
The weave motion drill is a popular basketball warm-up exercise that helps players work on their passing and catching skills, communication, finishing, and running the floor hard. While it may not be similar to a real game, it is a great way to get players engaged and reinforce basic fundamentals. The three-man weave is the most common variation, but there are also five-man weave drills that can be used to practice transition defense and improve players' ability to push the ball up the court with speed and confidence. The drill is usually performed in groups of three, with players forming three lines across the baseline. The player in the middle starts the weave by passing to one of the players on the sideline and then cutting wide around and behind them. This process is repeated until the group reaches the other side of the court, where a layup is made.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 3 or 5 |
| Formation | 3 lines (for 3-man weave) or 5 lines (for 5-man weave) |
| Starting position | Players start at one end of the court in their respective lines |
| Passing technique | Passers call out the receiver's name and the pass number; receivers yell "ball" |
| Movement | Players cut wide and behind the player they passed to |
| Scoring | Points are awarded for made lay-ups and deducted for missed lay-ups, bad passes, and fumbles |
| Time limit | 2 minutes |
| Goal | Set a goal such as a target score or number of passes completed |
| Variations | 5-man weave includes a 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 break; 3-man weave can be adapted to involve 5 players |
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What You'll Learn

Passing and catching on the sprint
Setting Up the Drill
The drill begins with players lining up in three lines. One line is in the centre, directly under the basket, and the other two lines are at equal distances on either side of the middle line. The players in the front of the middle line and the second player in the same line should each have a basketball.
Passing and Sprinting Sequence
The passing and sprinting sequence is as follows:
- The player in the centre (O1) starts the weave by passing to one of the sideline players (let's say O2).
- O1 then sprints and cuts wide around and behind O2.
- O2 passes to the opposite sideline player (O3) and sprints behind them.
- O3 now passes back to O1, and then sprints behind O1.
- This continuous passing and sprinting pattern repeats, with players moving up the court with each pass.
Communication and Calling Out
To improve communication, passers must call out the receiver's name before passing, along with the number of the pass in the sequence (e.g., "Ross 1", "John 2"). Receivers should respond by yelling "ball." This helps reinforce communication skills, which are essential during games.
Variations and Competition
To add variation and competition, you can introduce a points system. Points are awarded for made lay-ups and deducted for missed lay-ups, bad passes, and fumbles. You can also time each group with a stopwatch, giving additional points to the fastest team. For a more advanced challenge, try the 5-man weave drill, which involves a traditional weave up the floor followed by a 3-on-2 and then a 2-on-1 break.
The weave motion drill is an excellent way to improve passing and catching skills, conditioning, and overall team coordination. It's a popular warm-up drill that gets players engaged and improves their fundamental basketball skills.
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Finishing at a basket on both ends of the floor
The three-man weave is a basketball drill that is often used as a warm-up exercise. It involves players lining up in three lines at one end of the court: one in the middle and one near each sideline. The players then weave down the court, passing and cutting behind each other, before finishing with a layup. The same group then runs the drill back to the original baseline, finishing with another layup.
To practice finishing at a basket on both ends of the floor, the three-man weave drill can be adapted as follows:
First, separate your team into three even lines across the baseline. One line should form in the middle of the baseline directly underneath the basket, and the other two lines should be at equal distances on either side of the middle line. The first player in each line will be the first group to perform the drill.
The player in the middle line starts the drill by passing to one of the players on the sideline. The middle player then cuts wide around and behind the player who just received the pass. This player then passes to the player at the opposite sideline and cuts around and behind them. The player at the opposite sideline then passes to the original middle player and cuts around them. No dribbling is allowed except for one dribble to finish the lay-up.
After making the layup, the same group runs the drill back to the original baseline, finishing with another layup. Once they have made the second layup, the next group can start weaving down the court. To keep everyone engaged, set a goal such as completing the drill within a certain time limit or limiting the number of dropped passes.
The three-man weave is a continuous drill that can be adapted to involve more players. For example, in the 5-man weave drill, five players run the traditional weave up the floor, followed by a 3-on-2 break, and finally a 2-on-1 break. This variation can be used to work on multiple areas of the game and get more players involved.
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Working on footwork
The 3-man weave is a popular basketball drill that teaches players important fundamentals such as footwork, conditioning, passing, and finishing. It is often used as a warm-up drill to get the blood flowing and engage players at the beginning of a practice session.
