Ayrton Oneill
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball, yet it is often overlooked. It is crucial to getting the ball where it needs to go, and it's almost impossible to score without it. There are two main types of passes in basketball: air passes, which reach their intended receiver without touching the floor, and bounce passes, which hit the floor before reaching the receiver. Each type of pass has its own variations, such as the chest pass, overhead pass, wrap-around pass, and the behind-the-back pass. To pass a basketball hard, one must consider the distance to the receiver, the receiver's movement, and the amount of force required. Proper hand placement and body positioning are also key to executing a powerful and accurate pass.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Passing technique | Air pass, bounce pass, chest pass, overhead pass, wrap-around pass, baseball pass, dribble pass, behind-the-back pass, pick-and-roll pass, lob pass |
| Grip | Fingers spread out, thumbs pointed toward each other behind the ball |
| Footwork | Step into the pass with your lead foot to generate power |
| Body positioning | Square your shoulders to your target, maintain a balanced stance with knees slightly bent |
| Practice | Start with a wall, then move to drills with teammates |
| Distance | Consider the distance to your target when adjusting the force of your pass |
| Court awareness | Avoid staring at your target before passing, use peripheral vision to locate open teammates |
| Speed | Develop quick, decisive passes |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of passing in basketball
Passing is an important skill in basketball, and one that is often overlooked. It is a fundamental part of the game, as it is a team sport, and passing to teammates will lead to easy baskets and, by extension, victory.
Passing is a skill that can be learned and perfected through drills and practice. There are several types of passes, such as the chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, and wrap-around pass, and each has its own use depending on the situation. For example, the overhead pass is great for launching the ball a long distance, while the bounce pass is best used in tight spaces.
Passing is a pillar of success in basketball. It creates scoring opportunities, builds team cohesion, and cultivates unselfishness. It is an act that is designed to include other players and promote collaboration. By passing, players cause openings for their teammates and create wide-open chances, resulting in easy layups or three-point shots. This can be seen in action when watching skilled NBA or college basketball teams, where the rapid passing creates an almost constant opportunity for an uncontested shot.
Passing is also an important skill to teach young athletes as it promotes team-building and encourages them to rely on their teammates, rather than trying to win the game alone. It is a skill that should be taught with the correct mentality, as too many players think of passing as something to do when they don't have a shot, rather than an unselfish act.
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Basic hand placement and body positioning
To pass a basketball, the foundation is laid with proper hand placement and body positioning. When holding the basketball, spread your fingers out with your thumbs pointed toward each other behind the ball. This grip grants better control and accuracy when releasing the pass. Avoid placing your palms directly on the ball, as this can lead to less precision and inconsistent results.
As for body positioning, start by squaring your shoulders toward your target. This simple action helps with accuracy and reduces the likelihood of off-target passes. Maintain a balanced stance with your knees slightly bent, providing stability and the agility to react to evolving game situations. When passing, step into it with your lead foot to generate power and ensure a crisp delivery.
The chest pass is a fundamental technique that begins with the ball at chest level, held by both hands with elbows tucked in close to the body. The ball should be near or touching your chest, with full control maintained throughout the movement. Once you've found an open teammate, position your upper body to face them directly. Then, take a step with your dominant foot and throw the ball, following through by fully extending your arms.
The overhead pass is another essential technique. It starts with both hands holding the ball directly behind your head, elbows bent and close to your ears. As you step forward toward your target, extend your elbows and snap your wrists to create backspin on the ball. Your arms should move through a minimal range, ending just above your head, with most of the motion coming from the elbows rather than the shoulders.
Passing with the right amount of force is crucial. Passing too hard can make it challenging for your teammate to catch the ball, while passing too softly may allow defenders to intercept it. Consider the distance to your target and your teammate's position and movement to find the right balance. Practice passing with varying force to develop a feel for the appropriate speed in different situations.
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Air passes and bounce passes
Passing is crucial in basketball as it is almost impossible to score without it. There are two main types of passes: air passes and bounce passes. Air passes are further categorized into chest passes, overhead passes, and baseball passes, among others. Air passes are used to reach intended receivers without the ball touching the floor. The chest pass, for example, is a two-handed pass thrown from the passer's chest area towards the chest area of the teammate.
