Basketball Drills Passing

Passing is one of the most important fundamental skills that is often most overlooked by players.  As an individual player, an excellent passing skill will allow you to easily see the open player in your team and pass the ball along to make an easy shot for the team. Each player must be a good passer so the ball can move from one player to the other with getting intercepted by the opposing team.  When everyone in the team is involved in passing the ball around, scoring for the team will come smoothly and easily.

It is important for a basketball team to enhance each player in his passing skills and do some exercises as a whole team. Besides creating scoring opportunity, passing is important to get out of trouble when crowded, to start a fast break, and to keep ball possession. In general there are various ways that can be used to do basketball drills passing exercise. The most common basketball drills passing technique is the chest pass. This is the simplest and most commonly used because it is most accurate and quick pass. To do the chest pass, the player needs to hold the ball with both hands and their fingers comfortably spread. The location of the ball should be in front of the chest with elbows are tucked in. To execute the chest pass, the player needs to step in the direction of the pass and make the pass by extending the legs, back and arm. The wrist and fingers will be forced through the ball to create more power and guide the ball towards the target.

Another most often used basketball drills passing technique is the bounce pass. This is commonly used when the player in possession of the ball has an opponent trying to block the pass towards their target. The player needs to bounce the ball under the defender’s arm. The position of the body and execution of the bounce pass is similar to that of chest pass except that the position of the ball prior to execution is at waist height. It is best that when doing a bounce pass players aim to bounce the ball around two-thirds of the distance to the target.

The overhead pass is used when a defender is closely guarding the player.  This pass can also be used when starting a fast break.  Upon receiving the ball, the player needs to hold the ball in both hands and the ball should be above the forehead, with the elbows flexed at about a right angle and tucked in. Execution should be done quickly to avoid interception. The sidearm pass is another basketball drills passing technique. This is often used when a defender is closely guarding a player and has to pass the ball around the defender.  The execution of sidearm pass is similar to overhead pass except for the positioning of the ball. The ball is between the shoulder and hip; and to one side of the body.

Another pass that is used for long distance or for starting a fast break is the baseball pass. The player will use one hand in this pass while maintaining balance as it is executed. The common fault for this pass is it lacks accuracy. As player, you must need to improve on controlling the ball with one hand pass during practice drills. In situations where a defender runs head on at a player, the best pass to use is the behind the back pass. However, this pass is often used by advanced player only.

Each kind of pass is effective for certain situations. Each player must practice these basketball drills passing constantly to perfect them and reducing errors in real game.