Purpose: Develop speed shooting under pressure to make the shots in time from various perimeter spots. Drill: Start in corner with :60 seconds on the clock. Make three shots from each spot before moving to the next. The objective is to get from corner to corner in :60 seconds. Variations: A rebounder can be used but isn't necessary. Also, change time to :90 seconds and move the spots outside the 3-point line. For younger players, keep them in range and either drop the makes to 2 from each … [Read more...]
2 Dribble Elbow Shooting Drill
Purpose: A simple 2-person shooting drill that is effective at practicing shots from an often open area against most defenses. This shooting drill creates repetition and helps the shooter become familiar at shooting off the dribble from the elbow areas. Drill: 2 players and 1 basketball at a basket. O1 starts under the basket and acts as the passer and rebounder. O2 begins at the top of the key. O1 passes to O2. O2 catches the basketball and takes two hard dribbles to the elbow, squares up, … [Read more...]
One Shot and Leave Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To improve players' focus and concentration by rewarding them when they make a free throw and giving a consequence when they miss. Drill: At the end of practice, the players will line up on a baseline. One player at a time comes out to shoot one free throw. If the attempt is successful, that player gets to leave. If the attempt is missed, that player goes to the end of the line and the entire team runs a 10-second drill (down-and-back sprint). Drill continues until no one is … [Read more...]
Jump Up Shooting Drill
Purpose: Some players have difficulty making layups because they tend to jump 'long' instead of jumping 'high' (therefore, they wind up shooting from a bad angle). This drill encourages players to jump as high as possible for a layup rather than broad jumping. Drill: Place an object such as a cone, chair, ball rack, etc slightly behind the backboard. The distance will depend upon the speed of the drill (which should be varied). For moderate speed, place the cone directly under the backboard as … [Read more...]
Two-Man Layup Drill
Purpose: To work on 'finishing' a fast break or slow break situation. Players will work on passing and catching in a simulated break environment. Drill: Begin with players in the three lines, as shown; the basketball is in line O1. A coach or manager (C) stands near the elbow area. O2 starts by cutting hard to the area around the free throw line extended. O1 passes to O2, who executes a jump stop upon the catch. O3 will start his run and cut at the same time as O2 and will run his … [Read more...]
2-Man Elbow Shooting Drill
Purpose: This is a simple basketball shooting drill that is useful in practicing shots from a common crease/opening against most defenses. This drill creates repetition in shooting from the elbow area, thereby presenting familiarity within an offense to gain attempts from these spots. Drill: O1 has the ball and begins under the basket as the rebounder/passer. O2 begins at the elbow (left elbow in this diagram). O2 then moves quickly to the right elbow -- staying low with target hands ready. … [Read more...]
Post Player Ball Roll Head Fake Shooting Drill
Purpose: To develop the head and shoulder shot fake from in the low post. The head and shoulder is necessary and essential to getting a shot off in traffic and to possibly draw a foul. Drill: The player, with a basketball, begins at the right elbow. He starts by rolling the basketball along the lane line towards the baseline. Staying low, the player follows the basketball to the block area, picks it up, squares to the backboard, pump fakes and then shoots a power layup (dunk, if … [Read more...]
Wildcat 3 Ball Shooting Drill
Purpose: To teach the players to prepare to shoot the basketball and to shoot if off the pass or dribble. Drill: 6 players and 3 basketballs are needed. 3 players begin on the floor as shown; the remaining players from three lines under the basket, balls are at front of each line. O4, O5, and O6 will pass to O1, O2, and O3. Shooters should have target hands ready and call for the ball. Shooters will also take a 1-2 step into the pass. After receiving the pass, shoot and follow your shot. … [Read more...]
Float and Shoot Off the Pass Drill
Purpose: To teach the players to 'float' away when a teammate is dribbling at them and to develop the ability to shoot off of that movement. Drill: Form two lines at midcourt, basketball in each line. The first player in each line takes a position on the wing. The next player in line, with the basketball, will dribble toward the wing player. As the dribbler is approaching the wing player, the wing will 'float' toward the baseline. As the pass is in the air, the wing player should be squaring … [Read more...]
Rapid-Fire Continuous 3-Point Shooting Drill
Purpose: To develop three-point shooting techniques and fundamentals while on the move and while becoming tired. Drill: 4 players at each basket (2 shooters, 2 rebounders). You can adjust the number of shooters to more or less as needed. The 2 shooters begin outside the three-point line and the 2 rebounders start under the basket. Each shooter will shoot continuous three-point shots for a total of five minutes, moving to different spots for each shot. The rebounders will pass to the partner … [Read more...]