Basketball Passing Fundamentals and Techniques 1) Two-Handed Chest Pass Overview This is the most effective and efficient

pass you can use. It can be used succes sfully from anywhere on the court. Use this pass whenever possible because it's the fastest way to advance the ball to teammates. Fundamentals Place each hand on either side of the ball and spread the fingers evenly. Fully extend your arms as you push the ball out from your chest and snap your wrists o utward so that the back of your hands are now facing each other. You'll get a go od rotation on the ball when you snap your wrists. This makes the ball easier to handle for the receiver. Be sure the pass is thrown crisply with the ball remai ning parallel with the floor. You want the pass to arrive at your receiver above the waist and below the shoulders. 2) Two-Handed Bounce Pass Overview This type of pass is good on the fast break, to a teammate in the post, under a defender, to a teammate making a back-door cut, on out-of-bounds plays, etc. A l ot of times, players will make a shot or high-pass fake before making the bounce pass. The bounce pass is the slowest pass available. Fundamentals Use the same grip and motion with this basketball pass as you did with the chest pass. The ball should hit the floor about two-thirds of the way to the receiver . To be more accurate, step toward that spot. You want to hit your teammate betw een the knees and waist. A backspin is good to use to give the receiver a longer lead. Push the thumbs throught the ball to achieve the backspin. A forward spin can be used to get the ball through a narrow opening and to produce a quicker p ass. You'll need to be more accurate when using a forward spin but if you can pe rfect it, it will add more to your game. 3) Two-Handed Overhead Pass Overview This is an effective basketball passing option for every player on the court. Pl ayers often use it to start a fast break, forwards will use it to hit post playe rs or guards cutting off the post, guards use it to hit the post, centers and pl ayers receiving high passes use it to make a quick return pass or pass off. This type of pass is easy to control and helps you keep the ball away from your defe nder. Fundamentals Position your hands on the sides of the ball with your fingers pointed up. Your thumbs should be on the back of the ball and pointing in toward one another. Bri ng the ball up above your head (be sure your hands go straight up, not up and ba ck over your head). Release the ball with a quick snap of your wrists and finger s like on a chest pass. It's usually good to make a slight step forward with the

foot of your strong arm side. Visit our Basketball Passing Drills page 4) Push Pass Overview This pass is used most often to advance the ball down the floor in order to set up the offense or to get the ball through or past a close-guarding defender (usu ally to a cutter). The bounce pass version is good for passes to a cutter on fas t breaks or reverses, many out-of-bounds plays, to a post player or to pass unde r a defender. Fundamentals Hold ball chest high. Spread your fingers on each side with thumbs directly behi nd, but a bit toward the top of the ball and pointing toward one another. Keep e lbows close in. The force of the ball is provided with a quick snap of your wris t, fingers and elbows. You should move forward with your body crouched a bit. St ep forward with your passing-hand-side foot and push off with your non-passing-h and-side foot. You can use a direct or bounce pass. Direct pass should reach rec eiver between the waist and shoulders and bounce pass should hit the floor about two thirds of the way to receiver and arrive between the knees and waist. 5) Off-the-Dribble Pass One of the quickest basketball passing options because there's really no set-up with it. As you're dribbling, instead of bouncing the ball back to the floor for another dribble, move your hand behind the ball and push it towards a teammate as a pass. It's hard for defenders to steal this one because they're expecting a dribble instead of the pass. 6) Baseball Pass Effective for long passes to a cutter or to inbound the ball quickly after allow ing a score. Place the ball high above the side of your head with the passing ha nd behind the ball while the other hand is in front of and slightly under the ba ll. Be sure the fingers of each hand are pointed upward and your thumbs are poin ting inward over your head. Plant your rear foot and step toward the receiver wi th your front foot. Try to keep both hands on the ball as long as possible and t hrow the ball with a quick wrist snap and arm thrust. As you follow through, sna p your wrist straight down so the ball doesn't curve on you. 7) Behind-the-Back Pass A basketball passing technique that can work wonders when done well or end up te rrible if done wrong or carelessly. So make sure you practice this one to perfec tion and only use it when the situation warrants it. This pass can be used off t he dribble, standing still or while moving toward the basket and is used often w ith two-on-one fast breaks. If you can deliver this pass correctly, it will be v ery difficult for your opponent to defend. Cup the ball in your hand. Swing your arm behind your back with the elbow bent, fingers pointed down and your thumb pointed toward your back. Release the ball w ith a whip of your arm and a quick wrist and finger snap