Equipment Needed
- One ball per pair
One ball per pair, no sharing
A multi-pack of training basketballs means every pair gets their own ball for the whole drill.
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- Partners stand 5–6 feet apart facing each other, one ball per pair.
- Both players start in a ready position with knees bent and hands up.
Instructions
- Passer freezes in the ready position for a full second before making a chest pass.
- Receiver catches with two hands and immediately freezes in the ready position.
- Continue passing back and forth, freezing after every catch.
- After 10 clean passes, take one step back and continue.
Coaching Points
- Two hands on every catch — no one-handed grabs at this age.
- The "freeze" is what teaches balance; don't let players rush through it.
- Step toward the target when passing to build the habit of passing with the body, not just the arms.
- Keep the ball at chest height for both the pass and the catch.
Variation
Add a bounce pass version once chest passes are consistent, or have players call their partner's name before every pass to build communication.