Three man weave drill diagram
Three man weave drill step by step
- 1
Three players start on the baseline with O1 in the middle holding the ball. O1 passes to O3 and runs behind O3 to fill the right lane.
- 2
O3 catches moving toward the middle, passes to O2, and runs behind O2 to the left lane.
- 3
O2 passes to O1 and goes behind O1. The pattern repeats: pass, go behind the player you passed to, then come back to the middle.
- 4
O1 hits O3 cutting to the basket from the left lane. O2 and O1 fill in behind to rebound.
- 5
O3 finishes with a layup. The next group of three starts from the baseline, or the same group weaves back the other way.
How to set up the three man weave drill
Make three lines on the baseline: one in the middle under the basket and one on each side, about even with the lane lines or a little wider. The first player in the middle line has the ball. Groups of three go one after another once the group ahead reaches half court.
Before running it full speed, walk the first few groups through at half court so everyone sees the pattern.
How to run the 3 man weave
The rule is pass and go behind. The middle player passes to one side, then runs behind the player they passed to and fills that outside lane. The player who caught the ball cuts toward the middle and passes to the player coming from the other side, then goes behind that player. The ball never hits the floor in the standard version.
Keep the passes out in front of the receiver so they catch on the run. As the group gets to the far free throw line, the player with the ball passes to a teammate cutting to the basket for a layup. Most teams run it down and back, then add a rule such as a set number of passes or a made layup before the group can come off the floor.
Three man weave coaching points
Passer
Pass ahead of your teammate so they catch in stride, then sprint behind them. Use a chest pass or a two-hand push pass. Throwing it behind a running teammate slows the whole group down.
Receiver
Show your hands as a target and catch with two hands. Catch on the move toward the middle and pass before you run out of steps. Taking extra steps with the ball is a travel.
Player filling the lane
After you go behind, get wide toward the sideline and then angle back to the middle. If everyone bunches up in the middle, the passes get short and hard to handle.
Finisher
Catch in stride and finish off the backboard. The other two crash the glass in case of a miss.
Three man weave variations
Weave with a set number of passes
Require the group to score with a certain number of passes, such as five or fewer. Fewer passes forces longer, more accurate throws.
Weave with a dribble
Younger players can take one dribble after each catch. It gives them time to get their feet set before the pass.
Weave into 2-on-1
After the layup, the shooter sprints back on defense and the other two attack the other way 2-on-1.
Five man weave
The same pass-and-go-behind idea with five players. It is harder to time and fits older teams.
3 man weave for younger players
For 10U teams, start at walking speed with no defense and allow a dribble. Say the rule out loud while they run: "pass, go behind." Once groups can get down the floor without the ball hitting the ground, add speed.
Common three man weave drill mistakes
- Passing to a teammate and then running in front of them.
- Throwing the pass behind the receiver so they have to stop to catch it.
- Taking extra steps after the catch, which is a travel.
- All three players drifting to the middle of the floor.
- Jogging the drill so it becomes a walk-through with no game speed.
Three man weave drill FAQ
What is the 3 man weave in basketball?
A full-court passing drill where three players run down the floor passing the ball. After each pass, the passer runs behind the player they passed to. The group finishes with a layup.
How do you do the three man weave?
Start with three lines on the baseline and the ball in the middle. Pass to one side, run behind the player you passed to, and keep repeating that pattern until someone cuts to the basket for a layup.
Can you dribble in the 3 man weave?
In the standard drill the ball does not hit the floor. Many coaches allow one dribble per catch for younger players while they learn the pattern.
What age should kids learn the three man weave?
Around 10U, once players can catch and pass on the run. Younger teams can do a two-player version or add a dribble on each catch.