Partner Passing
Clean chest and bounce passes with a proper target.
What this drill teaches
The mechanics of the two passes that run every youth offence — chest and bounce — plus the habit of showing a target. High-volume reps with a partner groove the step, the follow-through and the catch.
In games: Cleaner ball movement on game day — crisp passes to a shown target cut down the fumbled catches and floaty lobs that opponents pick off all game long.
- Stepping into every pass, thumbs finishing down
- Two hands up asking for the ball before it's thrown
- Bounce passes landing about two-thirds of the way across
U8: balls off hands and short distances — shrink the gap and celebrate clean catches. U12: game-speed passes on the move without any drop in accuracy.
Equipment
1 ball per pair
Setup
Partners face each other about 10 feet apart, one ball.
Steps
- 110 chest passes — step into each one.
- 210 bounce passes — aim for a spot ⅔ of the way to your partner.
- 310 'target' passes — receiver holds up two hands as a target, passer hits it.
- 4Add movement: partners slide sideways down the court while passing.
Coaching points
- Thumbs down through the ball on the follow-through.
- Step toward your target.
- Give a target with two hands — 'ask for it'.
Why kids love it
Add a scoreboard: how many clean catches in a row as a pair? Group tries to beat the gym record.
Variations
One-hand push passes, or pass on the move at game speed.
Sit or kneel and pass chest-height only — it isolates the arms and stops them throwing with their whole body.
Count clean catches in a row as a pair and post the gym record on the wall.