There's a scene in Hoosiers where Gene Hackman is throwing chest passes to his players. His form is incredible. As he releases the ball, his thumbs go out and the ball spins with a perfect backspin.

If only that was all it took to be a good passer.

I haven't coached too many kids who don't know how to pass. It's not as though throwing a chest, bounce, or overhead pass is a highly intricate skill.

If that's the case, why are so many kids terrible passers?

Because good passing isn't about technique, it's about decisions.

Most passing drills never get past the how. Use this drill to teach your players how to make good decisions when passing.

3v1 and 3v2 Triangle Passing: Fast Decisions, Smarter Play

Version 1: 3v1

Setup

• 3 offensive players form a small triangle. Players are positioned at the free throw lines and just above the blocks.
• 1 defender stands in the middle of the offensive triangle.
• 1 offensive player begins with the ball.

Instructions

• The offensive players are not allowed to move or dribble.
• The offense's goal is to complete as many passes as they can without the ball being stolen or deflected.
• The defensive player is attempting to force a bad pass.

Version 2: 3v2

Setup

• 3 offensive players form a small triangle. Players are positioned at the free throw lines and just above the blocks.
• 2 defenders stand in the middle of the offensive triangle.
• 1 offensive player begins with the ball.

Instructions

• The offensive players are not allowed to move or dribble.
• The offense's goal is to complete as many passes as they can without the ball being stolen or deflected.
• 1 defender always pressures the ball. The other defender plays as an interceptor.

Coaching Tips For Offense

• You can rotate players through the drills in a couple ways. You can have a group stay on offense for 30 seconds and count their completed passes. You could also say that if the defender gets a steal or deflection, they get to go on offense. The player who threw the bad pass would go on defense.
• Passers should work on misleading the defense with their eyes. Don't telegraph your passes!
• The quicker the ball moves, the harder it is for the defense. Receivers should be scanning before they catch the ball and making an immediate decision. Don't catch and hold!
• The offense should use fakes and pivots to create passing windows. In fact, you could require them to make a pass fake or pivot before passing if you like.
• The offense needs to square up in power position on the catch. If they are not squared up, they lose one of their passing options and the defense can cheat to the other player.

Coaching Tips For Defense

• Remind defenders to have active hands. They should make themselves as big as possible by having their hands high and wide.
• The defense should stunt to create indecision. If they stand in one place, they make it easier for the offense. By faking movements, they are more likely to force a bad pass.
• In the 3v2 version, the defender on the ball should apply intense ball pressure. If they can force the passer to turn their back, they make a bad pass much more likely.
• The interceptor should read the passer's shoulders. If the passer is facing a certain direction, it is likely that's where the pass will go. A smart defender will cheat that way.

Not Your Same Old Boring Passing Drills

In Hoosiers, Gene Hackman says, "My practices were not designed for your enjoyment." Traditional passing drills like 2-line passing send the same message!

Not only are they boring, they don't work very well.

Triangle passing does! It makes passing more fun and more translatable to games. Your players will make better decisions, leading to less turnovers and more baskets!

To find more fun and age-appropriate drills and concepts for all areas of the game, check out The Youth Coaching System with Jim Huber.

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