Basketball - essential skills and techniques Chest pass in basketball

A chest pass is a very fast and flat pass. This enables a team to move quickly up a court in a precise and accurate fashion.

Stage one

• Stand with feet shoulder width apart, on the balls of your feet with back straight and knees slightly bent.
• Place hands on the sides of the ball with the thumbs directly behind the ball and fingers comfortably spread.
• The ball should be held in front of the chest with the elbows tucked in.

Stage two

• Step in the direction of the pass by extending your legs, back and arms.
• Push the ball from the chest with both arms (not from one shoulder).
• Fingers are rotated behind the ball and the thumbs are turned down.
• The back of the hands face one another with the thumbs straight down.

Stage three

• Make sure the ball is released off the first and second fingers of both hands.
• Follow through to finish up with the arms fully extended, fingers pointing at the target and thumbs pointing to the floor.