Passing fundamentals (I)

In this post we are going to talk about the basketball passing fundamentals. As we know passing remains one of the most under-taught, under-emphasized, and under drilled skill in the game. 

Too many players think of passing as something to do when they don't have a shot as opposed to an unselfish act that is designed to include other players. When we are teaching passing it is important that the coach teach not only the skill, but the mentality as well. 

Type of passes.

• Air Pass: the pass don't hit the floor. 

• Bounce Pass: the pass is thrown to the floor so that it bounces to the receiver.

Each type comes with its own variations. 

1. Chest Pass
2. Bounce Pass
3. Overhead Pass
4. Wrap Around Pass
5. Baseball Pass
6. Dribble Pass
7. Behind-the-Back Pass.
8. Pick and Roll Pass                                 
9. Bounce Pass

Image 1. Bounce pass.

Teaching points.

The pints of emphasis should be:

• A good pass is a pass a teammate can catch.
• When passing, step toward your receiver.
• When catching, step toward the pass. 
• Follow through on every pass.

Example of exercise to teach passing.

Five-point drill

The five-point basketball passing drill requires the individual to meet the ball, pass quickly, pass accurately, and move to a different position. I like this drill because it is continuous and develops alertness.

Image 2. Passing exercise development

Course of action:

1. Four players position themselves in a square and ten feet apart and the fifth player gets in the middle.
2. The middle player, with a basketball, starts the drill by passing to any player, then taking that player’s place.
3. The receiver of the basketball passes to either the player to the left or to the right, and taking that player’s plac
4. The second receiver passes across the square to the player on the opposite corner and takes that player’s place.
5. The third receiver passes to the player to his right or left and takes that player’s place.
6. This drill continues in this manner with the basketball moving across (corner to corner), a side pass, corner to corner, a side pass, etc.
7. After players become well accustomed to this passing drill, add variations such as having each receiver to fake a pass before passing the basketball.

That's all for today. Hope that we'd helped you on your teaching passing task.  On next posts we'll keep working on this and other skills (shooting, dribbling, etc).

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT. YOUR FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED.

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.". Phil Jackson.

References:

"Drills to teach passing the basketball", recovered 11/03/2015 of http://www.guidetocoachingbasketball.com/passing_drills.htm

"Basketball passing fundamentals, drills & tips", recovered 11/03/2015 of https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/passing.html