No-Look Pass
A pass delivered while the passer looks in another direction to deceive defenders about its destination.
Definition
A no-look pass is a deception technique in which the passer directs the ball to a teammate while looking elsewhere, freezing or misdirecting defenders who read the passer's eyes. It relies on the player having already located the receiver through peripheral vision or prior court awareness before disguising the delivery.
Most associated with basketball playmakers, the no-look pass also appears in football and other invasion sports. It is high-risk, high-reward: executed well it creates an open scoring chance, but a telegraphed or mistimed attempt can be intercepted. Coaches generally treat it as an advanced skill layered on top of sound fundamental passing.
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Techniques
- Chest PassA two-handed pass thrown directly from chest height in a straight line to a teammate, the most basic pass in basketball and netball.
- Rugby union passingHow a rugby pass is actually made — the sideways swing that replaces a throw, why every pass must travel backwards, and what separates a spiral pass from a pop.
- Crossover DribbleA basketball dribbling move that switches the ball quickly from one hand to the other to change direction and get past a defender.
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- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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