2-player drill stresses passing, post moves From Mike Ingram, head men's coach, Lansing Community College, Michigan

Our coaching staff recently realized that when we were working with our players on their post moves and kick-out passes, the coaches were making all the passes. To get our players passing, we put in a new drill called the Two-Player Passing Series.

It’s a half-court drill that uses all of your players and has them work on passing, post moves, and relocating to different spots to shoot and pass from.

Two-Player Passing Series

Have two lines of players with one stationed near the top of the key, and another group lined up in the baseline corner behind the 3-point line. C is a coach who plays stationary defense.

DIAGRAM 1: Pass and shoot. 1 penetrates to the free-throw line, while 2 starts out in the corner and makes a quick cut to the wing area behind the 3-point line (if the player doesn’t have 3-point range, have him or her step in for a medium-range jumper).

1 passes to 2, who shoots a jump shot. The shooter rebounds and the players switch lanes.

DIAGRAM 2: Penetrate and post. 1 penetrates and passes to 2. After making the pass, 1 cuts to the block and posts up in front of the coach who’s playing defense. 2 makes an entry pass back to 1, who executes a post-up shot against the defending coach. The shooter rebounds, and the players switch lanes.

DIAGRAM 3: Relocate the passing angle. This drill is the same as the previous drill, but after receiving the initial pass, the wing dribbles toward the baseline for a better passing angle into the post.

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1 passes to 2 and breaks down low to post up on the low block. 2 takes a few hard quick dribbles to the baseline and makes an entry pass to 1. 1 executes a post-up move against the defending coach. The shooter rebounds, and the players switch lanes.

DIAGRAM 4: Post-wing kick out. 1 passes to 2 and breaks down low to post up on the low block. 2 takes a few hard quick dribbles to the baseline and makes an entry pass to 1. 1 fakes a post-up shot and kicks the ball back out to 2 on the wing, who secures the pass for a quick catch-and-shoot jump shot. The shooter rebounds and the players switch lanes.

DIAGRAM 5: Repost. This drill is executed the same as the previous drill, except that when the post player kicks the ball back out, he or she continues to fight for better post position against the defending coach.

2 throws an entry pass back to 1, who secures the ball makes a post-up move and puts up a shot. The shooter rebounds, and the players switch lanes.

DIAGRAM 6: Post seal. This drill is a great way for your post players to work on getting good inside post positioning. 1 passes to 2 in the corner, cuts toward the basket, and gains positioning behind the defending coach. 2 fakes, as if to shoot, and lobs the ball over the defending coach’s head to 1, who seals the defender, secures the ball, and puts up a quick shot. The shooter rebounds and the players switch lanes.