Player 1 steps forward without a ball to anchor the drill sequence outlined in the Rookie Practice Plans published by the NBA.
Groups of four or five players use the Make the Connection Game from the rookie training plan.
The sequence begins with three players maintaining continuous stationary dribbles while one player operates ball-free at the front of the group. Adjusting spacing ensures each dribbler retains adequate room at their designated spot while the connecting player approaches to a comfortable passing distance.
Participants keep their assigned positions until the coaching staff orders a formal rotation. Give each dribbler space at their position and let the connecting player walk close enough so the pair can make a comfortable pass.
The connecting player approaches a teammate, extends both hands as a clear target, and calls the recipient by name. The receiving player must lift their eyes from the basketball to establish direct eye contact and verify that the target hands remain visible. “Lass Spieler 2 vom Dribbeln aufschauen, Spieler 1s Augen treffen und prüfen, ob die Hände noch sichtbar sind,” Level Up Basketball said in the drill documentation.
Once eye contact is secured, the stationary player delivers either a chest pass or a bounce pass to the approaching connector. After catching the ball, the connecting player returns it to the same teammate before advancing toward the next stationary dribbler.
The receiving player displays their own hand target to prepare for the return feed while the remaining group members continue dribbling in place. Player 2 moves forward empty-handed while player 3 and player 4 keep their balls and their places.
Coaches halt the drill by calling out a transition command between ball exchanges to trigger a full reset of positions. The outgoing connector takes over the previous player’s dribble spot and receives the corresponding basketball for the next phase.
Meanwhile, the player who just passed moves forward without a ball to assume the connecting role for the subsequent rotation. Player 2 moves forward empty-handed while player 3 and player 4 keep their balls and their places.
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