Take Lots of Shots

All players, especially younger ones, need to see the ball go through the hoop. It breeds confidence. It allows players to get a feel for how their specific bodies move when achieving the most important goal — making baskets.

What is all comes down to, and one of the most important things I hope you’ve learned from Basketball Coach Weekly during the last four and a half years, is to get your players lots of game-like shots in practice, and when encouraging them to work on their own.

Get players away from the messing-around shots they chuck at the hoop. Teach them that every attempt needs to focus on form and is an opportunity to get better.

You do this by constantly drilling the types of shots they are going to get in games, and the movements necessary to create and make those shots. And adding in a competitive element to everything you do certainly doesn’t hurt either.

It’s why we close with two shooting drills today. The first is Continuous Curl where players are constantly running from the baseline, through the lane and curl to the opposite elbow for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

In 25 Alive on page 5, you are teaching consistency while encouraging players to move through shooting areas quickly as shooters need to make 25 shots (five from five spots without missing two in a row) in the fastest time possible.