Why Shooting Fundamentals are so Important for Youth Coaches?

Frank -

Joe wrote this earlier -

1. Stance - if they start in a squared stance, players have the natural tendency to twist because that's not a good one-handed shooting position. It becomes exaggerated when the players are weaker. Use a staggered or open stance instead.

2. Guide Hand - If the player brings down the guide hand too quickly, it can cause a natural twisting motion of the body.

3. Position of Set Point - If the player bring the ball to the side and slings the ball up toward the basket, this will also cause a twist motion. You want the players to shoot the ball in front of them.

You can look up more on the shooting mechanics at this link as well: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-technique.html

Hope that helps.

Then its practice, practice and more practice.... but make sure you have the right form... good luck.

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For ages 5 and even 4 and a half they have difficulty even making it to the rim. What can be done for them? Is it a matter of coordinating the legs with the upper body? Can these kids learn proper form as well? It seems very difficult.

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Hi CWB,

Play at a 6 foot hoop with a mini-ball. I won't even put my kids in a league until their 9 or so. I think they should playing other sports like soccer, swimming, gymnastics, and martial arts to help develop them as an overall athlete.

It's almost impossible to teach proper form to a 10 year old, yet a 4 or 5 year old. Be patient and just let them have fun. I would focus more on ball handling, since it is easier to teach to that age level.

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Thanks,
The hoop is 8 feet and they are using the ladies ball. Pretty much all of them are struggling with shooting. I will focus on ball handling, passing but making these into sort of games as the drills can be a bore.

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Hi CWB,

I am coaching 1st and 2nd graders (6-8 year olds). We use 8 and a half foot rims and a smaller ball. We are focusing on ball handling, and most of the kids are getting pretty good at it. Is it time to start teaching proper shooting fundamentals now? Or are they still too young?

Thanks

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If you are doing ball handling that is great. 6-8 year olds are about the age where they will be getting stronger to shoot the right way anyways. I would start with thhat form drill with just 1 hand here. Like it said above, do it right and you never have to waste the time to fix it again. Sounds like you are right on track.

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Im coaching 8-9 yr olds. On 10 ffot goal with 28.5 ball.
Should I just let em shoot however? Many cant get ball to rim from 12' free throw.
Just let them get it up any way they can? And teach stronger ones a couple of pointers?

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JD - Those kids need to be shooting at lower rims and use small basketballs. Using 10ft rims and standard balls is like you shooting with a 10lbs medicine ball. It screws up your shooting form.

Find a way to get them lower rims and smaller basketballs.
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/qa/q1-verybasicyouthdrills.html

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Should 7th and 8th grade girls worry about jumping or not jumping when shooting free throws? It seems that when they try not to jump they develop bad habits of twisting.

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Tom, that's a good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of experience working with 7th & 8th grade girls. I know boys are typically strong enough to get the ball to the basket on free throws.

I'm guessing this problem will occur on an individual basis for the girls. Some girls will be strong enough. Some won't be. If you feel that the girls are not strong enough, I would allow a jump.

The twisting problem that is occurring could be from a number of different things besides strength.

1. Stance - if they start in a squared stance, players have the natural tendency to twist because that's not a good one-handed shooting position. It becomes exaggerated when the players are weaker. Use a staggered or open stance instead.

2. Guide Hand - If the player brings down the guide hand too quickly, it can cause a natural twisting motion of the body.

3. Position of Set Point - If the player bring the ball to the side and slings the ball up toward the basket, this will also cause a twist motion. You want the players to shoot the ball in front of them.

You can look up more on the shooting mechanics at this link as well: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-technique.html

Hope that helps.

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I used to shoot using two hands for a while, but over the past year I have been really focusing on using one hand and taking my guide hand off the ball so as to not use it. Some days I can't miss, and other days I really struggle, and revert back to my old ways without realizing it. I do a lot of form shooting and stuff. Do you know why this may be?
thanks

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Ryan -

Your form has all to do with MUSCLE MEMORY.... (since we cant see your shot, we can only surmise)

Like you said, there are days that you revert back to your old ways... you have to break that habit and the only way you can do that is to shoot a lot of shots... starting with FORM SHOOTING. I would shoot against a wall, maybe 100 times a day... then start in close concentrating on your form... then you can work your way back a little and shoot some more. This is going to take 100s / 1000s of shots... so be patient with yourself and keep working on your shot.

Let us know how it goes. Good luck

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Good shooting fundamentals is why the Miami Heat won this year. Compared to OKC they had more guys that could flat out shoot. Shooters tend to have longevity when it comes to playing. Players that can jump seem short lived as their knees give out, but shooters are always effective.

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For younger kids under 8, teach form shooting on a very small hoop. I have one for my little kids that goes from 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet. http://www.buylifetime.com/products/blt/pid-90022.aspx

Put it down on the lower settings and let them get used to proper form each time, and then gradually raise the basket. A shorter rim for practicing will also help them with their footwork on layups.

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I'm in middle school and I'd love to know some tips and I'm horrible at it

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A team like houston rockets that shoots with great shooting fundamentals is going to win more games.

Young kids under 8 can practise shooting on a mini basketball hoop. I have one for my son. http://www.besttoyreview.com/best-mini-basketball-hooplifetime-youth-portable-basketball-system/

It can be easily adjusted from 5.5 feet to 7.5 feet and is reasonably sturdy and well-made. You can have a try.

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Youve answered many questions on hoop height recommendations. Suggestions on court size for grades 5 and down ??

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from 6 to 12 years one should use #3 or #5 balls, we call them mini basketballs. The goeal is 250 cm hight, sometimes even lower. We have seperate baskets. After that regular basket, but ball is the ladies ball. at the age when the boys turn into 14 they move to the men's ball.

This is how you learn to keep the basketball in a right way in your hand plus shoot it in a correct way.

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I agree, Jukka. We also have recommendations at this link:

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/coaching/youth-basketball-sizes.html


Pete, for 5th grade and down, we actually prefer to use play 3 on 3. So the court size could be smaller than a normal high school court.

I have not studied exact dimensions, though.

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I've found with elementary kids 3rd grade to 6th grade, my best drill for fundamental shooting is have them shoot from both blocks, square up, good foundation, good form, pivot into shot & use Backboard. I'm getting more out of this drill than i figured. Then i have them make as many in 2 mins as they can as a team. They love it! They cheer each other on whole way thru. Plus it's where they shoot 80% of their shots anyways.

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Joe Haefner says: 1/25/2015 at 12:41:42 PM Thanks for sharing, JAG! Nothing like a little competition to make a "simple" drill fun. Like     login   register