Bounce, Pass, Shoot! Basketball Skills

Imagine you are holding a basketball. You need to move it from one end of the court to the other — but you cannot run while holding it! How would you move the ball? Think for a moment before reading on. In basketball, players use three main skills to move the ball and score points: dribbling, passing, and shooting. Today you will learn exactly what each skill looks like and how to do it well.

Basketball has three core skills every player needs to know. **1. Dribbling** Dribbling means bouncing the ball on the floor with one hand while you move. You push the ball down with your fingertips — not your palm. Keep the ball below your waist so it is easy to control. Look up at the court, not down at the ball, so you can see your teammates. If you use two hands at once, the referee calls a foul called a 'double dribble' and the other team gets the ball. **2. Passing** Passing means sending the ball to a teammate. The most useful pass is the chest pass. Hold the ball at your chest with both hands. Step one foot forward, push the ball straight out, and flick your wrists so your thumbs point down at the end. The ball should travel in a flat, straight line to your teammate's chest. A chest pass is fast and accurate. **3. Shooting** Shooting means throwing the ball at the basket to score. Use the BEEF guide to remember the steps: - **B**alance — stand with feet shoulder-width apart. - **E**yes — look at the back of the rim (the ring the ball must go through). - **E**lbow — keep your shooting elbow in, pointing at the basket. - **F**ollow through — after you release the ball, hold your hand up like you are reaching into a cookie jar on a high shelf. The ball should arc through the air in a curved path called a trajectory. This gives it the best chance of going in.