Basketball Drills

This shooting drill came from the University of Washington Women’s Newsletter.

If you would like to subscribe, email me and I will forward your interest on to their staff.

This is what Assistant Coach Mike Neighbors said about the drill:

“Team shooting drill we did a number of times during the break and our team really likes it. Rare shooting drill that also forces them to pass, rebound, and communicate effectively. See if you can beat our records.”

Competitive Team Shooting Drill that takes about 8 minutes to complete.

 

Maryland Shooting

Begin drill with 4 balls. 2 balls in each of the lines shown above and one line without balls.

The middle line passes to the corner. The player in the corner attempts a 2 or a 3.

After making the pass the player cuts to the top of the key where they receive a pass from the third line. The player at the top of the key attempts a 2 or 3…

The pattern continues to repeat itself for 1:00.

Quick rebounding and communication on rotations is key to keep the drill flowing and insure maximum possible attempts in the 1:00.

Tell your players that when they shoot it, they always rebound their own make/miss. They must then rotate to the proper line. Let them figure it out on their own.

This is part of the drill. Hopefully in time they will learn to follow the person that starts in front of them and the more you do the drill the more ways they will figure out to get more shots.

There will be some frustrating moments for you as the coach and for them too. But resist the urge to “tell them” how to rotate.

Them communicating and experimenting is part of the battle.

2 point makes are worth 2 points and 3 point makes are worth 3 points. On average we score 40-50 points per 1:00.

For the next 1:00 we simply move the lines to new spots so that we can shoot the two wing shots.

Scoring is the same. Rotations are the same.

Don’t be surprised though when simply moving the lines cause rotation issues. I can’t explain it, but it happens to every team we use it with.

For the third minute, you only need to move balls from the corner to the wing. Now you get shots in the corner and the back at the top again.

Once again scoring is the same.

For minute 4, 5, and 6 all we do is switch ends of the court. Too many teams only utilize one end of the court so this gets us equally number of shots on both ends.

For scoring purposes, we chart individual spot scores while also calculating an overall 6:00 total score. We use this score to measure ourselves and challenge ourselves to reach new goals as the season progresses.

If you have a large team it is possible to do it simultaneously on both ends with the switch after 3:00 minutes of shooting.

Our all time record is 368 points. Our average score per spot is 45.9 this year. Our all time high spot is 89.

We keep a board with our Top 10 scores on them and bring to practice on the days we use this drill. Players love to compete against themselves and your former teams.

This year we have been challenging other teams. I have shared the drill with some coaching buddies and they use it with their team. Tell you team some “other” team got a certain score and just watch them compete to beat it!!!

The more you do the drill, cut down the time in between spot and end rotations.

3 Trips – 3 Buckets

by: Online Basketball Drills

I’ve always been a big believer that as a basketball coach, you should try whenever you can to mix conditioning with developing basketball skills. Not only because it’s a more efficient use of time, but because it teaches your players to think and perform well when they’re exhausted, which can be a huge advantage in the fourth quarter.

That’s why I also try to add some element of pressure, so that there is something on the line (usually more running) if the players fail to complete the drill.

One of my go-to conditioning drills is one I call 3 Trips, 3 Buckets. And it means exactly what it says.

 

Three players will line up at one end of the court, one under the hoop (player 1), one on the right baseline (player 2) and one on the left baseline (player 3).

This drill can work well taking jumpshots as well, especially, in the drive and kick variatio, but if you want to focus on conditioning, I would just leave it at layups,. as missed shots slow the drill down.

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This is the second part of some basketball shooting drills from the Xavier Men’s Basketball Newsletter.

If you are interested in seeing the archive of their newsletters, click this link:

Xavier Newsletter Archives

Here is a link to the first part of the shooting drills: Xavier Shooting Drills Part 1

 

 

 

 

32 Shooting

Shoot in partners. One partner completes the whole cycle and the other partner rebounds. They switch. There are five spots on the court–corners, wings, and top.

