I am not sure why this simple skill is missed, but for many kids, a good fundamental chest pass, or bounce pass or overhead pass is not part of their play book. You see, when kids watch good passers like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, they see the finished product. What they fail to realize that good passers work on their game.
When Steve Nash jumps jumps in the air and hits Shawn Marion with a alley-oop, I can guarantee that this was not the first pass Steve Nash learned. When Jason Kidd throws a no look flip pass through four defenders, I can guarantee you that was not the first pass he learned.
It all comes with practice
The Chest Pass
Ball starts at the passers chest (hence the name). With both hands working together the ball is "snapped" towards the target.
It all ends with good follow-through. This means that after the ball is released, the palms are pointing outwards and the thumbs are pointing down. Power from this pass, and any pass, comes from the legs. By stepping towards the target power is generated.
The Bounce Pass
Like our first pass, the fundamental bounce pass starts at the chest. It is released like a the pass from the chest, it hits the target like the chest pass and power is generated through the legs like the that pass.
Here is the obvious difference. The bounce pass bounces in between the passer and the target. Now the key to teaching this pass is to tell beginners that the ball bounces about 2/3 of the way to the target. Here is why. The pass will generally slow down when it hits the floor. If it bounces too soon, the ball will lose its speed and be easier to steal.
This pass is most effective when passing through traffic. Good passers master it.
The Overhead Pass
Players sometimes need to pass the ball from above their heads. This is where this pass starts from instead of from the chest.
It still requires a follow-through. It still requires power to be generated from the legs. It just gives more options when passing around a defender. Passing is a lost art in youth basketball. Practice it and you will stand out. Perfect and and you will be a star!