Basketball Passing
Learning effective basketball passing techniques is a great way to become successful on the basketball court. Basketball passing is one of the most useful tools on the court because it enables the ball to be transferred among teammates on the floor. A pass is also one of the best ways to escape heavy defensive coverage.
Since basketball passing is done between players, good communication is vital before attempting to pass the ball. The passing player must always signal the pass - verbally or nonverbally - before sending the ball off to a teammate.
In basketball, statisticians keep track of passing; they call it assists. There are a variety of passes you can use during a basketball game.
Basketball Passing - The Chest Pass
The Chest Pass is just what it sounds like, a pass thrown, using the utmost upper body strength, straight from your chest area to your teammate. When throwing the Chest Pass, you want to keep the ball level with your sternum, push off with your back foot and step forward with your front foot as you extend your arms to the front, launching the ball in a straight line.
If you are passing the ball to a teammate who is standing still, you want to be very exact with the ball so they don't have to change position in order to receive the pass. If your teammate is on the move, you have to pass the ball toward the area they are moving to, making sure not to overthrow. When you are on the receiving end of a Chest Pass, you want to your body in a triple threat position: feet shoulder-width apart, elbows and knees bent, shooting hand on top of the ball and your other hand on the basketball's side.
Basketball Passing - The Bounce Pass
The Bounce Pass is effective because the ball can change directions after the bounce, making it hard for the opposing team to determine where the ball is headed so they can't steal easily. Having good trajectory and velocity of the ball during a Bounce Pass is vital to accurately hitting your target.
When going for the Bounce Pass, you shoot the ball from waist level and throw from either side of the hip, depending on where your receiver is. Target the ball to bounce when it hits the spot approximately three-quarters of the distance between you and your intended teammate. The stance for this basketball pass is the same as above - push off the back foot and take a step with your front foot - but this time you want to extend your arms in a downward direction.
The receiver of the Bounce Pass should be able to easily catch the ball while in motion, and they shouldn't have to move from a stationary position. The stance to catch a Bounce Pass is also the triple threat position.
Basketball Passing - The Overhead Pass
The Overhead Pass can be a great way to get rid of the ball when you are heavily defended, however, it is easily stolen so this pass needs to be used with care and skill. The Overhead Pass is thrown over your opponent's head to a teammate just behind them.
When throwing an Overhead Pass, you use the strength of your forearms, put one hand on either side of the ball and raise it above and behind your head. Push off with your back foot, take a forward step with your front foot, bring your elbows down and extend both arms up to pass the ball over the defender's head and into your teammate's hands. The receiver should accept the pass in the triple threat position at the back of the defender.
Basketball Passing - The Behind-the-Back Pass
One of the most difficult passes in basketball is the Behind-the-Back Pass, which is basically performed blind. This pass requires a lot of practice and should not be attempted during a basketball game if you are not skilled at the techniques required to move the ball where you want it to go.
To complete a Behind-the-Back Pass, you hold the basketball in both hands, cupping it in your dominant hand. Move the shoulder of your dominant hand backward as you cup the ball, and point your wrist and fingers in the same direction your shoulder moves. Now bring the ball behind your back and release it.
Basketball Passing - The Alley-Oop
The Alley-Oop is another difficult basketball pass, and it requires practice to learn the correct moves and timing. If you are the passer, you have to decide to perform the Alley-Oop before you get to the three-point arch. Once the decision is made, it is imperative to make eye contact with the receiver before passing the ball in a short, arching motion up toward the basket.
The receiving teammate should be a few steps away from their jump and be prepared for a vertical leap followed by a dunk shot. The ball should be aimed just above the rim on the same side that the receiver is moving in from. If successful, the recipient jumps up, catches the pass and dunks the basketball.
Good basketball passing is every bit as important as taking the shot when it comes to scoring in a basketball game. Practice is required to develop excellent passing skills, and it is vital to have clear communication between teammates. If you engage in effective practice and focus on proper communication skills, both your passing and scoring will improve.