What is passing in basketball?
Passing in basketball is a fundamental skill and offensive action that occurs when a player in current possession of the ball throws it to a teammate with the typical objective of creating scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
What are the different types of basketball passes?
- Chest pass: The chest pass occurs when a player in current possession of the basketball throws it with two hands from their own chest area towards the chest area of a teammate.
- Bounce pass: The bounce pass occurs when a player in possession of the ball throws it with a sufficient amount of strength and at a certain angle to the floor so that a teammate can receive it.
- Furthermore, the bounce pass is commonly used in combination with the backdoor cut to create scoring opportunities at the rim.
- Overhead pass: The overhead pass occurs when a player in current possession of the basketball places it over their head before throwing it with two hands towards a teammate.
- Baseball pass: The baseball pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball uses a throwing motion that is somewhat similar to a pitcher’s throw in the sport of baseball.
- Behind the back pass: The behind the back pass occurs when a player in possession of the ball throws it behind their back to a teammate.
- Dribble pass: The dribble pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball initially dribbles it and then immediately throws it, particularly with one hand, to a teammate.
- This type of pass could be very useful in certain situations, particularly if a teammate is open for a scoring opportunity and it would take too long to pass the ball with both hands.
- Drift pass: The drift pass occurs when a player in possession of the ball generally dribbles towards the baseline on one side of the lane and quickly throws the ball to the opposite corner or opposite wing.
- Fake pass: A fake pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball effectively pretends to throw it to a teammate but then keeps the ball to perform another action.
- The additional action could be an actual pass, a shot attempt, or a drive to the basket, resulting in a potential scoring or playmaking opportunity.
- The fake pass is potentially useful because it could influence a defender to momentarily shift out of the proper defensive stance.
- Hook pass: The hook pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball propels it through the air with a throwing motion that is somewhat similar to a hook.
- Inbound pass: The inbound pass occurs when a player with the basketball initially stands out of bounds at the sideline or baseline and then throws the ball to a teammate on the court.
- This could happen after an opposing team scores a basket or immediately following dead ball situations such as a timeout.
- Jump pass: The jump pass occurs when a player in possession of the ball jumps into the air and throws it to a teammate before touching the floor with their feet again.
- This type of pass is generally not recommended for players that are still developing such as youth basketball players as it could cause unnecessary turnovers.
- However, it could be useful in certain instances, particularly if the player that executes the jump pass has an above average offensive basketball IQ.
- Kick pass: The kick pass occurs when a player in current possession of the basketball, already near the basket or at least moving towards it, throws it to a teammate near a perimeter area.
- Lob pass: The lob pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball throws it with a high arc into the air, usually over the top of one or more defenders.
- Moreover, it should also be noted that an alley-oop occurs when a player with the ball throws a lob pass generally at or above the rim so that it could be caught while it is in the air by a teammate who will then commonly dunk it into the basket.
- No look pass: The no look pass occurs when a player in possession of the ball throws it to a teammate without looking at that same teammate.
- The no look pass is advanced and generally not recommended for absolute beginners who have not yet mastered the basic types of passes.
- However, it could be utilized as a way to trick defenders momentarily into thinking the ball would be thrown to one particular target when it is actually being thrown to a completely different target.
- Outlet pass: The outlet pass occurs when a player throws the basketball to a teammate, generally as a method to initiate and execute transition offense.
- This could typically happen after gaining possession of the ball via a defensive rebound or in certain instances, as a baseline inbound thrower.
- Furthermore, when executing the outlet pass, the player with the ball can throw it as a long pass to a teammate in the frontcourt but that same player could outlet the ball to a teammate adjacent to them in the backcourt.
- It should also be stated that when an offensive player in the backcourt throws an outlet pass to a teammate in the frontcourt who is then able to score quickly, usually within three seconds, this particular pass is generally known as a touchdown pass.
- Pitch ahead pass: The pitch ahead pass occurs when a player, particularly in the backcourt, throws the ball ahead to another player, typically in the frontcourt and usually near one of the wings or corners.
- Pocket pass: The pocket pass occurs when an offensive player in possession of the basketball throws it to a teammate, particularly between the open space of an on-ball primary defender as well as an adjacent off-ball secondary defender.
- Skip pass: The skip pass occurs when a player in current possession of the basketball throws it to another non-adjacent player that is two or more passes away.
- Wrap around pass: The wrap around pass occurs when a player in possession of the basketball throws it around an opposing defender to a teammate.
- It can be utilized as a counter action to defensive pressure, especially when the potential recipient of it is near the basket.
Why is passing generally important?
- Promotes good teamwork: Basketball passing promotes good teamwork because if an individual player were to hold possession of the ball most or all of the time, then that would rarely, if ever, lead to sustainable success for the team as a whole.
- In other words, the game of basketball is a team sport so this effectively means that each member of the team should be able to give a contribution, regardless if it is small or large.
- Passing the basketball is a simple way to achieve that contribution. When one teammate passes the ball to another, it could help both players as well as the entire team in general.
- Improves team chemistry: Passing the basketball could improve team chemistry because the players will begin to build trust and at the same time, the players will be able to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Possibly increase the chance of defensive breakdowns: Passing the basketball could possibly increase the chance of defensive breakdowns because the ball generally moves faster than the players.
What are additional insights in relation to passing?
- Practice passing without a partner: A simple method for a player to practice and get better at passing without having a partner is to use a wall.
- Basically, the player could go to a local gym or any other location where it is possible to pass against a wall.
- Next, the player could stand about four to six feet from the wall and then work on viable passes such as the chest pass or the bounce pass.
- Furthermore, the player could even incorporate dribbling into the workout, particularly for one handed passes.
- Essentially, the player would execute dribble moves such as a crossover dribble and then quickly pass against the wall with one hand before catching the ball with either the opposite hand or both hands.
- Common passing tactics for offense:
- Pass and cut action: Pass and cut action is a tactic that occurs when a player in possession of the ball, passes it and then cuts, usually towards the basket.
- Passing and cutting is typically beneficial for offensive teams because it involves the fundamental actions of player movement and ball movement.
- This could also result in potential defensive breakdowns and/or scoring opportunities.
- Pass and screen away action: Pass and screen away action is a tactic that occurs when a player in possession of the ball passes it and then sets a screen away from the ball.
- Ball reversal: Ball reversal is a tactic that occurs when players pass the ball from one side of the court to the other side.
- This is usually from one wing area to the opposite wing.
- Ball reversal is highly useful because it influences defenders to shift, which could open up gaps on the court, leading to potential scoring/playmaking opportunities.