The shooter takes a jump shot, a shot fake–one dribble pull up, and a shot fake-one dribble–then a dribble move to beat a helper in for a layup from each spot. That means three shots starting from each spot. The shooter gets 2 points for each make for a total of 30 possible points. The last two possible points come from shooting 2 free throws at the end. Winners get a reward or losers run or do pushups.

X-Out Layups

It is essential to teach finishing at the basket as a part of your shooting work. I like this drill for it. Put one minute on the clock. Players start at the right elbow at each basket. Player dribbles in with right hand and finishes on right side. Catch the rebound, dribble out with left hand to left elbow, jump stop, pivot and face the basket in triple threat stance, Attack basket on left dribble and finish with left hand. Players keep track of makes in the one minute time. Work on different kinds of finishes, running layup, 2 foot power layup, reverse, and any other finishes that you teach.

Oak Hill Full Court Shooting

Great drill to work on dribbling, hustle, and shooting. The drill is fun for the players.

Split players into two teams. Each team starts on a lane line on the same end of the court facing the opposite basket. When drill starts, players dribble to opposite end using using outside hand away from where the defense would be. Shoot a pull up jump shot at the elbow of the opposite end. If the shot goes in, it is worth two points. If it misses, the player must get his own rebound and shoot layups until he makes it. The layup is worth 1 point.

When the ball goes in, player takes it out of the net and dribble back to the end he started on using outside hand and shoots the pull up shot at that end. Plus 2 for a make, if it misses, rebound and shoot layups until it goes in for Plus 1. Get the ball out of the net after the make and pass to the next player in line.

In a Row Free Throws

When players are shooting free throws, have them keep track of how many they make in a row. When they shoot in partners, they shoot until they miss and then switch. Have players record their streaks to track their progress.

This drill really helps concentration. I like to display the top ten longest streaks on a board in the gym. When we started doing this, we had some 10s and 12s. I had a player in the summer who went nuts for this. We would get done with summer workouts and 9:00 pm and he would still be there at 10:00 shooting his streaks. He ended up being the only one on the board with all 10 top streaks. Most importantly, it showed during the season.

Sutton Pivot Shooting

How you do the drill is determined by how you teach pivoting.Player start under the rim. A passer/coach starts at the volleyball line. Players pass to the coach and sprint towards their pass. As they do, the coach at the volleyball line passes the ball back and shouts a direction. Players must pivot in that direction and shoot. The drill makes players work on pivoting and shooting. Great drill.

These basketball shooting drills are from the Xavier Men’s Basketball Newsletter.

If you are interested in seeing the archive of their newsletters, click this link:

Xavier Newsletter Archives

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.

These basketball finishing drills are from the Xavier Men’s Basketball Newsletter.

You can see the archives of the newsletter here:

Xavier Newsletter Archives

Scroll down the page to see the three basketball finishing drills.

 

 

 

 

2 vs. 1 Finishing Toughness

Screener hands the ball to the offense.

Defensive man starts next to the offensive man.

Once the ball is handed to the offensive player, the offensive player uses the screen to shakd the defender.

Offensive player looks to score on the help defender or to dish to #3 (probably a bounce pass on the baseline side of the defense. We fake the pass in front, but don’t throw the ball away in front of the defense

X1 can rotate to #3

Keys: Bounce pass is usually the best pass because X4 will probably close out with high hands.

Get tight off the screen. Work on both sides of the floor.

Big Finishing Toughness

The defender in the middle plays to block the shot or alter the shot.

Offensive player tries to make a strong intelligent move.

Don’t use a dribble unless absolutely necessary.

 

 

Move and Counter Move Toughness

Coach throws a high arcing pass to the offense.

Offense rips the ball while defense gets into the shirt of the offense.

Offense drives by the defense (the defense cannot move laterally.

Offense finishes over the help defender at the rim, use a counter move if needed.

Keys:

Be tough with the initial rep and with the finish

Use counter move on a big defender.