Youth Basketball
Passing

Stand 5 feet from a wall. Push the ball softly into the wall (chest height) and catch it when it comes back. This removes the complexity of a moving partner and lets kids focus entirely on grip, push, and catch — one thing at a time.

1. Both hands on ball, fingers spread, thumbs behind the ball
2. Ball starts at chest — elbows slightly bent, not flared wide
3. Push soft — this is about form, not power
4. Catch with both hands, give with the ball (don't stiff-arm it)

Partners 6 feet apart. Chest pass back and forth, softly. No form coaching yet — just watch who catches with one hand, who turns away, who stabs at the ball. This session is your diagnostic. Learn who needs what before Week 2.

Walk through the chest pass in three loud steps: "CHEST — STEP — PUSH." Between each step, freeze and check position. The pause removes automatic motion and forces each piece to be deliberate. After 5 slow reps, do 5 at normal speed.

Tape a large X on the wall at chest height. Stand 8 feet back and hit the X. Count hits out of 10 attempts. Having a specific target immediately improves accuracy — kids who "aim" beat kids who "throw" every time, even without better mechanics.

Both partners sit on the floor. Now bounce passes become necessary — chest height isn't possible from the floor. The sitting position isolates the arm mechanics and makes the 2/3 target point obvious: the ball must bounce before it reaches the partner, or it never gets there.

Partners stand 8 feet apart, passing back and forth. Before each rep, you call "Chest!" or "Bounce!" They must execute the right pass. The decision-making element is the whole point — it trains kids to think about which pass to use, not just throw a pass.

Before every pass, take a deliberately large step — almost a lunge — toward the partner. Exaggerating the step makes it automatic. After 10 giant-step passes, the normal-sized step feels effortless and natural. Most kids skip it altogether without this training.

Partners start 20 feet apart and walk toward each other. Somewhere in the middle, one passes. The walking approach naturally creates the step-into momentum that stationary drills can't replicate. It's also the first movement-with-passing combination before Week 5.

One kid walks in a straight line. The passer must lead them — throw to where they'll be, not where they are. At walking speed this is achievable in Week 5. Running comes later. Count successful receptions (ball arrived ahead of receiver) vs behind (receiver had to stop or reach back).

1. Receiver walks at a steady pace along a line or between cones
2. Passer watches the receiver's direction and speed
3. Pass ahead of where the receiver is — aim for their far hand
4. Receiver catches without breaking stride = perfect lead pass

Classic 3-person weave at walking speed: middle passes to one side, follows the pass (cuts behind the receiver), and becomes the outside player. Repeat down the court. Walking speed only — the pattern matters more than the pace this week.

3 kids with the ball vs 1 defender, half-court, no dribbling. Only passing allowed. The no-dribble rule forces every kid to move, call for the ball, and make decisions fast. 10 passes without the defender touching it = rotate the defender. Count passes out loud.

2 offensive players vs 1 defender. The shooter must receive a pass before shooting — no isolation scores. Every basket requires a pass. This teaches the game reality that passing creates the shot, and the shot rewards the pass.