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PassingFundamentals

Partner Passing Progression

This progression builds accurate, crisp passing habits early, giving players the chest pass, bounce pass, and one-handed push pass they'll use in every offense for the rest of their career.

Age RangeAges 6+
Duration6–10 minutes
Group SizePairs
SportBasketball

Equipment Needed

  • One basketball per pair

Setup

  • Partners face each other 8 to 10 feet apart, one ball per pair.
  • For younger groups, start closer together and widen the gap as accuracy improves.
Partner Passing ProgressionABchestbouncePartners 8–10 ft apart, one ballChest → bounce → one-hand push pass, then 2-ball rapid fire

Instructions

  1. Chest pass: 20 reps, stepping toward the target and finishing with thumbs pointed down and out.
  2. Bounce pass: 20 reps, aiming for a spot roughly two-thirds of the way to the partner so the ball arrives at waist height.
  3. One-handed push pass: 10 reps per hand, simulating an outlet pass after a rebound.
  4. Finish with 30 seconds of rapid-fire two-ball passing between partners for a conditioning and hand-eye finish.
Coaching Points
  • Step into every pass — passing flat-footed is the most common fundamental error.
  • Catch with both hands and immediately get into a passing-ready position (triple threat).
  • Target the partner's chest, not the floor in front of them, unless it's specifically the bounce pass.
  • Increase distance only after 8 to 10 consecutive clean catches.

Variation

Add a defender between the pair for a passing-around-pressure look, or have partners move side to side while passing to combine footwork with accuracy.

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