Dribble Hand Off

Dribble hand offs are increasingly part of a team’s offensive scheme both as a pressure release (e.g. when the ball cannot be passed to the wing, the player will dribble towards the wing and “hand off”) and also as an aggressive offensive move.

The dribbler moves towards the defender and then executes a jump stop, holding the ball on their hip. They hold the ball with hands on the top and bottom of the ball, to make it easier for their team mate to grab the ball.

The team mate takes the ball on the move and looks to attack off the dribble towards the key. They will often initially move away from the ball and then cut back towards the ball.

Increasingly, the player passing the ball will pivot to obstruct the path of the defender.

Alternatively, a hand off can be executed from a player that is standing still, and this is often done when a post player has the ball.

Before the hand off, the post player (4) pivots so that their back is facing the player that will take the ball, which will also make them “wider” and better able to obstruct the path of the defender.

Often instead of a hand off, the player will throw a short pass to their team mate, however this should be discouraged.

The hand-off works best when the two offensive players come together, as this is similar to a screen, where the player passing the ball also gets in the path of the defender.

Where the player making the hand off has not dribbled, they may also be able to fake the hand off action.

Here, x3 anticipates a hand off and moves to help to defend 1 as they start their dribble. 3 fakes the hand off and then spins to attack the basket, having x3 now on their back.