Passing also does not get the publicity and respect that dunks and 3's get. You might see the highlights of alley-oops, behind the back, and off-the-backboard passes, but how often do you see a good, solid post entry pass or a pass fake and give and go?
Passing keeps the offense flowing and can demoralize a defense. One rule I stress to demonstrate the importance of good team passing is that the scorer should always acknowledge the passer. Without a good pass from a teammate, you would not have scored -- give credit where credit is due! It might be to point at him, high-five him, or pat him on the backside -- the point is -- acknowledge the person who gave you the ball and an opportunity to score.
Passing Basics
1) A good passer is someone who has poise and confidence...poise and confidence in his ballhandling ability. It doesn't matter how tightly he is guarded; because of his poise he knows it is impossible for the defender to take the ball from him.
2) Basketball players at any age and level of play shold be taught to eliminate any unnecessary movements such as winding up with the ball. Young players are taught to step toward the target and to fully extend the arms on the follow through. This is correct and should definitely be stressed. As players become older and more experienced they should also be able to make good passes without taking the step and/or fully extending the follow through. Sometimes a quick, precise pass is needed and quick wrist and finger action allows this to be possible. I don't mean to ignore the basic fundamentals of passing -- this is merely a progression in skill level.
3) The passer should have the ability to see the open receiver without looking directly at him. What I am talking about here is not telegraphing your passes. I am not advocating 'no-look' passes. The good passer is able to use his peripheral vision very well. The ability to 'see the whole floor' can and should be learned. The term 'no-look' is kind of a misnomer anyhow. More often that not, the basketball player making a 'no-look' pass could see the receiver; he just didn't have to look directly at him because of a good wide vision.
4) Pass fakes are an integral part to being a good passer. Solid, purposeful pass fakes can make the passer's defender move out of position, they can make the receiver's defender jump out of position, and versus a zone defense they can make all 5 defenders jump out of position. However, a good passer does not need to fake excessively. Making constant, quick pass fakes doesn't really fake anyone and it also takes away the passers' vision as he is too focused on the defender. Pass fakes are generally most useful in getting your own defender to move his hands. For example, fake high and throw below or fake low and throw high. It should also be mentioned that one of the best places to pass the ball is right past his ear. It is difficult to move your hands up to your head quickly and is not often done.
5) I know the basketball may be a bit sore from being bounced around all the time, but it really does not need to be massaged. "Massaging" the basketball is one of the worst habits a player can develop. Many players tend to hold the ball too long and are not ready to pass to an open teammate. A good basketball player, upon receiving a pass, should be able to pass, shoot, or drive within a 2-count. Every fraction of time less than the 2-count it takes to make a play equals being a better basketball player. Every fraction of time over the 2-count equals being a worse basketball player. A good passer and good passing team is able to move the ball quickly. When the ball is moving, you are harder to defend as a team. Quick, crisp and precise ball movement creates a great amount of scoring opportunities that will not happen if you consistently "massage" the basketball.
6) Any basketball player that wants to be considered 'good' or 'great' should learn to develop the ability to anticipate when he may receive a pass and what to do with it when he does. The skill of seeing the whole floor is very important in the passing game. Knowing where your teammates are, whether they are open for a scoring opportunity, and if they are ready for the ball can all be determined before you receive the pass. Learning to play without the ball is just as important as how you play with the ball.
7) Obviously none of the previous passing basics are relevant without accuracy. Accuracy is necessary in both the timing of the pass and the placement of the pass. As a passer, you must deliver the pass to your teammate when he is ready to receive it, open to catch it, and in a position to do something positive once he has the basketball in his hands. The pass must always be thrown to the open side of the receiver -- away from the defender. If the pass is thrown behind a cutting teammate it can put him in a bad position, be thrown away, or get stolen more easily. One phrase I like to use is "good passers make good shooters". If an open receiver has the catch the pass at his feet, he probably lost his scoring opportunity or will miss the shot altogether. A good passer has the skill of being able to pass the basketball to where the receiver wants it. Generally this will be about chest level -- right into his ready position so he can easily and quickly make a positive play. Another point to make when talking about accuracy is the speed of the pass. You don't want to pass so hard that it's uncatchable and you don't want to pass it so soft that it can be deflected or stolen with ease. I use the term I learned from the late Dick DeVenzio about passing -- always make "Goldilocks" passes: not too hard and not too soft, but just right!
