Purpose: To practice pressure-filled, competitive free throw shooting. Also a drill/game that is a great way to end practice. Drill: Players line up around the free throw lane. The goal of the Free Throw Knockout Game is to eliminate players one at a time until there is only one player left. Each player will rotate through and shoot one free throw at a time. A player is eliminated when he misses the free throw and the player behind him makes his. A player can only be eliminated if the … [Read more...]
Team Free Throw Contest
Purpose: To develop and improve both individual and team free throw shooting with this competitive free throw shooting game. Drill: Divide the team into 2 groups. Each team will line up around the free throw line of their own basket. Split as you see fit; varsity vs. junior varsity, upper classmen vs. underclassmen, or just randomly. The coach will say 'begin' and the first player will shoot 2 free throws and then rotate. Each player will continue shooting 2 free throws and then rotating to … [Read more...]
Free Throw Shooting Practice Chart
One of the most important, yet under-practiced, aspects of the game of basketball is free throws. We've all seen professionals that can hit from deep or glide to the basket and play above the rim, but what about when they go to the line and clang big free throws...It happens a lot! Many big games, whether ahead or behind, come down to teams that can shoot free throws consistently. Free throws cannot be something that is practiced every-so-often. It also cannot be something practiced in an … [Read more...]
3 C's for Improved Free Throw Shooting
It's the part of the season where coaches and teams prepare for the post season. You should have your eyes on the ultimate goal of making a run in the playoffs and winning that championship. If you are not in a position to make post season play, then you want to be able to finish the season strong and try to develop some momentum for next season. With teams battling for playoff position it becomes more and more important to limit turnovers, control the boards, play great defense, and make your … [Read more...]
Team 70 Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To develop free throw shooting under pressure. Each player is under pressure to make his shot because the team needs to finish with a total percentage made of 70% or greater. Drill: You can utilize all available baskets but, personally, I like to keep the team all at one basket. If they are all at one basket, they can encourage each other. If you have a lot of players or if you want to speed up the time it takes to do this drill, use more than one basket. All players will take turns … [Read more...]
1-and-1 and Run Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To practice free throw shooting in a pressure situation. Drill: The 1-and-1 and Run drill can be done at the end of practice as an actual drill, or the coach can pick players out during practice. The premise of the drill is simple; if a player misses the front end of a 1-and-1, the team will run a 10-second drill (full court down & back sprint). If he misses the back end of the 1-and-1, the team will run to half-court and back. To perform this during practice, at random times I … [Read more...]
Conditioning Free Throw Drill
This is a good free throw drill to utilize when you are stressing conditioning, particularly in the preseason or early season. Divide the team as desired at the available baskets in your gym. The rules are simple and as follows: Each time a players steps to the line, he will shoot a one-and-one (or bonus) situation. If he misses the first attempt, he runs 2 laps around the gym, sprinting the sidelines and jogging the baseline. Because he missed the front end of the one-and-one, he does not get … [Read more...]
Worst Free Throw Shooter Drill
Purpose: To increase free throw shooting percentage by rewarding the winners. Drill: Players will divide into pairs. Use as many baskets as possible and a basketball for each pair. One partner shoots free throws against the other. Each player in each group will shoot 10 free throws (if you desire, change number shot to your preference). Ties are broken by shooting one free throw at a time. For the winners, practice is over and they can go home. The losers must stay and pair up again. The drill … [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...]