Passing is one of the most neglected and undertaught skills in basketball, but it shouldn’t be! You should know the ins and outs of the game by concentrating on passing principles and developing your playing skills. Avoid the “shoot first” approach by understanding to use your teammates and making these abilities a focal point of your early training. From a coaching perspective, it’s critical to emphasize passing instruction as both a talent and a chance to develop key playmakers.
You should know the fundamentals of each pass type and when it is preferable to apply it because different passes are used in other contexts. The following list contains four essential passing hints covered in Nike Basketball Camps.
1. Chest Pass
Starting at the chest, tightly grip the ball’s sides with both hands while keeping your elbows close to your torso. Step out toward your target with one foot while simultaneously pressing your arms out so that your fingers spin and your palms face outward with your thumbs pointing down. This will start the pass. This pass must be direct and land at your teammates’ chest level. The chest pass works best for hurriedly moving the ball up the court and arcing it around the hoop.
2. Bounce Pass
The bounce pass starts in the same place on the torso as the chest pass, but you should direct your aim downward. For the ball to be caught at waist height, it must be thrown far enough away; it is often advised to land on the ground halfway between you and your teammate. The bounce pass should not be employed if you are trying to advance the ball further down the court because it works best in small spaces when feeding a player who is being guarded.
3. Across the Pass
To begin the overhead pass, place the ball behind your head with both hands while bending your elbows near each ear. Step toward your target while extending your elbows and snapping your wrists to provide the ball backspin. Your arms should only go through a minimal range of motion, finishing just above your head, with the elbows, not the shoulders, providing the most of the movement. This pass is most frequently utilized when in-bounding the ball and is the most efficient way to send the ball a very long distance. It also works well for a fast break down the court. The overhead pass will make accuracy much more complex, so depending on the play, it’s crucial to aim for your teammates’ chins or chests.
4. The Behind-the-Back Pass
Starting with the ball at around waist level in both hands, move it with your left hand to your right side and then wrap it around your torso. To push the ball toward your target from behind your back, cross your body, grab it with your right hand, and bring your elbow back. You can use the behind-the-back pass when you are trying to evade a defender in front of you in a game as you progress. For this pass, court awareness is essential because it frequently works best when you don’t glance in the direction you are going.
Basketball is a team sport; thus, passing between teammates will result in simple baskets and many wins by concentrating on developing a solid basketball foundation and becoming an expert at these passes. Check out our basketball drills and advice for more methods to enhance your performance.