In a three-man weave, the primary constraints are coordination and speed, as the passer must receive the ball on the run and pass without traveling. In a game, the primary constraints are the defense: most passes are contested either on the passer, the receiver or both the passer and receiver.

Here are two drills that I use at the beginning of my passing instruction:

Long Island Passing Drill

The drill is a beginning passing drill. It essentially replaces a stationary 2-man passing drill or a three-man weave. The two teams do not defend each other – they are obstacles. I stress knowing where the next open player is before one catches the pass and passing quickly. After the pass, players cut and find open spaces.

7v5 Advantage Passing Drill

The advantage passing drills take the passing to the next level as the drill incorporates defense. However, with 2 players playing all-time offense (red), the offense always has an advantage. Passers simply need to find the open player and keep the ball moving. Again, I stress making the pass quickly (no return passes) and cutting after the pass.

By Brian McCormick
Brian McCormick Basketball
Author, Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development
Director of Coaching, Playmakers Basketball Development League

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In Vol. 3, No. 41 of the Hard2Guard Player Development Newsletters, I write about two concepts that I picked up at the Basketball BC SuperConference.

First, former Wake Forest University Head Coach Dave Odom spoke about playing against pressure. He stressed cutting past the line of the defense to get open.

In the first diagram, the player cutting to the diagonal (O2) stops short of the line of the defense and on the pass, they converge at the same time and it is a free-for-all.

In the second diagram, the player cuts past the line of the defense to receive the pass.

In a different session, local high school coach Matt McKay spoke about developing a motion offense for a youth team and stressed getting to the level of the ball for a cut. Follow O3 as he cuts to the elbow to get to the level of the ball, then across the free throw line, and finally makes the L-cut to get open at the three-point line.

His other option would be to receive at the elbow if he is open, or cut backdoor if he is overplayed.

By Brian McCormick
Director of Coaching, Playmakers Basketball Development Leagues