How to Pass an Alley-Oop

The alley-oop is a two man play in basketball that consists of one player tossing the ball into the air near the basket where the second player, leaping up to catch the ball mid-flight, places it into the hoop, scoring. Often used to dunk the ball, the alley-oop is a flashy, crowd-pleasing play that shows a high-level of precision and trust on the players' parts. While both players must be skilled in their perspective portions of the play, knowing how to pass an alley-oop is crucial to its success, as no score is possible unless you send the ball to the proper position.

Things You'll Need

  • Basketball
  • Basketball hoop
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Advance down the court towards the basketball hoop at a moderate pace to begin with. As you practice and gain experience you can try it at full speed.

    • 2

      Choose a position at which you wish to make the pass. This should be within the three-point line, but still outside the free throw lane which is usually too well covered to toss the alley-opp pass with any accuracy during normal play.

    • 3

      Make occasional eye contact with your partner, the scorer, as you approach the line at which you've chosen to make your pass. Wait for your partner to indicate a readiness to jump. This is where the practice comes in handy as you'll need experience playing together to have the silent communication necessary to anticipate your partner's movements.

    • 4

      Throw the basketball towards your partner's side of the basket using the same throwing motion you would use when taking a shot. Aim the throw so that it sails slightly above the rim within your partner's reach at the moment your partner achieves the height necessary to slam the ball through the hoop.

    • 5

      Watch as your partner scores.