Hobbies And Interests
Under Pressure
Free throws can be the most stressful part of the game for some players, as they stand alone at the free-throw line with all eyes on them. To get used to the pressure, have all of your players line up in a single-file at the free-throw line. Give the front player and the one behind him a basketball.
The first player tries to make a free throw. If he does, he retrieves the ball and passes to the third player in line. If he misses, he rebounds and must make a layup before the next player in line makes a free throw. If he succeeds, he goes to the back of the line and awaits his next turn. If he doesn't, he's out. This process continues until only one player is left as the champion free-throw shooter.
For example, Player 1 shoots and makes a free throw. He grabs the ball and tosses it to Player 3 as Player 2 is shooting. Player 2 misses. He gets his rebound and attempts to make a layup before Player 3 makes his free throw.
Like a Game
Using your pivot foot, and following through on your shots, are two important parts of the game that are tricky to instill in young players. This drill will teach them to do both because they won't have many options.
Have six players stand outside of the free-throw lane of the same basket and assign partners. Give a basketball to each of the pairs. At your mark, have them take a shot--all at the same time--and get their own rebounds. They then must pivot and pass to their partner, who will be somewhere among all those other players doing the same thing.
Once that player shoots and gets their own rebound, she also must pivot and pass to her partner. The game continues like this, with players moving, pivoting, passing and shooting, either for a set amount of attempts or time.
This drill not only gives players the idea of how to pivot, pass and shoot, it sets up a game-type situation, in which many players are moving around the basket at once.
Make Like the Pros
Every season at the NBA All-Star game, some of the best players go up against each other in a shooting competition. You can do the same for your team to get them used to shooting under time pressure.
Set up five balls at each location around the basket. Depending on the age group of your team, these spots can be anywhere from a few feet away to the three-point line. Give each player a set amount of time--one or two minutes--to make as many of the 25 balls as he can. If you really want to be like a pro, make one ball out of every five worth two or three points instead of one.
After one round, take the top two or three players and have them go again for the championship round.