"Good inbound passers are hard to find."

It is not so easy to inbound ball. Most players and coaches take making an inbounds pass for granted, and rely on individual player effort to get the job done. However, in making an inbounds pass, the passer is facing a five against four defensive advantage and only has five (5) seconds in which to locate a receiver and make a successful inbounds pass. In addition, to this numerical disadvantage, by rule the inbounder cannot move, except after a made shot. This provides the defense with the opportunity to jam or smother the passer very effectively with an active defender on ball. Also, on baseline out of bound situations, the backboard comes into play and becomes a real obstacle in which that the inbounds passer has to contend.

Many of championships have been lost because teams were not able to inbound ball at end of game. Players on all levels, including the NBA and WNBA, need to know and practice the fundamental skills and concepts required in making a successful inbound pass. In additional to the physical skills involved, good inbound passers must posssess a strong commitment to team play since they are taken for granted and very rarely rewarded for the efforts. However, good inbounders are vital, and a team will not win a championship without one.

Inbounding the Ball Techniques and Principles.

• Inbounder must wait for teammates to be aligned and ready before stepping out of bounds.
  Call out of bounds plays prior to stepping out of bounds and receiving the ball from the official.
  Establish eye contact, and echo the call.
• See the floor prior to obtaining the ball.
  Circle to the official or ball viewing entire court prior to taking it out. Never step out of bounds to inbound the ball with back to the court.
  Anticipate, read and attack any defensive overplays and errors.
• Use sharp, crisp passes.
  No careless, one-handed or soft bounce passes.
  Pass the ball through, not over, the defender pressuring the inbounds pass.
  If defense switches on a screen look for the screener rolling to be open.
  Never throw directly at a receiver moving away from you. Always lead the receiver to the basket on lob and baseball passes.

See: Raising your Level of Passing

• Be sure to step inbounds after inbounding the ball.
  Create a lead for return pass, establish offensive rebounding position or go to defensive balance.
• AUTOMATIC: If unguarded, inbound the ball and receive the ball back on a basket cut (give & go).
• AUTOMATIC: When the defender guarding the out of bounds pass turns back, think about passing to self. Throw the ball off the opponent's back, step inbounds, and retrieve it. This can catch the defense completely by surprise and create an easy shot.

Illustrated Concepts Required to Inbound the Ball

Techniques Required to Get Open and Receiving the Ball

• Players not taking the ball out of bounds should immediately set up for an inbounds pass or play.
  Never allow the defense to get set up first and gain the advantage.
  Cut to basket anytime a defender turns back.
  
• Don't fake out your passer.
  Create leads and set up any screens.
  Avoid the trap zones.
  Reverse or back cut against the over play.
• After receiving ball assume a strong triple threat position.
  See the floor and make sharp, crisp passes.
  No one handed or bounce passes.
  Do not trap dribble (bounce the ball once).
• Be alert for the "you take it out" play. Similar to the hidden baseball trick in baseball, "You take it out" can catch the defense by surprise if they are not alert. After the official puts the ball in play, the inbounder calls out "(Name of player) you are supposed to take the ball out of bounds." (Name of player) then moves to basket like they are going to take the ball out of bounds, but instead receives an inbounds pass for uncontested shot.

Illustrated Techniques Used in Inbounding the ball

On out of bound situations players must know rules:

1. The throw-in must be made within five seconds from the time the throw-in starts.
   Note: For a timeout to be granted during the throw-in, it must be requested before the five second count elapses.
   
2. Except after a made shot, the inbounder cannot leave the designated throw-in spot. They are allowed one step in either direction.
   Note: On the throw-in after a made basket, if the ball is kicked by a defender, the inbounds passer can still run the baseline on subsequent throw-in (you do not lose right to run baseline because of an infraction by defense).
3. The inbounder cannot touch the ball until it has been touched by another player.
   Note: If the defender plays with their back to inbounder - the inbounder can toss the ball off the defender's back, step inbounds, pick up ball and shoot.
4. Cannot not change the inbounder once an official has designated player for throw-in.
5. Inbounder cannot throw ball over the backboard or directly into the basket.
   Note: Prior to rule change, teams with a tall player could simply lob the ball over the basket. Coaches would use their creative ingenuity, including hanging chicken wire down from the ceiling behind the basket, to stop out of bounds lob plays.
6. From the front court, the ball can be inbounded to a teammate in the back court without penalty as long as the ball is not controlled first in front court.
7. If the defender reaches over the out of bounds vertical plane and touches the ball while in the hands of the inbounder or is in the air behind the vertical plane, it is a technical foul.
8. When the inbounds pass goes directly out of bounds, it comes back to the original throw-in spot rather than where it goes out of bounds.

Caution: When in trouble throw ball out of bounds off an opponent's leg or take the five (5) second inbounds violation rather than throw the ball away. When the ball is turned over on the inbounds pass, it immediately creates a five on four offensive advantage. However, by taking the five (5) second count, it will allow a team to get set on defense and have better than 60% chance of making a defensive stop.

© 2003 Ernie Woods, HoopTactics