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Finish the Game Pressure Free Throw Shooting Drill

This drill simulates pressure free throws at the end of a game and emphasizes the damage done by missing free throws late in a close game.

Run the drill at the end of practice to more closely simulate the mental and physical fatigue form the end of a game.

Line up the team in the lane spaces and behind the arc as they would for a free throw attempt. The shooter gets a 1-1 opportunity. Put a realistic score on the scoreboard that you would have in the final minutes of a close tournament game.

We put the score on the scoreboard at 45-44 for high school varsity with our team leading by one. If the shooter makes the shot, your team gets one point added. If the shooter misses, the opponent gets two points added. That emphasized the importance of each miss. After one shooter is done, rotate until each player has had a chance to shoot.

If you win the game, practice ends on a positive note. If you lose, there needs to be a penalty such as

running, frozen push ups, or whatever you want to use.

Some adjustments you can make to make the game more challenging are:

  • If the first shot of the one and one is missed, count it as two misses since the player does not even get the second shot. That would be 4 points for the imaginary opponent.
  • Start off with the score tied rather than you being ahead. I think that takes away from the protecting the lead theme, but if you obviously are going to get fouled with a tie game at times, especially if you attack the basket.
  • Start out behind by a few points to emphasize attacking the basket late in the game to get fouled and catch up with the clock stopped.
  • Run sprints prior to or between the free throw attempts

    • Some adjustments you can make to adapt this drill to make it competitive but realistic for younger level teams:

  • Start out with a bigger lead
  • Shoot two shots rather than a one and one each time
  • Each miss is only one point for the imaginary opponent

    • The idea for this post was from a story in the Indianapolis Star about how the Butler Men’s team runs this drill

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    2 Responses to “Finish the Game Pressure Free Throw Shooting Drill”

    1. We have six baskets in our gym, 12 on our varsity, so we have the team split up 2 at a basket. One player from each basket shoots 2 free throws. We must make at least 8 of 12 or we run 3 sideline sprints. If it has been a particularly grueling practice, we will mix in push-ups, sit-ups, etc. The gym is quiet as they shoot and there is pressure with a consequence hanging over their head.

      Another we do is to have all the players at one basket…each takes a turn shooting two free throws. The others scream and yell and try to distract them. The goal is to focus on form, “What do I need to do to make this free throw” to clear the mind. You can put a penalty on this one if you want to, as well.

    2. Coach,

      Thanks for adding in your drills! I know that others reading this will get a couple of good ideas to use from your comment.

      Brian

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