7 Basketball Pass Drills: How to Master Basketball Passing

Basketball passing drills can help players control the ball and make passing decisions. Like ball handling, shooting, and dribbling, passing is a fundamental skill of the sport. Whether the players are working on one-hand passes, two-hand passes, behind-the-back passes, or bounce passes, these drills reinforce the need to be aware of teammates.

There are plenty of pass drills for basketball coaches to choose from, whether they are working with high school players or professionals. Some of the most effective pass drills include:

1. 1. Wall pass: This is a great drill for a single player to work on their chest passes. You should start by facing a wall. Standing about twelve feet away from the wall, chest pass to the wall and catch the basketball as it bounces back. See how many passes you can make in thirty seconds, then try sixty. A variation of this involves sliding between two points (you can use cones to mark the space) about five-feet apart as you pass and catch the ball.
2. 2. Partner pass: This is the basic two-person pass drill. Have your partner stand about five feet away, then practice your passes for a set amount of time. Start with chest passes, then do bounce passes, then overhead passes. For variety, you can each step back after a set amount of passes, seeing how well you can maintain your speed and accuracy as the distance increases.
3. 3. Monkey in the middle: This pass drill works best with groups of three. Two players stand twelve to fifteen feet apart. The defender is in between them but will start near the player who has the ball. The two outside passers attempt to pass the ball back and forth, using fake outs, pivots, and speed to outmaneuver the defender. If the defender successfully deflects or steals the ball, the positions rotate. Variations include allowing one dribble or only using bounce passes.
4. 4. Fast break pass drill: Position the players in an oval over the full court, anchored by a player under each one of the baskets. When the coach gives the signal, the first players under the basket pass the ball to the next player (two basketballs are needed). When the ball reaches the last player before the basket, that player should make a fast break and layup, with the anchor player getting the rebound, then initiating the drill once again.
5. 5. 32 advance: The players start in three lines (each will likely have two players in it) behind the baseline. The two players on the outside will each have a basketball. The middle player begins moving up the court, while one side passes, and the other side dribbles. The middle player catches the pass, returns it to the same player, then turns to the other side and receives the pass from the other player. This continues until they reach the other end of the court, where each makes a layup. The next row begins, and once it has finished, the drill proceeds in the other direction. Specifying types of passes—chest, bounce, or overhead—can add complexity to this drill.
6. 6. Bronze passing: This drill utilizes pairs. Starting on either side of the key at the baseline, have the first pairs move down the court, passing back and forth. (The key is the area on the court beneath the basketball hoop.) When they reach the three-point line, the next pair should start. When the initial pair reaches the opposite baseline, they should move out to their respective side lines. Then, have them pass the ball back and forth over the top of the players now advancing down the middle. Have the players cycle through different types of passes.
7. 7. Netball: Netball is a cross between a scrimmage and a drill. It can be played three-on-three, four-on-four, or five-on-five, either half-court or full-court. The rules are like standard basketball, except there is no dribbling. To advance the ball and score, players must rely on their passing skills. This helps to reinforce teamwork, and the players should use all of their passing techniques, from pass fakes to one hand behind the back passes.

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