Tips for the Shooting Guard
By: Tony Alfonso
www.HoopsU.com
A. Mental Attitude and Approach

       1.  Be a leader.
       2.  Be an intelligent player.
       3.  Be a communicator with your teammates and your coaching staff.
       4.  Be unselfish, help make your teammates better.
       5.  Support and commit to the goals and philosophies of the team.


B. Defensive Attitude and Approach

1.  Along with your point guard, help set the intensity level on defense.
2.  Be aggressive - avoid fouling.
3.  Commit to pressure defense when your opponent has the ball.
4.  Commit to denying every pass - 1 pass away.
5.  Keep the ball out of the middle of the floor.
6.  Contest every shot (if you are guarding another shooter, make those shots
    difficult.)
7.  Box out and fill the lanes for fast break situations.
8.  Protect on defensive steal or quick rebound.


C. Offensive Attitude and Approach

1.  Take good, high percentage shots.  A good shooting guard should shoot near
    50%.
2.  Become proficient with the three-point shot -  40% should be an attainable
    goal here.
3.  Be able to shoot from all spots on the floor, i.e. 3-pointers, mid range,
    corner, etc...
4.  Be a scoring threat - can you create your own shot opportunity?.
5.  Handle the ball with confidence and intensity.
6.  Make the easy pass.
7.  Read the defense and make good entry and continuation decisions.
8.  Eliminate mental errors.
9.  On deep penetration to the hoop, utilize a strong jump stop, shot fake if
    needed, and finish with an assist or shot.
10. Shoot at least 80% from the foul line.


D. Ball Handling

Become efficient with:
1.  Speed
2.  Control
3.  Crossover dribble
4.  Pull back dribble
5.  Hesitation dribble
6.  Behind the back dribble
7.  Fake reverse dribble


E. Receiving the Ball

1.  On Perimeter - Be a threat at all times...meet the passes.
2.  Out of Bounds - utilize V-cuts, reverse pin, bump & release, and screen
    away-roll back.
3.  Catch the ball in triple threat position so you quickly shoot, drive, or pass.


F. Making the Entry Pass

1.  Pass to the low post from only below the foul line extended.  Above this
    line, creates a bad angle pass.
2.  Keep the ball alive - avoid "Dead Ball" situations.
3.  Pass away from the defender.
4.  Pass to target hands of the receiver. If their hands aren't ready, don't pass!
5.  Make quick, sharp passes. No floaters.


G. Movement without the Ball

1.  Go to basket.
2.  Learn how to use screens and read the defender to know which cut to make
    off of a screen.
a.  Straight cut (when defender gets hung up on the screen)
b.  Curl cut (when defender follows behind you)
c.  Fade cut (when defender goes over the top of the screen)
3.  Replace yourself.
4.  Screen away.
5.  Cut through.
6.  Screen on ball.
7.  Slide on perimeter vs. zone -- sneak a pivot foot into gap as you receive a
    pass.
8.  Pass and relocate on a pass to the post, esp. if defender doubleteams the
    post.
9.  Be aggressive without the ball.  Run your defender into screen after screen
    if necessary.


H. One on One Moves

(Excel at scoring off the dribble -- don't be just a shooter, be a scorer)
1.  Jab & Go
2.  Jab & Shoot
3.  Shot fake & Shot
4.  Shot fake & Drive
5.  Crossover dribble
6.  Reverse layup, both right and left
HoopsU.com Basketball Coaching and Basketball Training
This is a basic outline that a shooting guard should know and understand if he or she wants to be a more successful shooter and scoring threat.  This is similar to the 'Tips for the Point Guard', however, the shooting guard is looked upon to be a scoring threat.  You still want to involve teammates, but you need be able to create your own chances.

To improve your overall athleticism, strength, speed and more that will help you become a more effective shooter and scorer, check out 'The Complete Basketball Strength and Speed Program' from Hoops U.
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