Catch & Shoot
Shoot quickly and on balance off a pass.
What this drill teaches
Being ready to shoot before the ball arrives. Preparing hands and feet during the flight of the pass is what separates a shot from a hesitation, and repping the catch-ready-shoot rhythm makes that preparation automatic.
In games: Cures the frozen catch — the open player who receives, pauses, and lets the defender close out — turning your team's good passes into actual shots on game day.
- Hands up and calling for the ball before the pass is thrown
- Feet set on the catch with no extra stutter steps
- One smooth rhythm from catch to release
U10: start at the elbow and accept a slow gather — rhythm first. U14–U16: expect catches off a cut and a quick, balanced release under a shot clock.
Equipment
1 ball, 1 hoop
Setup
Shooter starts at the wing, a passer (coach or teammate) under the basket with the ball.
Steps
- 1Shooter shows hands and calls for the ball.
- 2Passer hits them; shooter catches ready to shoot.
- 3Catch on the hop, feet set, shoot in rhythm.
- 4Rebound, pass to the next shooter, rotate.
Coaching points
- Hands ready before the catch.
- Feet set on the catch — 'catch ready to shoot'.
- Same follow-through every time.
Why kids love it
This is how most shots happen in games, so it feels real and game-important.
Variations
Shooter runs off a cut before catching.
Start at the elbow and step out a metre once you make three in a row.
Two shooters and one passer, 60 seconds, count the team's makes.