Chapter - 22

Passing

Holding the ball | Receiving the ball | Types of  passes | Two-handed chest pass | Two-handed bounce pass | Two-handed overhead pass | Baseball pass | Hook pass | Flip pass | Passing suggestions | Drills

Seldom are championship basketball teams seen that are not adept passers. I once heard Bob Davis of Georgetown (Ky.) College describe one of his team's games in which they made six bad passes to begin the game and were behind 12-0. This is an excellent example of the importance of good passing. Though a team may possess outstanding shooters, inability to pass the ball will result in mistakes that reduce greatly the number of shot attempts and decrease chances for victory.

Holding the Ball

Many passing errors are the result of faulty techniques of holding the ball. The ball should be held with both hands on the sides of the ball. The fingers should be spread. The ball should not touch the palms of the hands. The ball should be held close to the chest in initiating most passes.

Receiving the Ball

Both hands should be cupped to receive the ball with the heels of the hands about 5 inches apart. The fingers should be spread. The ball should not touch the palms but should be caught in the fingers. A slight "give" of the arms should be used to soften the pass.

Types of Passes

Types of passes most often used are:

1. Two-handed chest pass.

2. Two-handed bounce pass.

3. Two-handed overhead pass.

4. Baseball pass.

5. Hook pass.

6. Flip pass.

Two-Handed Chest Pass

The ball is held close to the chest with the elbows in to the side of the body. The pass is made with a forward thrust of both arms and a snap of the wrists. The passer should always follow-through. A step forward onto one foot is helpful especially to the beginning passer. The ball should be aimed at the chest of the receiver and should be passed with as little spin as possible. The pass should be quick and snappy to prevent interceptions. The force of the pass will depend on the distance the receiver is from the passer. A soft pass is necessary in close range to prevent fumbles.

Two-Handed Bounce Pass

The ball is held and the pass made in the same manner as the chest pass. The difference is that the ball will strike the floor a few feet away from the pass receiver so that it will bounce up into the vicinity of the pass receiver's waist for easy handling. The ball must not hit the floor too far away from the receiver. This error will result in the ball "floating" after the bounce and can be easily intercepted. Illustration 1 shows correct and incorrect bounce pass technique.

ILLUSTRATION 1. Dotted lines indicate incorrect path o£ bounce pass. Unbroken line indicates correct path.

Two-Handed Overhead Pass

This pass is an excellent pass to use in feeding the pivot player or in passing over the head of a defensive player. The ball is held with the hands on the side of the ball with the arms extended over the head. Thumbs point inward. The pass is made with a snap of the wrists and a forward motion of the forearms.

Baseball Pass

This pass is a good pass to use in making a long pass downcourt or in getting the pass out to begin the fast-break. The technique is the same as the baseball throw. The right-handed passer brings the ball back behind his right ear. The right hand will be behind the ball with fingers spread and the weight will be shifted to the right foot. As the pass is made with a forward motion of the arm and wrist, the weight shifts to the left foot. Spin or "english" should not be imparted to the ball.

Hook Pass

The hook pass is similar to the hook shot. It is used to pass over a defensive player and is particularly useful in making the outlet pass on the fast-break. The right-handed passer steps onto his left foot and springs into the air. The right arm is extended out to the side of the body with the left hand used to control the ball. As the pass is made over the head with a sweeping or "hooking" motion of the right arm, the left hand is released and brought high for protection.

Flip Pass

This pass is absolutely necessary for use in close quarters. The pivot player often uses this pass to feed cutters and the dribbling screener uses it to pass to players cutting by the screen. The ball is held on the side of the body away from the defensive player. When passing right-handed, the passer will hold the right hand under the ball. The pass is made with a slight flip of the wrist that causes the ball to move softly into the air a few inches away from the passing hand. It is easily handled in this manner by the receiver.

Passing Suggestions

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 and throw the chest.

3. Follow-through.

4. Keep the palms off the ball.

5. Throw the soft pass in close quarters.

6. Pass to the receiver on the side away from his defensive player.

7. Pass to the region of the receiver's chest. Passes are more easily handled here and the receiver is in position to make another pass without adjusting the ball.

8. Avoid the long cross-court pass.

Drills

PASSING DRILL 1. 2 takes dribble, passes to 3 and cuts for return pass from 3. 3 cuts downcourt and takes another lead pass from 2. 2 goes to end of line vacated by 3. 3 dribbles down, passes to 4, and the procedure is repeated. As players learn this drill, balls can be added until four balls are in play.

PASSING DRILL 2. Two balls are used. 1 passes to 3 as 2 passes to 1. 1 will pass to 4 as 3 return passes to 1, etc. Players should rotate positions often. This is excellent for developing "split-vision."

PASSING DRILL 3. Two balls are used. 2 passes to 1 who passes to 4 as 3 passes to 1. Each ball is kept moving in its respective triangle. 1 should use pivot footwork to slide back and forth to meet the passes coming to him from the guards. This is a very good drill to develop pass off technique by the pivot-man.

PASSING DRILL 4. This is a drill for perfecting the "flip" pass. 1 dribbles out, passes to 2 and goes to end of line. 2 flip passes to 3 and goes to end of line, etc. All players keep moving. Drill using both the right hand and left hand flip pass should be included.

PASSING DRILL 5. Players are divided into groups of 3's. One player is the defensive player. The Offensive players must pass directly by the defensive player. Players should alternate defensive and offensive positions.

PASSING DRILL 6. The coach or manager shoots the ball against the board. 1 rebounds, takes quick dribble to side and throws baseball pass to 4 cutting down-court.

PASSING DRILL 7. This game is often called "bull in the woods." Players form a circle with one player designated as the defensive player. Offensive players attempt to pass to teammates without allowing the defensive player to touch the ball. Offensive players may not pass to the player directly on their left and right. The offensive player who allows the defensive player to touch the ball must become the defensive player.

PASSING DRILL 8. Three lines are formed, two offensive and one defensive. A coach or manager shoots the ball against the backboard. 1 takes the rebound and hook passes out to the guard at the outlet pass position. X1 attempts to deflect the hook pass. This drill is excellent both for developing the hook pass and for teaching the fast-break outlet pass.

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