Every coach wants to see every player on the team progress and become good shooters.
They want to see decent form, accuracy and consistency.
And it isn't difficult to convince players that practice is a good thing - walk past any basketball court on a Saturday morning, and if there isn't a game on there will be players scattered around the baskets practicing their shot.
Maybe even practicing their shooting form like their coach told them.
But shooting in a practice or by yourself at a neighborhood court is very different to shooting in a game.
In a game, a player's shooting form needs to be automatic - they can't be thinking about how to shoot, trying to get their elbows under the ball, gauging the arc needed.
The shooting technique needs to come naturally, which is why coaches stress perfect practice, over and over.
It's called muscle memory - if you make your muscles perform in the same way, same set of movements, repetitively, they will naturally perform those movements whenever the player starts the shooting motion.
Basic shooting drills need to emphasize this - good mechanics, good form, every time.
But there are a few other aspects to shooting - other than decent shooting form - that are necessary for shooting success in a game, and this is what your more advanced shooting drills need to accomplish.
More advanced shooting drills need to include focus on: 1.
A quick release.
When an offensive play is run well, and a player is able to ditch his defensive man by running him off a pick or giving him a good fake, the offensive player will pop into position alone, ready for the pass.
But he'll only have a second or two alone, and so when that pass comes, the offensive player needs to be ready to turn and fire immediately - not rushed, but calm and smooth.
To be calm and sure when shooting under fire, the player needs to practice like this - he needs to practice receiving the pass, squaring to the hoop, bringing the ball up and shooting - all in one clean, quick motion.
Because if he waits any longer, the defense will be on him.
2.
Good court vision.
Sometimes it's a good time to shoot; sometimes it isn't.
Sometimes it's better to fake and drive.
And sometimes someone else is in a better position to shoot and they should get the pass.
Good court vision means seeing what is happening all around you, and adjusting accordingly.
Have players run drills in which they have to choose - e.
g.
, in one-on-one situations, if the defensive man charges, the offensive player fakes a shot and drives on him; but if the defensive man lays back, the offensive player takes the shot.
Practice reading the defense.
3.
Choosing your shot.
Players need to shoot from where they would in the game.
Big men will rarely be taking three point shots; similarly, guards will rarely be trying a drop step inside the key.
Why waste valuable practice time teaching skills to players who will almost certainly not be given the opportunity to use them in a game.
A player on the court who can't be trusted to shoot is a black hole for the team - nobody wants to give him the ball.
And while good form is important to a consistent shot and needs to be taught and reinforced, if a player doesn't have a quick release, an eye for the court, and a knowledge of his shooting strengths, even the best form will fall flat more times than not.
Choose shooting drills that provide opportunity for your players to do this if you want them prepared for the game.
For more basketball shooting drills, check out Basketball Shooting Drills from the Better Basketball Coaching website.