basketball how to be a better passer

 

Along with shooting, rebounding and defense, passing is an essential part of being a good all-around basketball player. A good passer gets his teammates more involved in the game and helps his team get better shots. Several different types of passes exist in basketball, and practicing each kind is essential to improve your overall skill set. In addition, becoming a better passer makes you more appealing as a teammate because other players will learn that you like to share the basketball on offense.

Hit Your Target

Step 1

Pick a spot on a wall or find a teammate willing to work on the following passing drills with you: chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass. Practice the various types of passes, making sure you hit your target or your teammate every time.

Step 2

Hold the ball at chest height with both hands close to your chest. Pass the ball firmly with both hands, turning your palms so they are facing in opposite directions after releasing the ball. This chest pass should have some crispness to it and should hit your teammate or the target on the wall at chest height.

Step 3

Pass the ball in a similar fashion, only this time pass it downward at angle so it hits the floor and bounces up with enough force to reach your teammate's waist or a similar height on the wall.

Step 4

Practice a variation of the bounce pass, by using one hand instead of two to bounce the ball on the same spot and have it reach the same target. As you face your teammate or the wall with the ball in your right hand, extend your right leg to the side and reach out with your right hand to make the bounce pass, as though you're trying to pass around a defender. Repeat from the left side.

Step 5

Hold the ball over your head as though you just grabbed a rebound off the backboard. Practice hitting your target with an overhead pass. Give yourself more distance between you and your teammate or target, because the overhead pass is often used to get the ball far down the court in a hurry.

Look to Pass

Step 1

Make eye contact with your teammates during a game or practice and either pick up where they're going or try to direct them to a spot to receive your pass.

Step 2

Practice your chest pass, bounce pass and overhead pass while running at game speed, even if you're practicing on your own. It's tougher to make a chest pass accurately while running, but it's a pass you'll have to make in the middle of the action while you and your teammates are in motion.

Step 3

Perform passing drills with your entire team, such as the star drill. Have your point guard stand at the top of the key with two wing players on the outside and two post players down closer to the basket and the two sides of the key, so your team forms a star-shape. Pass the ball, using all of the different types of passes, from one player to the other, making sure everyone is equally involved.

Tips and Warnings

• Be aware of where all your teammates are on the court and try to get them ball as often as you can when they're open for good shots or if they're moving into position to get a good shot. Pay attention to how your teammates move without the ball and where they want the ball when you're passing it to them. Practice proper form frequently, even though it may seem boring, because the more confident and accurate you are in your technique, the crisper your passes will be in a game.
• Don't get lazy or soft with your passes, because that's how they can get stolen. Pass with authority. Use your peripheral vision to see if defenders are anticipating your passes and fool them with fake passes or head fakes.