Stationary Partner Passing

There are four main passes in the game of basketball.  They are the chest pass, the bounce pass, the overhead pass, and the wraparound pass.  All passes in every game of basketball are either one of these four passes or a variation of one of the four passes.  Early in a player’s life, the better they are able to pass the ball the better player they are going to be.  A good passer makes it more difficult for the defense to help off of their man. This lack of help gives the good passer more space offensively which could lead to better shots and more points.  It is very important that each player learns and masters the four main passes. 

This drill is to help the players learn the passes and how to make and catch each pass.  The players will partner up and stand on each side of the lane line.  One player will have the ball.  The players can then go through this passing routine for any number set of passes.  This could be 5 passes for each or 10 or how many you choose to set as the number of passes.  The partners will make each pass the set number of times until they complete the entire set of passes.  The routine is…

1. Right Hand Chest
2. Left Hand Chest
3. Right Hand Bounce
4. Left Hand Bounce
5. Overhead
6. Right Foot Step Out Wraparound
7. Right Foot Step Across Wraparound
8. Left Foot Step Out Wraparound
9. Left Foot Step Across Wraparound

The first thing is the old-school two-handed chest and bounce passes are not on the list.  The two-handed set passes are just not used anymore.  They have become outdated and obsolete.  The speed and power of the one-handed pass has made the two-handed pass a relic of the past.

Here is a little description for each of the above passes.

1) Right Hand Chest Pass is using the right hand of a player to push the ball to the chest of the partner.

2) Left Hand Chest Pass is using the left hand to push a pass to the chest of the partner.

3) Right Hand Bounce Pass is using the right hand to bounce the ball about ¾ of the way to the partner.  The ball will bounce at the ¾ and come up to a catchable height for the partner.

4) Left Hand Bounce is the same as right hand but using the left hand to propel the ball.

5) Overhead pass is a two-handed pass over the head and releasing so the ball is caught at the chest of the partner.  This is a good outlet pass in basketball.  It is also the same motion as a soccer throw-in.

6) Right Foot Step Out Wraparound pass is stepping out to the right side of the body with the right foot and making a right handed pass around a defender.  The pass is usually a bounce pass but can be a chest pass. 

7) Right Foot Step Across Wraparound is when the right foot steps across the body and thus turning the body 180 degrees.  On the step the ball is pass normally with a bounce pass with either the left hand or using both hands.

8) The Left Foot Step Out Wraparound is the left foot stepping out to the left side of the body with the left foot and making a left handed pass around the defender.

9) The Left Foot Step Across Wraparound is when the left foot steps across the body to the right side of the body.  The left hand or two-handed pass is made as the foot is making contact with the floor.

These 9 passes are the foundations of any good passer.  I would start the players at the lane lines for the youngest players and move them back away from the lane lines as they become better passers or stronger.  This is a drill that will likely be used at the younger ages or with new players but less likely to be used as the players get better and older.