Amanda Knapp
Passing a basketball between your legs is a flashy move that can help you keep possession of the ball. It is a type of dribble that can be used to evade defenders and create scoring opportunities. While it can be an effective move, it requires a certain amount of space between the offensive player and the defender, and it may be considered disrespectful in some contexts. To perform this move, players need to get into a basic dribbling stance, push the ball between their legs, and then catch it with their opposite hand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stance | Crouch down low by bending your knees, lowering your hips, and pushing your back end out behind you. |
| Ball position | Aim for the ground directly beneath your body, pushing the ball between your legs with your fingertips. |
| Ball movement | Use enough force to arc the ball up to about knee height on the other side. Try to get a clean V-shaped bounce so the ball rises toward your other hand. |
| Receiving the ball | Use your opposite hand to receive the ball when it emerges from between your legs. |
| Practice | Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and pass the ball through without moving. Try different variations, such as the drop and the dribble. |
| Limitations | Not effective against very aggressive on-ball pressure. Requires a certain amount of space between the offensive player and the on-ball defender. |
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Basic dribbling stance
To get into a basic dribbling stance, you need to start by bending your knees and lowering your hips. Crouch down low, pushing your back end out behind you. Keep your knees about shoulder-width apart. This stance helps you control the ball and prepares you to move quickly.
Keep your back straight and lean forward a little. You want to be comfortable and loose, with your "nose behind your toes". You should be low enough to have leverage over your opponent, but not so low that you can't move.
Keep your head up and your eyes forward. This will help you survey the court, locate your teammates, and keep an eye on your defender. Avoid looking at the ball as you dribble. Instead, practice bouncing it a few times to get a sense of how it moves.
You can practice this stance by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and moving your left foot about a step ahead of your right foot. Hold the basketball and bounce it in front of you at knee height.
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Passing technique
Passing a basketball between your legs is a flashy move that can help you keep possession of the ball. It is a type of crossover dribble, where the ball switches from one hand to the other. This move is most commonly used by perimeter-oriented players such as point guards, shooting guards, or small forwards.
To perform this move, start in a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Bounce the ball in front of you at knee height using the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand. As you do this, take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. Shift your hand to the side of the ball as it bounces so that only your thumb is on top.
Next, push the ball between your open legs, aiming for the ground directly beneath your body. Use enough force to arc the ball back up to about knee height when it pops out the other side. Make sure to push the ball at an angle, trying to get a clean V-shaped bounce so that the ball rises toward your other hand.
As the ball emerges from between your legs, use your opposite hand to receive it. Get your hand down close to your legs so that you can control the ball as soon as it arrives. Practicing this move will help you impress crowds and leave defenders in your dust on game day!
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Practice drills
Warm-up Drill
This drill is designed to improve your wrist action and finger pad control. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart while holding the basketball. Move your left foot about a step ahead of your right foot. Keep your knees bent while maintaining a straight back. Now, dribble the ball with your right hand, passing it between your legs, and catch it with your left hand behind your body, near your left leg. Remember, the ball should not rest on the palm of your left hand, as that would indicate the end of the dribble. Repeat this process, alternating hands, for a set time or number of repetitions.
Advanced Warm-up Drill
For a more challenging version of the above drill, try this variation. Again, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and hold the basketball. This time, move your right foot about a step ahead of your left foot. Bend your knees while keeping your back straight. Dribble the ball with your left hand, passing it between your legs, and catch it with your right hand behind your body, near your right leg. Now, execute a reverse pass by dribbling the ball with your right hand from behind and passing it through your legs again. Catch the ball with your left hand to complete the cycle. Repeat this process, alternating hands, for a set time or number of repetitions.
Basic Dribbling Stance Drill
Get into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height. Take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift your hand so that only your thumb is on top of the ball. Now, push the ball between your open legs so that it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you. Move your opposite hand behind you to receive the ball as it emerges.
Passing Drill
Stand with your legs spread apart and pass the ball back and forth between your legs several times. This will help you get a feel for the force needed to push the ball through without hitting your body. Use your opposite hand to receive the ball as it comes out, getting your hand close to your legs to control it effectively.
Drop and Catch Drill
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the ball at chest level with both hands. Drop the ball, clap your hands behind your back, and catch it before it bounces. Next, bend your legs, holding the ball between them with one hand behind one leg and the other in front. Release the ball with a slight upward momentum and rotate your torso to catch it with your alternate arms, again with one hand behind a leg and the other in front.
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Limitations
Passing a basketball between your legs can be a useful skill to have in your arsenal, but it does come with some limitations. Firstly, it is considered a flashy move that may be deemed disrespectful by opponents, especially in an official game setting. While it might be suitable for pickup or streetball games with more relaxed rules, players should be prepared for potential backlash or retaliation if their opponents take offense.
Secondly, this move is not always effective against aggressive on-ball pressure. If an opponent is playing tight defense and applying quick, intense pressure, it may be challenging to execute the between-the-legs dribble successfully. In such cases, other dribble moves, like a behind-the-back dribble, may be more effective in countering on-ball defensive pressure.
Additionally, the between-the-legs dribble requires a certain level of space between the offensive player and the defender. If the defender is too close or has a wide stance, the move becomes difficult to execute without risking loss of control or a steal by the defender. Therefore, it is crucial for players to assess the defensive situation before attempting this dribble.
The between-the-legs dribble also demands a high level of precision and timing. The ball must be released and caught as close to the ground as possible to minimize the time it is not in the player's hands. This precision and timing make the move challenging to master and leave less room for error compared to more conventional dribble techniques.
Lastly, while the between-the-legs dribble can be an effective way to keep the ball out of a defender's grasp, it is also a predictable move that defenders may anticipate. As a result, defenders can quickly adapt and counter this dribble, reducing its effectiveness over time. Therefore, it should be used sparingly and only when truly advantageous to do so.
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Variations
Passing a basketball between your legs is a flashy move that can help you keep the ball out of a defender's grasp. It can be performed while remaining stationary or while moving on the court. This move is generally used by perimeter-oriented basketball positions such as the point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. However, it can also be performed by post-oriented players such as the power forward or center if they understand the basic fundamentals of dribbling.
There are two primary variations of the between-the-legs dribble: the standard form and the reverse between-the-legs dribble. In the standard form, an offensive player dribbles the ball between their legs with one hand in front of them and then catches the ball near the leg opposite to the initial dribbling hand. In the reverse variation, the offensive player dribbles the ball between their legs, but the order of actions differs.
While dribbling a basketball between your legs can be an effective move, it may not work well against very aggressive on-ball pressure. In such cases, an alternative move such as the behind-the-back dribble can be more effective in countering on-ball defensive pressure.
Passing a basketball between your legs is a tricky move that requires practice. It is important to get into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. You can then use your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height and shift your hand so that only your thumb is on top of the ball. Finally, push the ball between your open legs, allowing it to bounce underneath you and emerge on the other side, where it can be caught with the opposite hand.
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Frequently asked questions
Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips. Keep your knees about shoulder-width apart and lean forward slightly.
Think of the ball as an extension of your body. Practice bouncing it a few times to get a sense of the court and how the ball moves on it. Keep your head up and eyes forward.
Use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height. Then, use your hand to push the ball between your open legs, aiming for the ground directly beneath your body.
Use your opposite hand to receive the ball when it emerges from between your legs. Get your hand down close to your legs to control the ball as soon as it arrives.
Practice bouncing the ball back and forth between your hands without moving your feet. Once you get comfortable, try doing this while moving your feet. Practice with both hands.
