PASSING FUNDAMENTALS
There are three types of passes that are essential
for all players:
1. Chest Pass
2. Bounce Pass
3. Flip Pass
Chest Pass: The most common pass in basketball
is the chest pass.
The ball is held in both hands with the
fingers comfortably spread.
The palms of the hands do not touch the
ball. Thumbs point at an
angle to each other with the ball directly
in front of the chest. The
pass is made with a forward thrust of the
arms and a simultaneous
snap of the wrists. Complete arm follow-throw
is necessary for a
proper follow through with the palms of
the hands completely
downward at the completion of the pass.
It is very important that
the ball be thrown so that the receiver
can receive it above the
waist, but not above the head.
Bounce Pass: The bounce pass is made in the
same manner as the chest
pass; however, it is pushed down to the floor
and bounces up to the
pass receiver. Considerable practice is necessary
for the passer to know
how far from the receiver the ball should strike
the floor. If it strikes
too far away from the receiver, the ball will
float into the air and be
easily intercepted. On the other hand, if the
ball strikes the floor too
close to the receiver, it will be difficult for
the receiver to handle the
pass.
Flip Pass: The flip pass is necessary during
a close exchange of the ball
as, for example, on a close weave when the ball
is “flipped” softly from
one player to another. The pass is made by placing
the passing hand
directly under the ball and flipping the wrist
so that the ball will flip
slightly into the air. The ball should be flipped
softly upward, not
outward, and should not be flipped more than
a few inches above
the hand. Post players use this pass sometimes
when feeding cutters
and the dribbling screener uses it to pass to
players cutting by the
screen.
Passing Hints
1. Don’t “telegraph” the pass. Look one
way and pass another.
2. Fake the chest pass and throw the bounce pass.
Fake the
bounce pass and make the chest
pass.
3. Use the "mis-direction" pass. Fake a pass to the right, pass
to the left. Fake a pass left, pass right. This gets a defensive team
off-balance and opens up areas for pass receivers and drivers.
4. Follow through!
5. Keep the palms off the ball.
6. Throw the flip pass in close quarters.
7. Pass to the receiver on the side away from
the defensive player.
8. Pass to the region of the receiver’s chest.
Passes are more
easily handled there and the
receiver is in position to make
another pass without adjusting
from the height of the ball.
9. Make firm, crisp, passes when making longer
passes. Soft
passes at a distance of 15
feet or more can be easily
intercepted.