
The three-man weave is a basketball drill that involves three players passing and weaving up the court to score a layup. It is a popular warm-up drill that gets the entire team warmed up mentally and physically, working on their passing, catching, footwork, and finishing skills. While some coaches find it to be a useful drill for improving team cohesion and basic skills, others argue that it does not resemble game-like situations and is therefore less effective for improving individual players' skills. The three-man weave is usually performed in groups of three, with one group performing the drill at a time, but variations exist, such as the 5-man weave, which involve more players and add additional challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objective | To get the entire team warmed up, both mentally and physically |
| Type of drill | Passing and catching on the fast break, communication, finishing, and running the floor hard |
| Number of players | 3 |
| Number of basketballs | 1 or 2 |
| Formation | Three lines: one in the center, one on the left, and one on the right |
| Starting position | The player in the front of the middle line has a basketball, and so does the second player in that line |
| Passing technique | Chest pass |
| Movement | After making a pass, the player should sprint behind the player they passed to |
| Scoring | Points are awarded for made lay-ups, and deducted for missed lay-ups, bad passes, and fumbles |
| Competition | Each group keeps their own score, and the fastest team is awarded additional points |
| Variations | 5-man weave, S-Run |
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What You'll Learn

Passing and catching
Passing:
The drill begins with players forming three lines: one in the center and one on each sideline. The middle player (let's call them Player A) starts with the basketball. Player A makes a chest pass to either of the players on the sideline, let's say to the right side, to Player B. After passing, Player A sprints behind Player B, moving towards the opposite sideline. Player B, upon catching the pass, becomes the new passer.
Player B then makes another chest pass to the player on the left sideline, Player C. This pass can be made at an angle to the middle, depending on the drill variation. After passing, Player B sprints behind Player C, similar to how Player A moved towards the opposite sideline.
Catching:
Player C, positioned on the left sideline, is now the receiver of the pass from Player B. To ensure smooth catching, Player C should be prepared and ready to receive the pass with both hands. This reinforces the fundamental skill of catching the basketball effectively. After successfully catching the pass, Player C becomes the new passer.
Continuing the Weave:
Now, Player C passes to the middle, back to Player A. To complete the weave, Player C sprints behind Player A, similar to the previous movements. The pattern of passing, catching, and weaving continues as the players move up the court. Each pass and subsequent sprint allows the players to switch roles, with the passer becoming the receiver and vice versa.
Emphasizing Passing and Catching:
The three-man weave drill is particularly useful for improving passing and catching skills because it requires accurate and well-timed passes. The players must communicate effectively, calling out the name of the player they are passing to. Additionally, the constant motion of the drill helps players develop proper spacing and teamwork, which are crucial for successful passing and catching in a game situation.
While some coaches argue that the three-man weave does not directly replicate game-like scenarios, it is still valuable for warming up players and reinforcing basic skills. The drill encourages players to focus on making good passes, catching with both hands, and developing overall team cohesion.
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Finishing
After this, the next group should start to weave down the court. The three-man weave drill should be continuous, with groups rotating in and out. The drill can be made more competitive by keeping scores, with points awarded for made lay-ups and deductions for missed lay-ups, bad passes, and fumbles.
The three-man weave is a great way to warm up with some passing, catching, and finishing. It is a good way to reinforce the fundamentals of the game and get players working together. While it may not directly mimic a live game, it is a useful drill to get players engaged and communicating.
The three-man weave is a drill that can be performed in groups of three or more, with only one group performing the drill at a time. The players line up in three lines, with one line in the center and one on each side. The player in the center has the ball and makes a chest pass to either player on the outside line. They then sprint behind the player they passed to. The player who caught the pass then makes another chest pass to the third player and sprints behind them. The pattern repeats until the final bounce pass to the scorer, who must make a layup.
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Communication
To begin the drill, players line up in three lines: one in the center and one on each sideline. The player in the middle has the ball and starts the drill by passing to one of the players on either sideline. This pass must be a chest pass, and the passer must then call out the name of the player they are passing to. After making the pass, the passer must then move, weaving behind the player they just passed to. This movement is crucial to the drill and is what gives it its name.
