Passing Tips
1. Passing technique
starts with touch and wrist movement as well as arm position.
Most passes involve a flick of the wrist with little arm movement.
2. Faking is an important part of effective passing.
3. Passing as well as catching involves pivoting.
4. Use the overhead, side, and bounce pass to avoid the defense.
5. Bounce passes, which are especially effective in traffic,
need to be carefully timed.
6. Baseball passes are good for long passes.
7. Communication is necessary to insure that the ball and the
cutter meet at a point.
8. Realistic passing lessons need defense.
Counterproductive Beliefs
1. Good plays are the
key to team offense. Nope. Players need to learn the fundamentals
of offense. The greatest plays ever dreamed cannot work if players
do not pass, cut or communicate well. The worst plays ever conceived
will work if players know how to cut, pass, and communicate.
2. Chest passes may have historical significance but they are
worthless with defense. Holding the ball close to the body at
waist height is a terrible place to have the ball. You can't
pass fake, ball fake or readily reach around the offense. Neither
can you fake a shot with the ball in this position. Say good-bye
to this pass and use more effective ones.
3. Timing between players just develops. If you can wait for
evolution to take place I bet it will. However, if you practice
timing it will develop within days rather than eons.
4. Passing is an easy skill. Passing as well as cutting may even
be more difficult to learn than shooting or dribbling. Their
are several reasons for this. One, timing between the passer
and cutter is involved. Two, flicking passes is rarely taught,
and it is not that easy to do. Adding defense on the passer and
or catcher makes passing very difficult.
Your comments are welcome.
Sidney Goldstein, author
of The Basketball Coach's Bible and The Basketball Player's Bible,
has successfully coached both men's and women's teams over a
period of 15 years. |
