Fundamental Basketball Passing Drills: Ball Tag by Mark Chapman

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Drills

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October 18, 2014

Fundamental Basketball Passing Drills: Ball Tag by Mark Chapman

This is one of my favorite basketball passing drills that I picked up a couple years ago from Alan Stein of Stronger Team. He spoke at a clinic and in the two years I’ve used the drills I think my players have enjoyed it as much or more than I have.

This drill is great for a couple reasons. First, it’s a great warm-up without the players realizing they’re preparing their legs and cardiovascular system for the practice ahead. Second it works on a fundamental that we like to work on every day, passing. Third, it’s competitive and starts our practice off with energy and enthusiasm.

We play it with two teams, the teams are split by coach and will change from Varsity vs JV, Upper class vs Under class, or just random as they enter the gym. It’s important that our players learn to pass to different people.

Play starts inside the half court line (you can make this smaller or bigger based on the number of players you have in your practice). On the whistle the one minute starts and players are free to move. The offensive team moves closer to the opponent and will try to receive a pass so they can tag a player out. Don’t let players throw the ball at the opponent. . . I make them have full control through the tag so they develop good grip strength and don’t lose the ball.

Players can get out by being tagged or stepping on the sideline, baseline, or half court line. We usually give both teams 2-3 possessions and then have the losing group do some kind of consequence! Your players will love it and it will bring a lot of excitement to the start of your practice!

We have a new basketball coaching contributor in Mark Chapman He is doing an excellent job in providing basketball coaching clinic notes, basketball passing drills, and basketball plays. He is the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio.

basketball passing drill