To set up the drill, players line up in three lines: one in the centre and one on each side. The player in the middle starts with the ball and passes to the player on their right. They then cut wide behind that player and head towards the basket. The player who received the pass angles to the middle and passes to the player on their left. This movement continues down the court, with players cutting wide and passing to the player on their opposite side.
To work on footwork specifically, players should focus on the following:
- Cutting wide: When the player with the ball passes, they should cut wide and behind the player they passed to. This movement helps to create space and improve footwork.
- Angling to the middle: After receiving the pass, the player should angle their body to the middle of the court before passing to the player on their left. This movement helps improve footwork and body positioning.
- Sprinting: The drill should be performed at full speed to improve footwork and conditioning. Players should sprint down the court as they pass and cut.
- Communication: Passers should call out the name of the receiver before passing, and receivers should yell "ball". This helps improve communication and footwork by ensuring players are in sync with their movements.
- Finishing: The drill should end with a lay-up at both ends of the court. Players should focus on their footwork when approaching the basket, ensuring they have good balance and body control.
By focusing on these specific movements and techniques, players can improve their footwork and overall performance in the 3-man weave drill.
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Conditioning
The 3-Man Weave is a popular basketball drill that can be used for conditioning. It is a continuous drill that involves players lining up in three lines across the baseline, with the middle player starting the weave by passing to one of the sideline players and then cutting wide around and behind them. The drill works on passing, catching, communication, finishing, and running the floor hard. It is often used as a warm-up drill to get players engaged and reinforce basic fundamentals.
To increase the conditioning aspect of the 3-Man Weave, you can add layers to the drill to increase the challenge. For example, you can require players to touch the sidelines, count the number of made lay-ups, or use different types of passes. You can also set a time limit for the drill and keep score, with points awarded for made lay-ups and deducted for missed lay-ups, bad passes, and fumbles. If the players do not meet the set goal, they can be required to do push-ups or running as a penalty.
Another variation of the 3-Man Weave that can improve conditioning is the 5-Man Weave, which involves five players running the traditional weave up the floor, followed by a 3-on-2 break and a 2-on-1 break. This variation adds a transition element to the drill, with two defenders sprinting back on defense while the other three players push the ball up the floor and score.
In addition to the weave drills, there are also other basketball conditioning drills that can improve cardio and ballhandling skills. These include the Full-Court Dribbling and Layup Drill, the Dribbling Cone Weave, the Two-Ball Dribbling, the Cone Grab Layup Drill, and the Arc Layup Drill. These drills can be done with or without equipment and can improve a player's conditioning, dribbling, and shooting skills.
Overall, the 3-Man Weave is a useful drill for conditioning, but it should not be the only drill used in practice. It is important to vary the drills and simulate game-like situations to improve players' individual fundamentals and transition skills.
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Communication
To begin the drill, players start at one end of the court in three lines: one in the middle and one near each sideline. The passer must call out the name of the receiver, and the receiver should respond by yelling "ball". This is a simple yet effective way to get players communicating and working together.
As the drill progresses, communication becomes even more important. For example, players must communicate effectively to ensure smooth passing and catching without any fumbles. The drill can also be made more challenging by adding layers, such as box-outs at the end or forcing players to touch the sidelines. These variations will further enhance the team's communication skills as they work together to overcome these obstacles.
The 3-man weave drill is a great way to improve communication, but it is important to note that communication should be emphasized in all drills. As a coach, you should encourage and positively reinforce communication during practice. Allow your players to communicate freely and provide feedback to help them develop their communication skills.
Additionally, the 3-on-1 transition drill is another option to improve communication. This drill creates a more open court, allowing players to work on self-organization, communication, and creativity in a less structured environment.
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Frequently asked questions
The weave motion basketball drill is a passing drill that involves players running and passing in a weaving pattern. To set up the drill, players are organised into three even lines across the baseline of the basketball court. The player at the front of the middle line has a basketball, and the second player in line also has a ball. The drill begins with the first player passing to the player on their right, and then cutting wide behind that player.
The weave motion drill is a good way to warm up before a game, as it gets players engaged and reinforces basic basketball fundamentals such as passing, catching, communication, and running the floor hard. It can also be used to teach players about the importance of ball control and to improve their footwork.
The drill begins with the first player in the middle line passing to the player on their right, and then cutting wide behind that player. The second player then passes to the player on their left and cuts behind them. This pattern continues with players passing and cutting behind each other as they move down the court. Once the players reach the other side of the court, the player with the ball should attempt a layup.









































