
The 3-man weave is a popular basketball drill used by basketball players and coaches to improve footwork, conditioning, passing, catching, and finishing. It involves three players forming three lines on the baseline: one in each corner and one in the middle. The player in the middle line starts with the ball and passes to either side, then follows the pass by running behind the receiver and turning up the sideline. The new ball carrier then passes to the opposite side and repeats the action, continuing up the court until a player is close enough to finish at the rim. While some coaches find it to be a valuable warm-up drill, others argue that it does not resemble game-like situations and is therefore less effective for improving individual skills. However, it is still widely used as a team-building exercise to improve communication and cohesion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 3 |
| Number of lines | 3 |
| Formation | One line in the center, one on the left, and one on the right |
| Passing style | Chest passes |
| Passing sequence | Pass to the player on the side, then sprint behind the receiver and turn up the sideline |
| Passing requirements | Passers must call out the receiver's name and the number of the pass in the sequence |
| Receivers' requirements | Yell "ball" |
| Number of passes | Coaches may designate a set number, usually 4-5 passes, or work down to 2-3 depending on age and skill level |
| Finishing | Layup |
| Scoring | 1 point for the layup and 2 points for each 3-pointer |
| Competition | Each threesome keeps their own score |
| Rotation | Players rotate so that everyone gets to complete a layup, shot, or close out |
| Purpose | Warm-up, team cohesion, communication, passing, catching, finishing, footwork, conditioning, and fundamentals |
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What You'll Learn

Forming three lines
To form the three lines, players should start at one end of the court, with one line in the middle and one line near each sideline. Alternatively, the lines can be formed on the baseline, with one line in each corner and one in the middle, underneath the basket. The number of players in each line may vary, but the middle line should have at least two players, with the first player holding a basketball.
The players in the middle line with the basketball will be the first group to perform the drill. The first player will pass to either of the outside lines to begin the drill and then sprint behind the player they passed to. This initiates the weaving motion, which is the core of the drill.
The player who caught the pass will then make another pass to the third player in their line and sprint behind them. This pattern repeats, with each pass followed by a sprint behind the receiver, until the group reaches the other end of the court. The final pass is a bounce pass to the scorer, who must make a layup.
The three-person weave drill is a continuous process. After making the layup, the same group runs the drill back to the original baseline, finishing with another layup. Once they have completed the drill, they fill in at the end of each line, and the next group becomes "in."
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Passing and communication
To begin the drill, the player in the middle line with the basketball makes a chest pass to either of the players in the outside lines. They must then sprint behind the player they passed to and towards the basket. The player who caught the pass then makes another chest pass to the third player and sprints behind them. This pattern repeats up the court, with each pass followed by a sprint behind the receiver. The drill ends with a bounce pass to the scorer, who must make a layup.
The three-person weave is a continuous drill, with the group running the same pattern back to the original baseline and finishing with another layup. Once complete, they fill in at the end of each line, and the next group begins.
The number of passes in the sequence can be adjusted by coaches depending on the age and skill level of the players. Typically, 4-5 passes are a good starting point, with the number being reduced to 2-3 passes for younger or less skilled players.
While the three-person weave is a popular warm-up drill, some coaches argue that it does not resemble game-like situations. They believe that wide-open chest passes and layups are less common in actual games, and that live-action drills may be more effective for improving individual fundamentals and transition play. However, the three-person weave can still be useful for warming up the body and improving basic skills such as passing and catching. It can also be used to reinforce fundamental techniques that coaches want their players to use in a game.
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Finishing with layups
Starting the Drill
The three-person weave drill begins with players lining up in three lines: one line in the center and one line each on the left and right sides of the court. The player starting with the ball, known as the passer, is positioned in the center line. This player initiates the drill by passing to one of the players on the sideline lines.
Passing and Movement
After the initial pass, the passer (player #2) cuts wide behind the player they passed to (player #3) and heads toward the basket. Player #3, now in possession of the ball, angles to the middle and passes to the player on the opposite sideline (player #1). Player #3 then cuts wide behind player #1. This passing and movement pattern continues, with players passing and then cutting wide behind the receiver.
The drill emphasizes making good passes and catching every pass with both hands. As the group moves up the court with each pass, the pattern repeats until the final bounce pass to the scorer (usually the original passer). The scorer must then finish with a layup. After making the layup, the same group resets and runs the same drill back to the original baseline, with the scorer now becoming the receiver. This return trip also finishes with a layup, typically made by the player who initiated the drill.
