Catch Ready: One-Second Catch-and-Shoot

Trios practice shooting off a pass, with feet and hands ready before the ball arrives. It works the catch, a quick shooting motion and reading a closing defender.

How to play

1. Catch stance: hands ready as a target at chest height, knees bent and feet pointed at the rim (3 min).
2. The passer under the rim passes to the shooter on the wing, who catches and shoots without dribbling (5 min).
3. The shooter starts at a cone, makes a short cut, catches and shoots within one second (5 min).
4. The passer closes out after the pass: if late, the shooter shoots; if right on top, the shooter drives (5 min).
5. Each trio counts makes and talks about what they learned (2 min).

Rules

• The defender closes out with hands high and breaks down before arriving, never jumping into the shooter.
• Rotate roles every five shots.
• Shoot only from the distance marked by the cones.
• The player rotating to passer always takes the rebound.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: receive with the chair already facing the rim and shoot at a lowered hoop.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the passer raises a hand before passing.
• Students with less shooting strength: shoot from inside the lane with a smaller ball.

Learning goals

• Set feet and hands before the catch.
• Shoot quickly without losing technique.
• Choose between shooting and driving based on the defender.

Equipment for a class of 25

• basketballs: 10
• basketball hoops: 6
• cones: 12

Teacher tip

Place wing cones at whatever distance each trio picks. The usual mistake is catching upright and then bending, so the ball should arrive with legs already loaded.

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