Skill of the Day: The Triple Threat Position

The triple threat position is one of the basketball fundamentals that should be taught to all kids at an early age.  It is really nothing more than getting the ball in position to either shoot, dribble, or pass.  However, once this skill is learned, the player becomes much more complete on offense, and more consistent.

The ideal triple threat posture is to hold the ball with both hands in the middle of the body just below the chin.  Most often, the player's feet are positioned so that a quick shot could be taken (dominant foot slightly in front).

There are a few specific drills you can run to reinforce the technique, but I find its better to teach the technique, and then work it in to other ball-handling, shooting, and passing drills.  Each time a player receives the ball (rebound, pass, etc), they should get the ball to the middle of their body and prepare for a move in any direction.  After dribbling, this position allows the most flexibility for a pass or a shot.

If your team is having a lot of turnovers - especially from steals - working on the triple threat position may help keep the ball controlled on offense.  Another benefit is in teaching shooting technique - if you start from the triple threat, the young player's shot is often much more consistent.

The kids may find this slightly awkward at the beginning - but if you watch a college or pro basketball game closely, almost all players use this technique.  It's an excellent habit to start.