These basketball shooting drills are from the Xavier Men’s Basketball Newsletter.
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Olympic Shooting
Vance Walberg drill. 3 players, 2 basketballs, 5:00 on the clock. The players simply shoot 2 man, 2 ball shooting for 5 minutes. Players keep track of their makes for 5 minutes. Reward the players with the highest scores. Also, record the scores over the course of the year and see how they improve. Run the drill for three point and mid range shots.
21 Shooting
Another variation of the 2 ball 3 player shooting drill. Players do 3 player 2 basketball (Olympic Shooting above) and keep track of their individual makes. Once one player makes 5, the drill stops. All three players shoot 2 free throws. Players add one point for each made free throw to their score. Shoot three rounds and the player with the most points wins. It’s called 21 shooting because if a player wins every round (5 + 5 + 5) and makes all 6 free throws, he or she ends up with 21 points.
Walberg Shooting
Break the players into teams of 3 to 5 per team. The less per team, the better. Each team gets 2 basketballs. The drill is timed for 5 minutes.There are 5 spots on the perimeter–the corner, wing, top of the key, opposite wing, and opposite corner. You can shoot 3s or midrange shots. Players start in the corner and shoot until the group makes 5.
Once the group makes five shots, they move onto the wing. When they make 5 at the wing, they move onto the top of the key, or to the free throw line if you are shooting midrange shots. They continue until they have made 5 shots as a group from each of the 5 spots. If time hasn’t expired yet (teh drill stops when the 5 minutes is up), they go to the top of the key and shoot until the 5 minute time limit is up.
This is when the drill gets fun. Teams start with a score of minus 25. Each make is worth 1 point. So, if they finish all five spots in the five minutes that were put on the clock, they will have a score of 0. Every shot they make at the top of the key (or to the free throw line if you are shooting midrange shots) is worth plus one. Once they make shots from the top of the key (or free throw line), they are now into positive numbers.
Reward the winners and set a team goal that everyone needs to break even. Once everyone is able to break even, increase the goal. When we started doing this drill, we had most groups between minus 10 and minus 5. By the end of the season, we were regularly getting groups that were between plus 10 and plus 15. The improvement was great.
If you only have one or two baskets, two teams can go at one hoop. Gets crazy, but it works!
KIng of the Hill Shooting
You need several baskets, but it is a great drill. We have 18 players and 6 baskets. Each basket has a number trhat corresponds to its rank. Basket #1 is the top basket and #6 is the bottom basket. Three players to a basket.
If you have more players, put 2 groups of 2 at the top basket.
Put 1 minute on the clock and give the players an area to shoot from (elbows, corners, wings, etc…) Players shoot fo the minute and rebound their own shots. Player with the most makes at each basket moves up one hoop. The player with the lowest score moves down one hoop (except for the last basket)
After everyone has moved 1 basket, we shoot again. You can shoot from the same spot or change it. The idea is to compete and be the player to end up on hoop #1 at the end to be the “King of the Hill.”
Mustang Shooting
Players start at 15 feet and shoot for five minutes. Every time they make 4 in a row, they can take a step back. Every time they miss 2 in a row, they take a step in. The objective of teh srill is to see how far back they can get in five minutes. After five minutes, playes switch. Simplel, but effective and can show a player her true range.
Make 2 Miss 2 Around the World
Do this drill in partners. There are five spots on the floor–corners, wing, and top. Players start in the corner. To advance to the next spot, they have to make 2 in a row. If they miss 2 in a row, they are out and their partner gets a turn. The idea is to get all the way around the arc without missing two in a row. It’s tough and competitive for the players.