Communication and Rotation
Effective communication is crucial during the drill. Passers should call out the receiver's name before passing, and receivers should respond by yelling "ball". This ensures everyone is in sync and reduces the likelihood of mistakes. To ensure everyone gets a chance to participate, players can rotate roles after each group completes their layups. The group that finished the layup fills in at the end of each line, and the next group initiates the weave.
Competitive Variations
To increase competition and engagement, coaches can introduce variations. For example, each three-person group can keep their own score, with points awarded for successful layups and three-pointers. If a team fails to meet a predetermined score within a set time, they may be challenged to do push-ups or run additional sprints as a fun and challenging incentive.
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Rebounding and restarting
The three-person weave is a popular basketball drill that can be used to warm up before a game. It is a great way to reinforce basic basketball fundamentals, such as passing and catching on the move, footwork, and conditioning.
The three-person weave drill can be adapted to include rebounding and restarting elements, making it a more dynamic and competitive exercise. Here's how you can incorporate these aspects:
Rebounding
After a player makes a layup, they can retrieve their own rebound. This is a common element in basketball drills, as it allows players to work on their rebounding skills and helps maintain a quick pace during the drill.
In some variations of the three-person weave, players shoot mid-range jump shots after completing the weave. In this case, the players who were on the endline (usually players #4 and #5) close out on the ball by yelling "ball, ball, ball" and then "shot." They then box out and rebound the make or miss.
Restarting
To ensure that all players get equal opportunities to work on their layups, shooting, and closing out, the drill can be restarted with a rotation. After a group has completed the weave and made their layups, they rotate back to the baseline. Players #1 and #3, who were originally on the baseline, become the new passers. Player #4 goes to the middle line, and players #2 and #5 fill in on the left and right, respectively.
This rotation allows each player to experience different roles within the drill, improving their overall understanding of the game.
Additionally, some coaches choose to make the three-person weave a continuous drill, where the layup at the end of the sequence restarts the weave in the opposite direction. This variation keeps the drill dynamic and fast-paced, encouraging players to move quickly and pass accurately.
The three-person weave is a versatile drill that can be adapted to focus on specific skills, such as rebounding and restarting. By incorporating these elements, coaches can create a more challenging and engaging experience for their players.
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Variations and competition
The three-person weave drill is a popular basketball warm-up exercise that helps players work on their passing, catching, footwork, conditioning, and communication skills. While it is a useful drill, some argue that it does not resemble game-like situations, and therefore, it should not be a cornerstone of basketball practice.
Variations
The three-person weave drill can be modified to involve more players and add different challenges. Here are some variations:
- 5-Man Weave Drill: This variation involves five players running the traditional weave up the floor, followed by a 3-on-2 break, and finally a 2-on-1 break. It becomes a transition drill on the way back, with the two defenders sprinting back on defense while the other three players push the ball up the floor and score.
- 3-on-1 Transition Drill: This drill involves simulating a game situation with 5-on-5 or small-sided games with multiple trips up and down the floor in each sequence. This way, you can focus on conditioning without needing a separate drill.
- Half-Court Weave Drill: This drill combines the weave with mid-range jump shots, defensive close-outs, boxing-out, and rebounding.
- 3-Man Weave with Shooting: In this variation, the trailer (last person down the court on the weave) and the passer fan out to the wings (3-point arc area on opposite sides). Both players receive a pass and shoot a 3-pointer. They get their own rebound and give the ball back. This can be made into a competition by keeping track of the team's total score.
Competition
The three-person weave drill can be made competitive by having each group of three players keep their own score. For the 3-man weave with shooting variation, you can set a score for the teams to achieve within a time limit (e.g., 2 minutes). If they don't achieve the goal, the team has to do push-ups or running drills.
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Frequently asked questions
The three-person weave is a basketball drill where players start in three lines on a basketball court: one line in the middle and one line near each sideline. The player in the middle line starts with a basketball and passes to one of the sideline players, then cuts wide and runs behind that player. The drill continues with the new player in the middle passing to the opposite sideline and repeating the process.
The three-person weave drill is a good warm-up drill that helps players improve their passing and catching skills, communication, and finishing. It also helps players get mentally and physically warmed up before a game.
To set up the three-person weave drill, players should form three lines on the baseline of a basketball court. One line should be in the middle, underneath the basket, and the other two lines should be in the corners near the sidelines. The player in the middle line starts with a basketball.
There are several variations of the three-person weave drill. One variation involves designating a set number of passes before finishing with a layup. Another variation involves the trailer and the passer fanning out to the wings and shooting 3-pointers.











