Types of Passes
Chest PassThe chest pass is probably the most basic of all passes but it is also the most commonly used. Therefore it is a skill that must be learned and executed properly.
When holding the ball prior to making the chest pass, the wrists should be straight. They should not be flexed or cocked or in any other awkward position. The hands are placed on the side of the ball with the fingers spread and the thumbs on the top half of the basketball. The ball may be resting on the entirety of the fingers and possibly on part of the palm, but it is the fingers that will be controlling the pass.
The chest pass is executed by stepping toward your intended target and completely extending the arms out in front of the body. The palms and fingers will be facing outward and the thumbs should be pointing down. As the player increases in skill and ability the length of the extension should be shortened. Once the form is correct, the focus should be on quickness. Shortening the movement allows the player to release the ball more quickly. The chest pass should also be made at a distance of no more than 10-15 feet. Anything further than that can result in 'soft' passes which are easily stolen by the defense.
Bounce PassThe bounce pass is predominantly thrown in and around the basket area. It is a great pass to use for post entry from the wing and as a dump off from a penetration move. It is not good to use as a perimeter pass because it is a slower pass and takes
longer to get from point 'A' to point 'B'. Put it this way; a good chest pass goes from point 'A' to point 'B' in a straight line...a bounce pass goes from point 'A' to point 'B' with a slight detour.
The technique for throwing the bounce pass uses the same basic fundamentals as in the chest pass. The point at which to bounce the ball, the force applied to the pass, and the amount of backspin must all be practiced so the ball will preferably be
caught by the receiver at or above the waist level.
Overhead PassThe overhead pass is a type of pass that I find is both underused and overused. How is that possible? It is underused when it is most effective such as for making an outlet pass, a post entry, and as a pass to a player cutting to the basket. It is
overused when the player stands on the perimeter holding the ball in an overhead position but doing nothing with it. If you are standing with the ball overhead and not making an immediate pass, you are not in triple threat position. Therefore, you are not being a productive player. Use the overhead pass when it is needed and useful, just don't start in that position.
The overhead pass is executed by holding the ball straight up over the head with the hands on each side of the basketball, slightly toward the back. During the passing action, the elbows are flexed but not completely bent. The basketball is passed at a slight downward angle with quick snap of the elbows, wrists, and fingers. An overhead pass of longer distance will require more involvement of the arms and shoulders. The legs may also be extended so you come up onto your toes while executing the pass.
One-Hand Push PassThe one-hand push pass is a valuable type of pass that is especially useful in entering the ball into the post but it is also necessary for guard to guard passes on the perimeter. It is a similar pass to the chest pass except one hand/arm becomes dominant. It is certainly not always possible to perform a chest pass when a player is being guarded closely. The one-hand push pass is quicker and easier to throw past a defender. The one hand push pass is performed by making a quick 'pushing' action with the dominant arm. The wrist should snap to provide force behind the throw and the weak hand protects the basketball through the release. This is a quick-action pass and should be practiced with quickness.
Basketball Fundamentals 101
Fundamental Basketball Skill #6 - Passing
Drills for teaching the skill of Passing in Basketball:
1. (coming soon)
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From my perspective, passing is the most essential fundamental basketball skill. I am not taking anything away from the importance of the other skills, but if you have a great passing team you can do a lot things offensively. I think the art of passing has declined in recent years. Players may be more athletically gifted and more skilled than ever before but what happens when that skill is negated? If the team can't pass effectively, the team will suffer. Maybe I sound like I'm straight out of "Hoosiers", but 5 players playing unselfish, team-oriented basketball can greatly overachieve.
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