What to remember

  • Partners add feedback and decisions.
  • Switch roles frequently.
  • Begin cooperatively before competing.
  • Use small scores that reward quality.

01

Passing drills 1-3

  1. Target passing: make 20 chest passes to a partner's outside shoulder, then switch sides.
  2. Pass-and-follow: pass, move toward the receiver, and trade places without crossing feet.
  3. Two-ball rhythm: partners pass one chest pass and one bounce pass at the same time, then reverse.

02

Ball handling and finishing drills 4-6

  1. Mirror dribble: one player changes height and hand while the other copies.
  2. Signal change: the partner points left or right and the dribbler reacts with one controlled move.
  3. Layup guide: the partner stands safely away from the lane and calls the finishing hand before the approach.

03

Defense and rebounding drills 7-8

  1. Shadow slides: the leader moves laterally inside a small box while the defender mirrors without reaching.
  2. Hit-find-get: one partner tosses the ball off the backboard while the other turns, makes legal contact, and pursues it.

04

Decision games 9-10

  1. Closeout read: the defender closes out under control; the attacker chooses a shot fake, one-dribble drive, or pass.
  2. Three-dribble one-on-one: begin from the wing and limit the attacker to three dribbles so both players must decide quickly.

Avoid these

Common beginner mistakes

  • Making the distance too long for accurate passing.
  • Letting one player dominate every repetition.
  • Adding hard defense before the movement is safe.
  • Turning cooperative drills into arguments about winning.
  • Standing close to an airborne finisher.

Try this next

Partner six

24 minutes
  1. Choose two passing drills.
  2. Choose one dribbling drill.
  3. Choose one finishing drill.
  4. Choose one defensive drill.
  5. End with three-dribble one-on-one.

Score it: Work four minutes per drill and switch roles every minute.

Beginner questions

Can a parent who does not play basketball be the partner?

Yes. A parent can hold targets, give simple signals, time drills, and provide light pressure without demonstrating advanced technique.

How competitive should partner drills be?

Start cooperative. Add a score only when both players can perform the movement safely and consistently.

Sources and further learning

We use official basketball organizations for rules, standards, and instructional references. Always confirm the current rules for your league.