How Do You Toss the Ball (Opening Tip)?

[Freddy]

Troubles with both one-hand and two-handed toss from a still position for me a number of years ago, so I tried and practiced it this way. I kinda approach the two players and sorta do a layup upwards between them. Goes like this:

1. From about three feet away, I say, "After the whistle I'm going up with the toss."
2. Blow whistle
3. Spit whistle out of mouth
4. Take one short step onto my left foot as I execute a dribble.
5. Gather the ball and plant my right foot.
6. Toss the ball one handed straight up in between two jumpers.

Haven't had U1 or U2 whistle me for either a bad toss or travelling on the play since beginning this method in '03. If I were fouled after gathering the ball, I'm sure some smart-aleck is gonna call "On the Floor!", however.

[Luis]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Troubles with both one-hand and two-handed toss from a still position for me a number of years ago, so I tried and practiced it this way. I kinda approach the two players and sorta do a layup upwards between them. Goes like this:

1. From about three feet away, I say, "After the whistle I'm going up with the toss."
2. Blow whistle
3. Spit whistle out of mouth
4. Take one short step onto my left foot as I execute a dribble.
5. Gather the ball and plant my right foot.
6. Toss the ball one handed straight up in between two jumpers.

Haven't had U1 or U2 whistle me for either a bad toss or travelling on the play since beginning this method in '03. If I were fouled after gathering the ball, I'm sure some smart-aleck is gonna call "On the Floor!", however.

very interesting. i did a bad toss once - with two-handed, one hand must been giving a bit more strength and then it went to the other direction... i love one-handed toss but as i'm not a tall guy, two-handed might look better

[APG]

I toss with two hands overhead.

[Raymond]

I do it one-handed starting with the ball above my head. I give a little push from the elbow. I don't bounce the ball, I walk straight in with the ball pre-positioned. I'm also 6' 5".

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I do it one-handed starting with the ball above my head. I give a little push from the elbow. I don't bounce the ball, I walk straight in with the ball pre-positioned. I'm also 6' 5".

That is my technique as well....

1. Whistle blown from outside the circle.
2. Step in with the ball up
3. Short shot-put.

The only difference is that I'm not 6'5"....but 6'.

I used to do an underhanded one-hand toss...did it that way for 15+ years. Then it started going a little goofy so I decided to change to a new technique. Not so much that the underhanded version was bad (it does have more movement so there is more chance for it to stray) but just to force me to re-concentrate on what I was doing.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Freddy

1. From about three feet away, I say, "After the whistle I'm going up with the toss."

Why do you feel the need to say this?

[Raymond]

At a camp one year had a supervisor (ex D1 official) who said he felt the best way to practice your toss is to stand underneath a basket and toss it through the ring from underneath.

[APG]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

At a camp one year had a supervisor (ex D1 official) who said he felt the best way to practice your toss is to stand underneath a basket and toss it through the ring from underneath.

That is how I've also been taught to practice jump balls.

[Luis]

I guess one other interesting question is - should you let the players be aware of the moment you're gonna toss the ball? Some refs seem to giving the players a hint right before he tosses the ball while the others just toss it unexpectedly?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Luis

I guess one other interesting question is - should you let the players be aware of the moment you're gonna toss the ball? Some refs seem to giving the players a hint right before he tosses the ball while the others just toss it unexpectedly?

I don't say anything. I don't try to lull them, fool them, or anything, but I don't want them timing it too well, either.

[SmokeEater]

Originally Posted by Adam

I don't say anything. I don't try to lull them, fool them, or anything, but I don't want them timing it too well, either.

The players should all know that when the official steps into the circle the jump is about to occur!

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by APG

That is how I've also been taught to practice jump balls.

I do that, more for a height reference than accuracy. Another technique is to practice the toss directly over the intersection of two lines on the court. Try to have the ball land exactly on the X. If you're within a few inches, the toss is very straight....even more so than tossing the ball up into the basket.

[Luis]

sometimes i saw some guys standing right in the middle of the two players which i anticipate a hit to the refs after the ball's been tapped by the players... the three men (two jumpers + ref) almost lined-up... the ref could toss pretty straight up though. however he gets more chances of being hit by the big dudes

[tref]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Why do you feel the need to say this?

They gotta have some way to guage stealing the toss

[Rufus]

Quick whistle, let the whistle go and hold it in my non-throwing hand (that way I know it's not in my mouth - teaching from an instructor years ago), hold the ball in the other and place myself between jumpers and pause (don't want either trying to time the toss). One-handed push to an imaginary basket like has already been mentioned.

Never purchased a copy of this one, but here's a link of me last year just after a toss:

Middle School Basketball Championships | High School Sports | Gwinnett Daily Post