Back to drills
PassingMiddle SchoolIntermediate

Skip Pass Intro

Introduce the skip pass that reverses the ball over a shifted defense.

Duration
10 min
Steps
4
Equipment
2 items
Difficulty
Intermediate

How to run it

  1. 1

    Form a 3-player perimeter; pass around to draw the defense one way.

  2. 2

    When the defense over-shifts, skip the ball over to the weak side.

  3. 3

    The skip is a firm, flat chest or overhead pass — no lob.

  4. 4

    10 reps, rotating the skipper.

Coaching points

  • Skip when the defense commits to one side — that's the trigger.
  • A firm, direct pass beats a slow lob that gets intercepted.
  • The receiver must relocate to create the passing lane.

Equipment

  • Basketball
  • 3 partners

Why it works

Defenses win by shifting; the skip pass punishes the shift. The nugget: when a defense overplays one side, the weak side is wide open — but only if you can get the ball there fast. A lob gets picked; a firm skip arrives before the defense can recover. A kid who learns to skip the ball creates open shots for teammates that ball-side-only passers never see. It's the pass that breaks down helping defenses.

FREDERICK BASKETBALL
Coach Practice Card • The Zone Way
FrederickBasketball.com

Skip Pass Intro

PassingMiddle SchoolIntermediate10 min4 steps

Purpose: Introduce the skip pass that reverses the ball over a shifted defense.

Setup diagram
1234
Offense / shooterDefense

▶How to run it

  1. 1Form a 3-player perimeter; pass around to draw the defense one way.
  2. 2When the defense over-shifts, skip the ball over to the weak side.
  3. 3The skip is a firm, flat chest or overhead pass — no lob.
  4. 410 reps, rotating the skipper.

✓Coaching points

  • ✓Skip when the defense commits to one side — that's the trigger.
  • ✓A firm, direct pass beats a slow lob that gets intercepted.
  • ✓The receiver must relocate to create the passing lane.

▢Equipment

Basketball3 partners

★Why it works

Defenses win by shifting; the skip pass punishes the shift. The nugget: when a defense overplays one side, the weak side is wide open — but only if you can get the ball there fast. A lob gets picked; a firm skip arrives before the defense can recover. A kid who learns to skip the ball creates open shots for teammates that ball-side-only passers never see. It's the pass that breaks down helping defenses.

Frederick Basketball • Coach Practice CardGenerated from The Zone Way Drills Encyclopedia