Step and Catch Full Court
|Drill||Step and Catch Full Court|
|Drill Nickname||Step & Catch|
|Central focus of the drill||Passing|
|Number of players required||8|
|Most appropriate age range(s)||All|
This drill requires a player on all four elbow spots, and two at half court near the sideline. The remaining players participating should be in equal lines on each baseline.
- A pass is made starting from the baseline to the elbow on the side of the court in which you intend to have a player look to score from on the opposite end. The pass then goes to the half court line, then to the next elbow (stepping for the catch on the wing).
- Emphasize players to over-exaggerate stepping to the pass as much as possible.
- Players should follow their pass to the next spot and go to the back of the closest line after scoring off the wing catch.
Why is stepping to the pass important?
One of the most common turnovers in the passing game is when a defender is moving towards or into the line of a pass headed to a stationary offensive player. While an offensive player is anticipating receiving a pass, a defender is reacting to a pass being thrown. The difference there often means that a defender is more likely to attempt to intercept a pass than the recipient who believes the pass will reach them.
Taking the time to practice stepping to an incoming pass will not only prevent defenders from stepping in front but will give the benefit of the doubt generally to the offense from an official in a collision going for the pass. The more prepared and active the offensive player is in terms of having their hands and feet ready to ensure the catch the more the offense will reduce turnovers.
3rd Catch Wing Scoring Variations
On the 3rd step and catch pass opposite of the line where the ball started, the player who stepped to the pass from the elbow to the wing should reverse pivot and look to score. These are some of the variations that are used:
- Rip Left/Right and Layup
- Jab Step and Shot
- Ball Fake and drive for layup.
- Ball Fake, one dribble, and Shot.