What is an outlet in basketball? | Term Explained!

You may have heard the word outlet yelled by a player towards his teammate when watching a basketball game. The player in question yelling is the ball handler looking to receive an outlet pass immediately.

What is an outlet pass in basketball? A basketball player will yell outlet in the backcourt to get the attention of their teammate who has the ball after a rebound. The outlet pass is used to secure the basketball in the backcourt on either side of the basket, foul line extended. This is the best position for the player to see both the ball and the court to make the best possible play after receiving the pass.

The outlet pass is used to advance the ball safely and or quickly up the court upon receiving it. This fundamental skill is taught to all novice basketball players when learning the game of basketball.

Why is the outlet pass used in basketball?

The outlet pass is a safe way to get the ball to the guards and avoid the ball from being stolen or turned over from a bad pass in the backcourt.

Generally, the post or center position will rebound after a miss-shot attempt or inbound the basketball after a score to their team’s ball handler. 

In the outlet position, the player who receives the ball can see both the defense and offense while determining the best play at that moment.

This can be a quick dribble or pass down the court to catch the defense off guard or a slower dribble looking to set up the offense.

The outlet pass is not just for the big men, it can be for a guard who has just grabbed a defensive rebound and is now trapped underneath the basket with nowhere to dribble.

The outlet pass is a fundamental play in basketball that is necessary in finding your teammate every time you need to get the ball when in need of help.

It would be much harder passing the ball in the middle of the court when you have players in front of you attempting to stop you from making the pass and players around the outlet man waiting to steal the ball.

Where does the guard need to be to receive the outlet?

In a perfect world with no defense as a threat, the prime position for the guard will be to stand at the free-throw line extended on either side of the court with his back lined up facing the baseline. 

This way the player will see both the defense and offense on the court. This isn’t always the case when the defense is now a threat in the back court.

Often times your teammate will not see you even if you yell OUTLET!! This is because their court vision is blocked by players preventing the pass after rebounding the basketball.

Also, when the player yells outlet they may not want to pass until you get closer as the defense is hovering around looking to intercept the pass. 

This is why when the threat is there, the position of the player should be foul line extended but moving towards the teammate with the defense on your hip to prevent them from stepping around you and stealing it.

Benefits to an outlet pass?

• It secures the team with the basketball.
• Finds a teammate generally at the same spots every time on the court.
• Moves the basketball down the court quickly.
• Allows for quick baskets. 

Why do players need to yell outlet?

A player doesn’t need to yell outlet but it does help here’s why.

In a fight for a rebound, a player who has the ball after a missed shot will find themselves with limited vision of the court.

This is because the opposing players are trying to steal the basketball after failing to rebound the missed shot attempt.

During this time the player who has the ball will have a hard time seeing where his teammates are while trying to make a good pass without it getting deflected or stolen.

This is why outlet is yelled, it grabs the attention of the player in hopes that they can find them on the court quickly and make the pass swiftly.

Different types of outlet passes?

All outlet passes are not created equal.  The outlet pass we have been talking about in general is the safe outlet pass to the guard who brings the ball up the court.

Though there is not just one type of outlet pass, you may find outlet passes thrown long like a one-hand football pass to a player running towards the basket in the frontcourt.

You may find a short pass to the outlet man with a simple hand-off. Passes can be thrown with one hand, two hands, bounce pass etc.

All of which are called outlet passes but are not created equal.

 

Consider an outlet pass as a safety measure, an out in this case to protect the ball and get it to your best ball handlers.

But it can also be used as a threat to catch the defense off guard and to throw the ball down the court for an easy basket.