The player who caught the pass must then make another chest pass, this time to the third player in the line, and call out their name. They then weave behind the player they passed to, and the pattern repeats. The group moves up the court with each pass, and the ball is kept in constant motion. This movement requires players to communicate and collaborate effectively, ensuring they are all moving in sync and are properly spaced out.
The pattern continues until the final pass, which is a bounce pass to the scorer, who must make a layup. The group then runs the drill back to the original baseline, with the same player making another layup. The group has now completed the drill and moves to the end of the line, with the next group stepping in to repeat the process.
The three-man weave is a continuous drill that helps players work on their communication, passing, catching, and finishing. It is a great warm-up drill to get the entire team engaged and warmed up, both mentally and physically, at the beginning of practice. While it may not directly mimic a live game, it reinforces basic basketball fundamentals and encourages teamwork and collaboration.
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Footwork
The three-man weave is a basketball drill that involves three players passing and running up the court in a weaving pattern. It is a popular warm-up drill that helps players improve their passing, catching, footwork, conditioning, and communication skills. While it may not directly mimic game-like situations, it is useful for reinforcing fundamentals and improving team cohesion.
Player in the Center Line (Player #2):
- Start with the ball at the beginning of the drill.
- Make a pass to the player on your right side (#3).
- Immediately after passing, cut wide behind player #3 and head toward the basket.
Player on the Right Side (Player #3):
- Catch the pass from player #2.
- Angle toward the middle and pass to the player on your left side (#1).
- Cut wide and behind player #1 after passing.
Player on the Left Side (Player #1):
- Catch the pass from player #3.
- You can either make a layup or pass the ball back to the middle player (#2) to continue the drill.
- If you pass to player #2, cut wide and behind them.
During the drill, players should focus on using quick and agile footwork to move between positions. The passing and cutting behind movements require players to be light on their feet and maintain proper spacing.
Additionally, as the players rotate and weave up the court, their footwork should be synchronized and fluid to maintain a continuous drill. The drill emphasizes constant motion, so players should be instructed to fill in the end of the lines and immediately start the next group after completing a round.
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Team cohesion
The three-man weave is a basketball drill that is often used as a warm-up exercise. While it may not directly mimic the actions of a live game, it is a useful tool to get players engaged and reinforce basic fundamentals. It is particularly beneficial for younger teams to develop essential skills such as passing, catching, footwork, and communication.
The three-man weave is performed with three players in a line, with the player in the middle holding the basketball. The player in the middle passes to either player on the outside and then sprints behind the player they passed to. The player who caught the pass then passes to the third player and runs past the first player. This pattern continues with constant motion, emphasising accurate passes and proper spacing. The group moves up the court with each pass, repeating the pattern until a final bounce pass to the scorer, who must make a layup.
The three-man weave is a good exercise to get players warmed up both mentally and physically. It encourages players to communicate by calling out the name of the player they are passing to. Additionally, it helps players develop their passing and catching skills, as well as their ability to keep their heads up and see the play ahead of them.
While some coaches argue that there are more effective drills to improve specific skills, the three-man weave is still a valuable tool for team cohesion and developing fundamental basketball skills. It is a simple and popular drill that can be easily adapted for younger players and can be performed with just one basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The three-man weave is a drill that involves players lining up in three lines: one in the centre, and one on each side. The player in the centre starts with the ball and passes it to one of the players on either side. The player who passed the ball then sprints behind the player they passed to. This pattern repeats until the final pass to the scorer, who must make a layup. The three-man weave is often used as a warm-up drill to work on passing, catching, finishing, and communication.
The primary objective of the three-man weave drill is to get the entire team warmed up, both mentally and physically. It helps players work on their passing and catching skills, footwork, conditioning, and communication. The three-man weave is also useful for reinforcing basic fundamentals and improving team cohesion.
To run the three-man weave effectively, it is important to maintain proper spacing and accurate passing. Players should also focus on collaboration and communication by calling out the name of the player they are passing to. Setting goals, such as completing the drill within a certain time limit, can also help keep everyone engaged and working together. Additionally, you can make the drill competitive by keeping score and awarding points for made lay-ups and deductions for missed lay-ups or bad passes.





















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