Triple Threat & Drive

Skill drill

Attack the rim from a strong triple-threat position.

8 min any Half court
Ball-handlingFootworkU10U12U14U16

Technique guide

Any group size · 1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone

Get everyone ready

Triple threatCatch low and balanced — ready to shoot, pass or drive. 1

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

A chair or cone on the wing as the defender; the player catches beside it in triple threat (ball protected, knees bent).

Look for: Ball protected near the hip.

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

A chair or cone on the wing as the defender; the player catches beside it in triple threat (ball protected, knees bent).

  1. Catch in triple threat — ready to shoot, pass or drive.
  2. Jab step at the chair to set up your first step.
  3. Push off and drive hard past it to the rim.
  4. Finish with a layup, then reset.

Suggested reset

At a two-player basket station, the shooter retrieves their attempt and returns the same ball to the next shooter, then waits clear of the finishing lane. For a prescribed shooting set, finish the set before swapping. With more players, split across baskets or rotate short sets; keep spare balls off the active shooting line.

Coaching cues

  • Ball protected near the hip.
  • First step long and low, past the front foot.
  • Eyes up on the drive.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Add a live defender giving token pressure.

Easier: Drop the jab and just drive on the coach's call.

Read the Cone: Put a cone either side and drive to whichever one the coach points at.

What this drill teaches

A strong catch position and a first step that wins. The chair gives a fixed 'defender' to attack, so players can rehearse the jab and the long, low first step at full commitment without a live body punishing early mistakes.

In games: Fixes the player who catches and immediately dribbles on the spot, wasting the threat — a real triple threat makes defenders back off and turns catches into driving lanes on game day.

What good looks like
  • Ball protected at the hip on the catch, knees bent
  • A convincing jab that stays short and balanced
  • First step long and low past the chair, not around it

U10: skip the jab and just drive hard on the call. U14–U16: expect a sharp jab-and-go against token live pressure, eyes up the whole drive.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop, chair/cone

Setup

A chair or cone on the wing as the defender; the player catches beside it in triple threat (ball protected, knees bent).

Steps

  1. 1Catch in triple threat — ready to shoot, pass or drive.
  2. 2Jab step at the chair to set up your first step.
  3. 3Push off and drive hard past it to the rim.
  4. 4Finish with a layup, then reset.

Coaching points

  • Ball protected near the hip.
  • First step long and low, past the front foot.
  • Eyes up on the drive.

Why kids love it

Kids feel powerful attacking the basket, and the jab step is a move they can use right away.

Variations

Harder

Add a live defender giving token pressure.

Easier

Drop the jab and just drive on the coach's call.

Read the Cone

Put a cone either side and drive to whichever one the coach points at.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill