Each week in The Hoop Doctors “Skool for Ballers” we will bring you tips, analysis, or drills on various aspects of the game to help guide your training to be the best damn baller you can be! Don’t forget, being a GREAT baller takes as much work off the court as it does on!
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In the game of basketball, passing is a skill that is woefully underrated compared to the other more colorful aspects of the sport. A lot of attention is focused on offensive skills such as shooting, dunking, and even dribbling, but passing is actually just as important as these skills, and in some cases, even more so. For one thing, passing is a far quicker way to get the ball down court to one of your teammates than dribbling, and this will make it harder for the players on the opposing team to intercept the ball as well. Here then are 10 ways by which you can develop this valuable skill.
1. Pass where it will do the most good. In order to get the best results from your pass, it is important to determine where it will benefit your team the most. This could either be to the strongest player on your team, or to a player who is in the best position to take advantage of it.
2. Hone in on your target. One of the best ways to improve the accuracy of your passing is by taking a small step towards the player you are passing the ball to. You will have to be quick however, as you don’t want the opposing players to anticipate your move.
3. Keep away from the defender. You will naturally want to keep the ball from being intercepted by the player’s on the other team, so it is important to direct it away from where the defender is standing.
4. Aim for your target. In order for the receiver to get his or her hands on the ball quickly, you will want to aim for the area between the waist and the shoulders.
5. Fingertips, not palms. To ensure the maximum accuracy of your pass, always try to handle the ball with your fingertips as opposed to your palms. This will give you a greater degree of control and accuracy.
6. Timing is everything. It is important to develop your timing to the point wherein you can accurately gauge the arrival of your pass to when your teammate is in the best position to receive it.
7. Know when to bounce…and when not to. While there are instances wherein it is ok to execute a bouncing pass to your teammate, in most cases passing it directly is a far better and more accurate option.
8. Power is everything…almost. While you will usually want to launch your pass with as much power as possible, you should be careful about throwing it with too much force. Make sure that you only use enough strength as necessary, so the receiver will be better able to control the ball.
9. Deceptiveness in passing. You may also find it useful to learn how to feign a pass or change directions quickly. This can serve to throw your opponent off guard and leave the receiver open to the pass.
10. Practice is key. As in all basketball skills, practice is essential in developing effective passing, and will better prepare you for any situation that comes up.
To check out The Hoop Doctors other ‘Skool for Ballers’ posts click here. For more great basketball tips, drills, coaching information, and training visit SacredHoops.com today!
