Call It Out Passing Circle
Communication
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Teach young players to call a teammate's name before passing to build verbal communication habits.
What you need
- basketball
Your focus
Calling a name before passing alerts the receiver and creates the habit of communicating before acting. Teams that communicate verbally make fewer turnovers and stay more connected defensively. Starting this habit at a young age makes it automatic in game situations.
Players form a circle of 5–6 with one ball.
Before passing, passer must call the receiver's name clearly and make eye contact.
If passer passes without calling the name, pass does not count, try again.
Increase tempo every 2 minutes. Play for 5 minutes total.
Goal
You've got it when you call the name before you pass every single time, not most of the time, every time. Name first, pass second.
Helpful cues
- Name first, then pass, always in that order
- Look at your teammate, not just the ball
- Loud enough that everyone on the court hears you
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Allow pointing before passing if names are not yet memorized.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a second ball and require both passers to call names simultaneously.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.