Secret To Great Free Throw Shooting

Bad free throw shooting is so frustrating. It is frustrating for coaches, for players, and for fans. Coaches always ask other coaches,”What do you do to work on free throws?” Coaches are hoping there is a secret to unlock good free throw shooting. 

Coaches try everything-

Volume Shooting- have players shoot 50 ft’s or 100 ft’s each night. 

Contests- players vs players, where there is a winner and a loser, and a consequence.

Team Goals- set goals for the team, and the team faces a consequence.

Simulate Game Shooting- shoot only two at a time, shoot them as scrimmage or shoot them when tired.

Found The Secret To Great FT Shooting-

Sadly, I never found the secret to great free throw shooting until I retired from coaching. So now I know how to produce good free shooting but I can’t use it. I found the secret not by going to a clinic or talking to other coaches. I found the secret by watching and listening to parents at games. 

THE Secret To Great FT Shooting

If you want your players to shoot well from the free throw line, you need to wait until your player is handed the ball by the referee. As they get the ball, you need to scream one of the following things as loud as you can:

“Concentrate”

“Relax”

“More Arc”

This year I have heard so many parents do this at games that I have to believe it must work. This has to be such valuable information for a player to receive as they are ready to shoot a free throw. 

I had never thought of this. It makes total sense for a player to have a distraction screamed at them at the free line instead of focusing on the routine they have practiced. 

It really makes you wonder why in golf the everyone remains silent as they are ready to putt. Can you imagine how much better they could putt if people would scream,”Concentrate,” as they are ready to putt. Maybe there is hope for my golf game.

Thanks parents, great coaching tip!!