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Passing is an underrated yet fundamental skill in basketball, and perfecting it can be challenging. Passing is a team effort, and a good passer knows how to deliver the ball with the right velocity and angle to make it easy for the receiver to catch. The most common passes are chest passes and overhead passes, but there are also more advanced passes such as the behind-the-back pass, the baseball pass, and the dribble pass. To pass perfectly, you need to practice your grip and technique, be aware of your teammates and defenders, and use drills to improve your speed, strength, and accuracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grip | Both sides of the ball with fingertips pointed towards the chin |
| Elbow position | In front, pointed towards the ground |
| Throwing | Step with the dominant foot and throw with the dominant hand |
| Passing angles | Pass from down by your knee, above your head, across your body, with either hand |
| Passing distance | A 10-foot pass is less likely to be stolen than a 30-foot pass |
| Pass type | Chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, behind-the-back pass, baseball pass, dribble pass, wrap-around pass |
| Velocity | Pass with the right velocity so that it is easy for the receiver to catch |
| Passing drills | Machine Gun Passing, Middle Man Passing, Pass & Switch, Partner Passing |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of passing in basketball
Passing is an essential skill in basketball, a team game that requires all players to function as one. Effective passing creates scoring opportunities, builds team cohesion, and cultivates unselfishness and teamwork. It is also a fundamental aspect of the game that players must master to improve their overall performance.
Passing is a crucial skill in basketball as it enables players to create scoring chances and achieve victory. A well-executed pass can lead to easy baskets and wide-open shots, catching the opponents off-guard. Rapid passing between teammates can confuse the opposing team, creating opportunities for uncontested shots.
Passing is also essential for team building and fostering a collaborative spirit. It teaches players to rely on and include their teammates, understanding that their collective strength is greater than individual prowess. Passing encourages a culture of sharing and working together towards a common goal.
Additionally, passing is a fundamental skill that enhances a player's overall basketball IQ and versatility. It demands court awareness, or court vision, which is developed by constantly scanning the court and analyzing the movements of teammates and opponents. This heightened awareness enables players to make better decisions, such as identifying open players or executing timely assists.
Passing is a powerful tool in basketball that extends beyond simply moving the ball. It empowers players to create scoring opportunities, build team unity, and cultivate a selfless and collaborative mindset. By mastering the art of passing, players can elevate their game and inspire their teammates to strive for collective success.
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Basic passing techniques
Passing is one of the most underrated skills in basketball, but it is fundamental to the game. Some of the best players in history were those who could pass effectively, such as Magic Johnson, who achieved 10,141 assists during his NBA career.
There are two main types of pass: an air pass, where the ball travels between players without touching the floor, and a bounce pass, where the ball is thrown to the floor to bounce to the receiver. Within these two types, there are several basic passing techniques:
- Chest pass: This is one of the most common passes. Grip the ball at chest height with both hands, elbows tucked in, and throw the ball to your teammate, stepping towards them and extending your arms.
- Bounce pass: This is similar to the chest pass, but the ball is aimed towards the ground and should bounce up to waist height for your teammate to catch. This pass is best used in tight spaces.
- Overhead pass: Hold the ball above your head with elbows bent by your ears. Step forward and extend your arms, snapping your wrists to create backspin on the ball. This pass can be used to get the ball far down the court.
- Behind-the-back pass: Hold the ball at waist level and push it with your left hand towards your right side, wrapping it around your torso. Bring your elbow back and push the ball towards your target from behind your back. This pass is useful when you are trying to avoid a defender standing in front of you.
To improve your passing skills, you can do passing drills with a partner or against a wall. Practise different passing angles and release points, and work on your accuracy and speed.
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Advanced passing techniques
Once you have mastered the basics, you can start to work on some more advanced passing techniques. These techniques will help you to become a more versatile player and improve your overall effectiveness on the court. Here are some advanced passing techniques to try:
The Baseball Pass
This pass is used when you want to throw the basketball far down the court to an open teammate. Take the basketball in one hand and bring it slightly behind your head, above your shoulder. Step with your non-dominant foot and throw with your dominant hand, like you would with a baseball. This pass can be easily knocked out of your hand, so only use it if you need to get the ball a long way.
The Dribble Pass
A dribble pass is made by transitioning from dribbling right into a pass without setting up for a chest or overhead pass. As your ball comes up when you are dribbling, push the ball toward your teammate without holding it and setting up. This is a good way to avoid giving clues to the defender about what you are doing.
The Behind-the-Back Pass
This pass is used when you are trying to avoid a defender standing in front of you. It requires agility and coordination as you need to pass without looking in the direction you are passing. Start with the ball in both hands around waist level, then push the ball with your left hand towards your right side, wrapping it around your torso. As you cross your body, grasp the ball with your right hand, bring your elbow back and push it towards your target from behind your back.
No-look passes
No-look passes are an advanced technique that can be used to confuse defenders and create scoring opportunities. To execute a no-look pass, you must be able to accurately pass the ball without looking at your target. This requires a high level of court awareness and practice.
To improve your passing skills, it's important to practice different drills. You can do this alone or with a partner, using a wall, fence, or another object to capture the ball and send it back. Start with basic passing types and then move on to variations such as behind-the-back, over-spins, and wrap-around passes.
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Passing drills
Block Drills
Block drills are a type of passing drill where players isolate a specific skill and repeat it over and over. This type of drill is useful for introducing new skills, building confidence, and allowing players to master the fundamentals of passing. For example, players can practice the chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, or behind-the-back pass in isolation before combining these skills in more complex drills.
Monkey in the Middle
This drill involves forming groups of three players, with each group having one basketball. Two players are lined up 12-15 feet apart, and the third player stands in the middle, acting as a defender. The two outside players pass the ball to each other without dribbling, using pivoting and fakes to create passing space and avoid the defender. This drill teaches players how to create passing angles, utilize fakes and pivots, and protect the basketball.
Bull in the Ring
Bull in the Ring is a team passing drill that helps players develop their passing skills and court awareness. It involves reading the defense and making accurate passes to teammates while avoiding defenders.
Stationary Passing Drill
This drill can be practiced alone and only requires a wall, a fence, or any surface that can bounce the ball back. Players can work on their passing technique by throwing the ball at the wall and catching the rebound. They can vary the distance and angle of their passes to improve accuracy and control. Once players master the basic passing types, they can incorporate variations such as behind-the-back passes, over-spins, and wrap-around passes.
Decision-Making Passing Drills
While technique passing drills are important, coaches should also incorporate decision-making drills to improve players' in-game passing abilities. These drills focus on teaching players how to read the defense and make the right passing choices. For example, the "3v2 Continuous" drill helps players practice passing and decision-making in a game-like scenario.
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Receiving a pass
The receiver must learn to get open by making V-cuts and back-cuts, and setting screens for other teammates, then sealing the defender and "rolling" off those screens. A good pass to receive is one that is caught without being in "traffic", or surrounded by defenders. A good receiver will also be able to anticipate where their teammate will be, and will move to meet the pass.
It is important to practice receiving passes from different angles and release points, as the more places you can receive a pass from, the more dangerous you will be as a player. A 10-foot pass is much less likely to be stolen than a 30-foot pass, so cutting the distance between you and your teammate will help you complete more passes.
Communication between the passer and receiver is key, and both must be able to read the defence.
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