Basketball Fundamentals 101
Fundamental Basketball Skill #9 - Shooting
If you can't score - whether you want to average 90 points per game or 40 - you will lose more than you win. And no matter what any coach tells you, if you can score, you will play!
In this discussion of shooting I am not going to talk about technique.
Proper form and technique must be established, but for the sake of shooting as it pertains to this fundamental basketball skill series, I am talking more about certain principles to apply to help you become a better shooter. For information about form and technique, browse the following articles and/or links (will open in new window):
The 4 "Cons" of a Good Shooter
1) CONfidenceTo be a good shooter, you should know that the basketball is going inevery time you shoot. If you have doubt, you need not even shoot.2) CONtrolOn each and every shot, the body should be under control andbalanced.3) CONsistencyThe same technique, form, and method should be used on every shot.4) CONcentrationFocus and concentrate on the target (hoop) from the start of the shotuntil the ball goes through the rim.What is the one CONstant in all of the 4 shooting rules above? In order to have confidence, control, consistency, and concentration you must practice, practice, practice!! If you do not practice shooting, how can you possibly have confidence in your shot?
Good shooters develop good habits through good practice.
Good practice means working on the shots you take within your team offense and at game speed. Standing around and shooting without movement, jacking up halfcourt shots, and practicing with no focus and goal in mind is wasted time and creates bad habits.
Shooting practice, whether in team drills or individual workouts, should involve competition and concentration. Competitive shooting drills, for example, are drills in which you shoot against a defender, record the percentage of shots made in an attempt to achieve a preset goal, utilize game and score situations and other types of pressure shots in order to help you improve concentration. Improved concentration will help the shooter become more proficient in shooting contested shots and in pressure game situations.
Drills for teaching the skill of Shooting in Basketball:
1. (coming soon)
2.
3.
I don't necessarily know if any one fundamental is more important than another. However, from an individual standpoint, there really is none more essential than shooting. The main goal in a basketball game is to score more points than your opponent. There are a lot of methods to help in achieving this goal such as playing tough defense, employing a stall offense, or even using a fast break offense. Any method may help, but if you can't shoot, you can't score.
Play of the Day Categories
Hoops U. - Est. 9-11-1999
Copyright © 1999-2008 Hoops U. ® All rights reserved
The information contained in HoopsU.com may not be published, broadcast, framed, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Hoops U.
