Introduction to Basketball

Lessons

Primary 4 · Physical Education

Introduction to Basketball

3 lessons

Lesson 1 of 3

Passing and Catching

15 min

Let's begin

At break, Habimana throws the basketball to Uwase as hard as he can. It bounces off her hands and rolls away. "Too fast!" she laughs.

A good pass is one your teammate can catch. Today you will learn two basketball passes, and how to catch safely.

What is basketball?

Basketball is a team game. Each team has 5 players on the court. You score by getting the ball through the other team's hoop, a ring high up on a board. You may move the ball in three ways: pass it, dribble it (bounce it), or shoot it. You may not walk or run while holding the ball.

Warm up first

Jog, side-step and skip around the court. Then do arm circles and finger stretches, and pass the ball gently from hand to hand around your waist.

The chest pass

Hold the ball at your chest with both hands, fingers spread, thumbs behind the ball.
Look at your teammate's chest. That is your target.
Step towards your teammate.
Push your arms out straight, fast.
Finish with your thumbs pointing down and your palms facing out.

The bounce pass

Use a bounce pass when a defender's arms are in the way. Push the ball the same way, but aim at the floor about two-thirds of the way to your teammate, closer to them than to you. The ball bounces up to their waist, under the defender's arms.

Catching

Show a target: hold your hands up in front of your chest, fingers spread, thumbs close together.
Watch the ball all the way into your hands.
Step towards the ball to meet it.
Give: bend your elbows and bring the ball in to your chest, so it does not bounce away.

After you catch the ball, you may not walk with it. You may pass, shoot or start to dribble.

Games with little equipment

Wall passes: draw a square on a wall at chest height and chest-pass into it from 3 metres. Catch it as it comes back.
Ten passes: two teams. Your team scores a point for ten passes in a row without the other team touching the ball. No snatching and no pushing: you may only catch a pass in the air.

Warning

Stay safe

Say your teammate's name before you pass, so they are ready.
Never throw the ball at someone's face.
Keep your fingers spread and firm when you catch, so the ball does not bend them back.

Tip

Step, push, thumbs down

For a bounce pass, remember "closer to them": the ball bounces nearer the catcher. To catch: show your hands, watch, give.

✦

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.

1

Where should your thumbs point at the end of a chest pass?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: Down, with your palms facing out.

2

A tall defender stands between you and your teammate with arms up. Which pass should you use?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: A bounce pass, under the defender's arms.

3

Where should a bounce pass hit the floor?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: About two-thirds of the way to your teammate, closer to them than to you.

4

Why do you bend your elbows when you catch?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: To "give" with the ball and bring it in to your chest, so it does not bounce out of your hands.

Quick check

Put the steps of the chest pass in order.

Tap the cards in the right order.

What you learned today

In basketball you pass, dribble or shoot. You may not walk holding the ball.
Chest pass: step, push, thumbs down. Bounce pass: bounce it closer to the catcher.
To catch: show your hands, watch the ball, and give with your elbows.

Sources and credits

Basketball, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Background facts (five players, the hoop, passing, dribbling and shooting, no walking with the ball) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
Skill steps, games, diagrams, "Try it yourself" and the practice questions written by Ganzaa.

This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

1What is basketball?

2Warm up first

3The chest pass

4The bounce pass

5Catching

6Games with little equipment

Try it yourself

What is basketball?

Warm up first

The chest pass

The bounce pass

Catching

Games with little equipment