Three-Man Weave

Scrimmage/finisher

Pass on the move and finish a lay-in as a group of three.

10 min groups of 3 Full court
PassingTeamworkU10U12U14U16

Step-by-step walkthrough

groups of 3 · 1 ball, full court

Get everyone ready

Three active · three waiting · one ball1 starts middle, 2 left and 3 right on the baseline. 4–6 wait outside the sideline. Coach checks the full court and return route are clear. 123456

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Three players spread across the baseline, ball in the middle.

Look for: Follow your pass — run behind the catcher.

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

Three players spread across the baseline, ball in the middle.

  1. Pass to a teammate, then run behind them (follow your pass).
  2. Next player catches and passes to the far side, then follows.
  3. Weave up the court passing and cutting.
  4. Finish with a layup off the last pass.

Suggested reset

The finisher collects the same ball. All three clear the basket, return outside the working lane and join the back together. The next trio starts with its ball only after the lane is clear; pass the retrieved ball back to the start if using one ball.

Coaching cues

  • Follow your pass — run behind the catcher.
  • Lead the receiver with the pass.
  • Time the last pass for the layup.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Walk it slowly to learn 'pass and follow'.

Harder: Add a fourth passer for a four-man weave, or ban bounce passes so every ball is thrown ahead.

Weave to 2-on-1: Finish the weave, then the shooter turns and defends the other two coming back the other way.

What this drill teaches

Passing and catching on the move as a coordinated group. The follow-your-pass rule forces continuous running, timed passes and leading a moving receiver — the mechanics of transition offence, drilled without a defence to muddy them.

In games: Fixes the fast break that dies because the pass arrived behind the runner — a team that can hit a moving teammate in stride turns rebounds into layups.

What good looks like
  • Passes leading the receiver into space, caught in stride
  • Passers curling behind the catcher without being reminded
  • The final pass timed so the layup needs no extra dribble

U10: walk it first — the pattern melts brains for a week, then clicks. U14–U16: expect full-speed weaves, no bounce passes, and the 2-on-1 return.

Equipment

1 ball, full court

Setup

Three players spread across the baseline, ball in the middle.

Steps

  1. 1Pass to a teammate, then run behind them (follow your pass).
  2. 2Next player catches and passes to the far side, then follows.
  3. 3Weave up the court passing and cutting.
  4. 4Finish with a layup off the last pass.

Coaching points

  • Follow your pass — run behind the catcher.
  • Lead the receiver with the pass.
  • Time the last pass for the layup.

Why kids love it

It looks like a real team on the move; kids feel like a proper squad when the weave clicks.

Variations

Easier

Walk it slowly to learn 'pass and follow'.

Harder

Add a fourth passer for a four-man weave, or ban bounce passes so every ball is thrown ahead.

Weave to 2-on-1

Finish the weave, then the shooter turns and defends the other two coming back the other way.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill