Paint Touch, Kick, Extra Pass

Scrimmage/finisher

Connect penetration to a second passing decision against recovering defenders.

12 min 8 Half court
PassingTeamworkU14U16

Read & react

8 players · 1 ball, 1 hoop, half court; two colours of bibs

Get everyone ready

Setup8 numbered players are set; coach C holds the only ball before the starting feed. Staged teaching example; C is the coach. 12345678C

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ballGreen C: coach

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Advanced group work: players should already control legal stops, passes and live defensive spacing. Use 8 players on one half court with one ball. P1 holds the ball at the top; P2 and P3 occupy wings, P4 the left corner. P5–P8 defend. Coach supervises from the sideline, supplies the starting ball and calls dead balls. Keep spare balls and waiting players off the playing area.

A coached example. In live play, players make their own decisions; the outcome can change.

Look for: Create the paint touch without forcing traffic. The extra receiver stays ready while the first kick-out travels.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Advanced group work: players should already control legal stops, passes and live defensive spacing. Use 8 players on one half court with one ball. P1 holds the ball at the top; P2 and P3 occupy wings, P4 the left corner. P5–P8 defend. Coach supervises from the sideline, supplies the starting ball and calls dead balls. Keep spare balls and waiting players off the playing area.

  1. Offence tries to create a controlled paint touch followed by a kick-out and one extra perimeter pass before a shot. A clear uncontested layup may be taken at any time. Defenders are live and may deny the sequence. End after one shot and controlled rebound.
  2. Stop on a make, turnover, foul, ball out of bounds or first controlled rebound. Whoever secures the ball returns it to the coach; after a make the nearest defender retrieves it. No transition race or second shot.
  3. After the possession, return the ball to the coach and swap attack and defence: P5–P8 take the starting attacking spots in order, with P1–P4 defending. After both teams have attacked once, each team rotates its starting roles one position. Repeat 4 pairs of possessions so every player experiences every starting role. Begin the next rep only after the coach supplies the ball and everyone is set.
  4. For extra players, use equal-sized teams: A attacks B while C watches from outside the sideline; next B attacks C, then C attacks A. After those three reps rotate the roles within each team. With fewer than the stated group, choose a smaller-sided drill such as 2-on-2; do not quietly remove a role from this setup.

Suggested reset

Stop on a make, turnover, foul, ball out of bounds or first controlled rebound. Whoever secures the ball returns it to the coach; after a make the nearest defender retrieves it. No transition race or second shot. After the possession, return the ball to the coach and swap attack and defence: P5–P8 take the starting attacking spots in order, with P1–P4 defending. After both teams have attacked once, each team rotates its starting roles one position. Repeat 4 pairs of possessions so every player experiences every starting role. Begin the next rep only after the coach supplies the ball and everyone is set. For extra players, use equal-sized teams: A attacks B while C watches from outside the sideline; next B attacks C, then C attacks A. After those three reps rotate the roles within each team. With fewer than the stated group, choose a smaller-sided drill such as 2-on-2; do not quietly remove a role from this setup.

Coaching cues

  • Create the paint touch without forcing traffic. The extra receiver stays ready while the first kick-out travels.
  • Use a walk-through before live pressure; progress only when players can explain their role and the next reset.
  • Screens must be stationary and legal; protect landing space and stop contact that displaces an airborne player.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Walk through the named action with guided defenders at half speed. Freeze at the decision, identify the open option, then finish and practise the same reset.

Harder: Let defenders choose their response without announcing it. Keep the same player count, ball count and reset; reward a correct read even when the shot misses.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop, half court; two colours of bibs

Setup

Advanced group work: players should already control legal stops, passes and live defensive spacing. Use 8 players on one half court with one ball. P1 holds the ball at the top; P2 and P3 occupy wings, P4 the left corner. P5–P8 defend. Coach supervises from the sideline, supplies the starting ball and calls dead balls. Keep spare balls and waiting players off the playing area.

Steps

  1. 1Offence tries to create a controlled paint touch followed by a kick-out and one extra perimeter pass before a shot. A clear uncontested layup may be taken at any time. Defenders are live and may deny the sequence. End after one shot and controlled rebound.
  2. 2Stop on a make, turnover, foul, ball out of bounds or first controlled rebound. Whoever secures the ball returns it to the coach; after a make the nearest defender retrieves it. No transition race or second shot.
  3. 3After the possession, return the ball to the coach and swap attack and defence: P5–P8 take the starting attacking spots in order, with P1–P4 defending. After both teams have attacked once, each team rotates its starting roles one position. Repeat 4 pairs of possessions so every player experiences every starting role. Begin the next rep only after the coach supplies the ball and everyone is set.
  4. 4For extra players, use equal-sized teams: A attacks B while C watches from outside the sideline; next B attacks C, then C attacks A. After those three reps rotate the roles within each team. With fewer than the stated group, choose a smaller-sided drill such as 2-on-2; do not quietly remove a role from this setup.

Coaching points

  • Create the paint touch without forcing traffic. The extra receiver stays ready while the first kick-out travels.
  • Use a walk-through before live pressure; progress only when players can explain their role and the next reset.
  • Screens must be stationary and legal; protect landing space and stop contact that displaces an airborne player.

Why kids love it

Short live possessions give players a problem to solve together. Rotating the starting roles lets everyone try the key decision, then see it from the other side.

Variations

Easier

Walk through the named action with guided defenders at half speed. Freeze at the decision, identify the open option, then finish and practise the same reset.

Harder

Let defenders choose their response without announcing it. Keep the same player count, ball count and reset; reward a correct read even when the shot misses.

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