and making accurate passes from the low post or high post. One effective drill is the outlet passing drill mentioned earlier, where post players practice receiving the ball and quickly passing it out to trigger a fast break. This drill helps post players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making, and the ability to pass out of double teams.
Fun and Interactive Passing Drills
Basketball should be enjoyable, especially for young players. These fun and interactive passing drills keep players engaged while still improving their passing skills.
Hot Potato Passing
Hot potato passing is a fast-paced drill that helps players improve their passing speed and accuracy. Players form a circle and pass the ball around as quickly as possible, trying to avoid dropping the ball or making a bad pass. The goal is to maintain a quick and accurate ball movement without any turnovers. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, hand-eye coordination, and adds an element of excitement to their training.
Musical Chairs Passing
Musical chairs passing is a unique drill that combines passing and quick thinking. Set up chairs in a circle, with one less chair than the number of players. When the music starts, players pass the ball around the circle. When the music stops, players must find a chair to sit on, leaving one player without a chair. That player is then out, and the drill continues with one fewer chair until there is only one player left. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and adds an element of fun to their training.
Passing Tag
Passing tag is a fun and active drill that improves passing accuracy and decision-making skills. Players form pairs with one ball shared between them. One player starts as the “tagger” and tries to tag the other player by passing the ball to them. The person who was tagged becomes the new tagger. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making under pressure, and adds a enjoyable competitive aspect to their training.
Partner Passing Drills
Partner passing drills are a great way to work on passing skills while also building communication and trust between teammates.
Mirror Passing
Mirror passing is a drill that helps players develop synchronization and chemistry with their teammates. Players pair up and face each other, mimicking each other’s movements and passes as closely as possible. Start with simple passes like chest passes and progress to more complex passes like bounce passes or overhead passes. This drill helps players improve their communication, coordination, and passing accuracy.
One-Handed Passing
One-handed passing is a drill that focuses on developing players’ ability to pass accurately with one hand. Players pair up and stand about 10 feet apart. They take turns passing the ball to each other, using only one hand. Start with chest passes and progress to other types of passes like bounce passes and overhead passes. This drill helps players improve their hand-eye coordination, passing accuracy, and adds an element of challenge to their training.
Fake Pass Drill
The fake pass drill is a fun and effective way to work on passing creativity and decision-making. Players pair up and face each other, with one player holding the ball. The player with the ball pretends to pass in one direction before quickly changing direction and passing to their partner. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and adds an element of surprise to their training.
Passing Drills for Small Spaces
Sometimes practice space is limited, but that doesn’t mean passing drills can’t be effective. These drills are designed specifically for small spaces and help players improve their passing skills even without a full-size court.
Wall Passing
Wall passing is a simple yet effective drill that can be done in small spaces. Find a sturdy wall and stand a few feet away from it. Practice various passes, like chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes, by throwing the ball against the wall and catching it as it comes back. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, hand-eye coordination, and can be done individually.
Chair Passing
Chair passing is a drill that helps players improve their passing accuracy and decision-making skills. Set up chairs in a small space, simulating defenders or obstacles. Practice passing to teammates or targets while maneuvering around the chairs. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills, and the ability to pass in tight spaces.
Tennis Ball Passing
Tennis ball passing is a drill that challenges players’ hand-eye coordination and passing accuracy. Replace the basketball with a tennis ball and practice various passes, like chest passes and bounce passes, using the smaller and faster ball. This drill helps players improve their hand-eye coordination, passing accuracy, and adds an element of challenge to their passing training.
Passing Drills for Game Situations
Passing drills for game situations focus on specific scenarios that players are likely to encounter during a basketball game.
Pick and Roll Passing
The pick and roll passing drill is designed to simulate the pick and roll play commonly used in basketball. Start by setting up two cones or markers at the top of the key, with a defender guarding the ball handler. The ball handler initiates the pick and roll by dribbling towards the cone, while the screener sets a pick and rolls to the basket. The ball handler then passes the ball to the open screener, who finishes with a layup. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making skills in pick and roll situations, and teamwork.
Baseline Out of Bounds Passing
Baseline out of bounds passing drills simulate the scenario where a team has to inbound the ball from the baseline after the ball goes out of bounds. Practice various inbound plays, focusing on making accurate passes to open teammates. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making in inbound situations, and adds an element of game-like pressure to their training.
Fast Break Passing
Fast break passing drills are designed to help players develop their passing skills in transition situations. Start with a player rebounding the ball and quickly passing it to a teammate who sprints towards the other end of the court. The receiving player then makes a pass to another teammate or finishes with a layup. This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy, decision-making on fast breaks, and the ability to make accurate passes on the move.
By incorporating these passing drills into your practice sessions, young players will develop their passing skills, decision-making abilities, and overall basketball fundamentals. Remember to make the drills fun and engaging, as it will keep the players motivated and excited about improving their game. With consistent practice and focus on passing, young basketball players will become well-rounded and valuable assets to their teams.