3-Man Weave to Finish
Classic weave into a 2-on-1 or layup. Passing, spacing, and communication on the move.
Setup
Three players on the baseline: one in the middle with the ball, one on each wing near the sideline. You need the full length of the floor. Extra players wait on the baseline in groups of three.
How to run it
- 1Pass, then go behind
The middle player passes to either wing, then runs BEHIND the player they just passed to. Pass first, then move — not at the same time.
- 2The receiver becomes the middle
The wing catches on the move, attacks the middle of the floor, and passes to the opposite wing who has filled toward the ball.
- 3Repeat down the floor
Every player passes and follows their pass behind the receiver. The ball zigzags, the players cross behind each other.
- 4Finish at game speed
Whoever receives the last pass near the rim finishes the layup. Nobody slows down to make sure it goes in.
- 5Rebound and come back
The three rebound and weave back the other way, or clear off the court and the next group starts.
Coaching points
- Go behind the receiver, never in front. Cutting in front is what turns a weave into a collision, and it is the single most common breakdown in this drill.
- Pass ahead of the receiver so they catch it moving forward. A pass to where they are standing forces them to stop.
- Two hands on every catch. Players get sloppy and one-hand it at speed, then lose it in traffic.
- Call the receiver's name. The weave is a communication drill as much as a passing one.
- The last pass is a layup pass, not a chest pass at the rim — lead them to their shooting hand.
Common mistakes
- Running in front of the receiver instead of behind, which is what causes the pile-ups.
- Passing and then drifting instead of sprinting behind the receiver.
- Putting the ball on the floor. A dribble means the passing pattern has already broken down.
- Slowing down near the rim to guarantee the layup, which removes the game-speed element the drill exists for.
Make it harder or easier
- Easier: walk it through at half speed until going behind the receiver is automatic, then add speed.
- Easier: allow one dribble per possession for younger groups while the passing timing develops.
- Harder: 5-man weave — same rules, five players, far more traffic and communication.
- Harder: add a defender at the far end so the finish becomes a live 3-on-1 read.
- Hardest: require a specific finish — reverse layup, or a kick-out to a trailing shooter.
Coaching focus: Passing & Cutting
Passing drills build accuracy, timing, and footwork on the catch. The best passing work is done on the move, since that's how the ball actually gets delivered in a game.
Frequently asked questions
Three players on the baseline: one in the middle with the ball, one on each wing near the sideline. You need the full length of the floor. Extra players wait on the baseline in groups of three. 1. Pass, then go behind: The middle player passes to either wing, then runs BEHIND the player they just passed to. Pass first, then move — not at the same time. 2. The receiver becomes the middle: The wing catches on the move, attacks the middle of the floor, and passes to the opposite wing who has filled toward the ball. 3. Repeat down the floor: Every player passes and follows their pass behind the receiver. The ball zigzags, the players cross behind each other. 4. Finish at game speed: Whoever receives the last pass near the rim finishes the layup. Nobody slows down to make sure it goes in. 5. Rebound and come back: The three rebound and weave back the other way, or clear off the court and the next group starts.
3-Man Weave to Finish works well for players in Ages 10–12, Ages 13–15, and can be scaled up or down in speed and complexity for other age groups.
Run 3-Man Weave to Finish for about 10 minutes as part of a broader practice or individual workout — enough reps to build the habit without losing quality.
Running in front of the receiver instead of behind, which is what causes the pile-ups. Passing and then drifting instead of sprinting behind the receiver. Putting the ball on the floor. A dribble means the passing pattern has already broken down. Slowing down near the rim to guarantee the layup, which removes the game-speed element the drill exists for.
You'll need: ball.
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