Toss & Catch
Warm up hands and the idea of giving a target.
What this drill teaches
Safe hands and the habit of showing a target. Lots of gentle, face-to-face reps teach little players to watch the ball all the way in and present two hands — the foundations every pass in their basketball life will sit on.
In games: Fixes the fumbled or face-height catch that ends so many U8–U10 possessions — a kid who shows hands and watches the ball in turns teammates' passes into possessions, not turnovers.
- Two hands shown as a target before every pass
- Eyes following the ball right into the hands
- Soft catches, ball absorbed rather than bouncing off palms
U8: drops and wild tosses are normal — move partners closer. U10: expect clean moving catches, the clap version, and passes leading a sidestepping partner.
Equipment
1 ball per pair
Setup
Partners face each other about 8 feet apart.
Steps
- 1Toss two-hand chest passes back and forth.
- 2Add a clap before each catch.
- 3Step to the side so your partner must lead you with the pass.
- 4Finish with quick 'as many as you can' catches in 20 seconds.
Coaching points
- Show two hands as a target.
- Watch the ball into your hands.
- Soft catch, ready to pass back.
Why kids love it
A gentle, social way to start — everyone is involved and it's low-pressure.
Variations
One-hand catches, or add a bounce pass.
Move closer and use a two-hand bounce pass.
Both partners jog sideways while passing so every catch is on the move.