The baseball pass is another type of air pass, similar to a pitcher's throwing motion in baseball. It is used to cover long distances, such as from the backcourt to the front court. It is a good method for generating quick scoring opportunities, especially during transition offense. However, it can be challenging to execute due to the force required to throw the ball accurately over long distances.
Bounce passes, on the other hand, hit the floor before reaching the receiver. They are most effective over short distances with a single opponent between the passer and their teammate. The stance and technique are crucial for generating power and speed in a bounce pass. When executing a bounce pass, it is important to step towards the intended target, using your feet to manoeuvre around defenders.
For a two-handed bounce pass, start with the ball at your chest, take a step forward with either foot, and push off with your back foot while releasing the ball with both hands. Keep your back straight and slightly tilt your upper body forward for maximum power. The ball should hit the floor about two-thirds of the way to your target, so it rises to your teammate's chest level.
Additionally, consider the position of the defender when executing a bounce pass. If the defender is positioned between you and your target, aim for the ball to touch the floor right next to them, making it difficult for them to intercept. Practice and experience will help you determine the right amount of lead to adjust for the reduced speed of a bounce pass.
Both air passes and bounce passes require good timing and communication between the passer and receiver. It is essential to pass the ball to where your teammate will be, rather than where they currently are.
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Advanced passes
The overhead pass is one of the most spectacular passes in basketball. It starts with the ball high above your head and ends with a wide-open pass to a teammate for an easy layup. To execute this pass, keep the ball high and your hands together. This pass is challenging as it requires accuracy and leaves you vulnerable to defenders.
The baseball pass is a one-handed pass that uses the same overhand motion as an outfielder in baseball. It is a challenging pass that requires great timing and communication with your teammate. This pass is useful when you need to get the ball to an open teammate far down the court quickly.
The behind-the-back pass is an advanced pass used to avoid a defender when making a forward pass seems too risky. It is performed by wrapping the ball behind your back and passing it to your teammate. This pass is difficult to execute well as it involves losing sight of the ball and defenders, requiring excellent court awareness.
The lob pass is an advanced pass thrown high over a defender to an offensive player positioned to score. This pass often sets up a slam dunk by a receiver who catches it mid-air. It requires precise timing and communication with your teammate.
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Passing drills
Passing is one of the most under-taught skills in basketball, but it is fundamental to the game. Here are some passing drills to help players improve their passing skills and become more confident on the court.
Monkey in the Middle
This is a great drill for players to learn how to read the defense and make correct passing decisions. Divide players into groups of three. Each group has one basketball. The two outside players must pass to each other without the use of lob passes or dribbling, using only pivoting and fakes to create space and get the ball past the defender (the middle player). The middle player attempts to deflect or steal the basketball.
Bull in the Ring
This is another excellent team passing drill that helps players read the defense and make good passes.
Argentina Passing
This drill focuses on conditioning and communication. Players must communicate and make accurate passes without traveling.
No Dribble Advancement
This is a great drill for young players to improve their passing and pivoting skills, decision-making, and ability to handle pressure.
Basic Passing Drills
For beginners, start with simple drills like partner passing to introduce new skills and terminology. Begin with the chest pass, bounce pass, push pass, and overhead pass. Once players are comfortable with the basic technique, move on to variations like behind the back, over-spins, and wrap-arounds.
Advanced Passing Drills
Once players have mastered the basics, introduce more complex drills that combine multiple skills and decision-making, such as dynamic game-based passing drills that include random types of passes, movement, and passing under pressure.
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Frequently asked questions
To throw a basketball hard and fast, you can try the baseball pass. This involves throwing the basketball with one hand, similar to how you would throw a baseball. Take a step with your non-dominant foot and throw with your dominant hand. This pass is useful when you want to get the ball to a teammate further down the court.
A skip pass is when you pass the ball to a teammate further away, skipping over teammates who are nearer to you. The overhead pass is commonly used for skip passes as it allows the ball to travel a long distance quickly. A dribble pass is another quick way of getting the ball to a teammate with one hand off the dribble.
To practice, you can find a wall and start chest passing as hard as you can. You can also practice throwing the ball at a piece of tape on the wall as fast as possible. If you have a partner, stand 5 feet apart and pass the ball to each other as hard as you can.
