Pass and catch with a partner
Ready when: Ball play without bouncing (b1) done.
What you are learning
The chest pass and the bounce pass: step toward your partner, push the ball with both arms straight to their chest (or bounce it so it reaches them at waist height), and follow through. The receiver shows their hands as a target.
Words on this card Chest pass, Bounce pass, Travelling
- Chest pass
- A two-hand pass pushed from the chest straight to a team-mate's chest.
- Bounce pass
- A two-hand pass that bounces once on the way, reaching the team-mate at about waist height.
- Travelling
- Moving with the ball without dribbling: more than two steps.
Set up
A ball per pair, a wall target, 3 m apart. No target? A chalk X on the wall.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Hold the ball at your chest, thumbs behind it, elbows out.
- Step toward your partner, hips facing them, and push with both arms straight, thumbs finishing pointing down.
- Bounce pass: the same push, aimed at the floor about two-thirds of the way to your partner.
- To receive: hands up in front of the chest, fingers spread, as a target.
Your part while they practise
Be the partner. Step away, then come back into a space with your hands up to receive; catch, face, pass back.
Step by step
- 10 chest passes.
- 10 bounce passes.
- 10 passes against the wall target.
- Each pass: step in, arms straight toward the target, hips facing the partner, follow through.
How much: 30 passes a round, 3 rounds 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Five passes
With a third player as defender, make 5 passes in a row to score; the defender may only intercept.
Who plays: 3 players: 2 passers and 1 defender. Change the defender after each interception.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The passers stay inside a square about 5 m by 5 m and may move inside it
- They pass to each other; the defender tries to catch or knock the ball away, without touching anyone
- 5 passes in a row score a point; then start counting again
- When the defender gets the ball, they swap places with the passer who threw it
- Fair play
- A grown-up defender may only walk.
- Points
- The passers score 1 point for every 5 passes in a row; the defender scores 1 point for each interception.
- Fouls
- The pass count goes back to 0
- Walking with the ball (travelling)
- Holding the ball longer than 5 seconds
- A pass that leaves the square
- A defender who touches or grabs a passer loses a point
- Winning
- The most points after everyone has defended for 2 minutes.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 6 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Closer, softer ball.
Pass on the move.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball arrives at the feet
Aim at the chest
Look at the target before you pass. - the child throws from the arm only
Step into it
A step toward the partner gives the pass its power.
Self-check
8 of 10 passes catchable without moving the feet.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the finger or wrist after a catch.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains passing, catching, moving to receive.
awiseathlete.com/sports/basketball/basketball-b3