SHOOTING IN PRACTICE
Coaches share some of the things they do to work on shooting during the season.
Garrett Rau- Abbotsford, Wisconsin
"I took over in Abbotsford starting in the year 2023-2024 school year. As a program, shooting has been a huge point of emphasis for us since I got here. The year before I got here (22-23) they shot 38% on 2 point field goals, 30% on 3 point field goals, and 43% from the free throw line. My first year, (23-24) we shot 39.5% on 2 point field goals, 28.6% on 3 point field goals, and 48.3% from the free throw line. Last year, (24-25) we shot 49.4% on 2 point field goals, 31.4% on 3 point field goals, and 54.2% from the free throw line. We still have work to do, but there has been consistent improvement since I took over.
The first thing that we do after warm ups every day is something called "Get 50". Like most great coaching ideas, I stole this from someone else. I got this from Jay Wright at Villanova. You can look it up on youtube if you want a better explanation, but there are 5 different types of shots and you make 10 of each shot for a total of 50 makes. The shots are as follows:
1. One hand form shot from a couple feet away
2. Miken
3. Reverse Miken
4. Bradley. Hold the ball at your release point and hop up and down. From about 10 feet away, shoot while hopping up and down. Works on touch, follow through, and shot timing.
5. Elbow jumpers. Focus on footwork. We are a 1-2 step footwork team, but make sure their feet are good as they shoot these.
This is a simple and organized way to get everyone to make 50 shots to start every practice. We do this with all 35-40 guys in the program grades 9-12. We mix guys up so we have young and old guys together. We push the older guys to help out and coach the guys up that are at their basket. At the beginning of the year it will take our guys about 20 minutes to get through this. By the end of the year it takes about 10.
The other thing we have tried to make a huge priority is our shooting machine. We use The Gun 12K. The players log into it with their own accounts and it keeps track of how many shots they take and make from different locations on the court. I can assign different workouts for them to do. We have a 30 minute study hall at the start of each day and kids will use that time to shoot if they can, as well as after practice, and during their gym classes. We will post all of the data on our google classroom page for all the boys to see and it has driven competition between them. This summer, we shot over 18,000 shots on the one machine alone."
Lexi Demott- Galesburg
We try to do as many game like shooting things as possible in practice. Coach Noonan introduced a new shooting game to us that we call "21 +3". This splits the girls into two teams that are competing against each other to make 21 shots and then 3 in a row. You have to make 3 in a row in order to win. We enjoy this drill because everyone is moving, you are shooting shots that you would take in a game, and it gets a lot of shots up.
We also break down our 5 out offense. Depending on what part we are in depends on the action that follows. Most of the time this results in a player getting a lay up and a jump shot. This is not guard nor post specific, everyone is getting opportunities. We make it competitive by saying as a team they have 2 minutes to make a certain amount of shots total. If they don't there is a consequence.
In December we have a practice where we section the players into groups of 4-5. They come in for 45 minute sessions to work on skills and shooting. This keeps things fresh and new as around that time we normally have a small game break until after our Christmas tournament.
We also have players that ask to come into shoot before practice or ask to stay after practice to shoot on the gun.
Zach Keene- Macomb
I have always believed that if you want to be good at something, you have to put in the time to practice it. As a head coach I liked to spend at least 30 minutes of practice doing some sort of team or individual shooting. I wouldn't always do 30 consecutive minutes, but I would try and plan a total of 30 minutes worth of shooting into our daily practices. The key is to get your players to go game speed and to take game related shots for the player. I don't like having players practicing shots that they aren't going to take in a game. I want them taking realistic game shots in practice as much as possible.
While tracking individual player shooting can be beneficial, the hardest part when it comes tracking your shooting is not having managers like they do at the college level to help track it. If I was fortunate enough to have a manager, I would have a binder with all of the drills listed as well as players names. If they were in partners, they would help keep track of made shots and report them to be recorded. Some years, if I didn't always have a manager, I would have the kids record their own scores or have an assistant help keep track by recording them down. I always like to know who shot well and from where they shot well. (This was also a good indicator on who should be taking shots from certain spots in games)
Here are some of my favorite shooting drills to work individually and as a team -
Individual shooting drills
3 Bird Shooting -
5 spots (corner, wing, top of the key, wing, corner). You can have partners or 3 people to a group 2 balls. Shooter must make 2 in a row to move to the next spot. We would keep track of daily shooting. Total spots you made it to. The goal was to make it through all 5 spots in 2 minutes. Once you have completed all 5 spots you begin working your way back around. Anyone making it back around that was a +1 for each spot.
To add to it, whoever held the record for most spots made in the 2 minutes I would name the drill after them for the next time we shot. (Jason's Drill, Mike's Drill, Etc)
Bethel Shooting-
Similar to 3 Bird shooting. 2 minutes, 3 players and 2 balls. The shooter must make 5 shots (not in a row) at each spot to move to the next spot. The goal is to make 25 shots in the quickest time possible. Score is number made or time completed
FT Golf- Shoot in pairs. 2 shots at each basic (6 baskets total). You can go 9 holes or 18. 9 holes is one time around the 6 baskets. Par is 36 for 9 holes and 72 for 18 holes. Each shot in worth the following: 0 points for a miss, 1 point if it hits the side rim first and goes in, 3 points if it hits the front or back first and goes in and 5 points for a swish.
Sue Bird Shooting -
3 Balls 2 Rebounders. 3 minutes on the clock. Shoot10 shots at each of the spots you want to shoot at (We use 5) If you make 4/10 you move onto the next spot. If you don't make 4/10you move back a spot. The goal is to finish all spots in under 3 minutes.
"Just Shoot It" Summer Shooting Form For Individual Players -
Just like every other coach, I like for players to shoot in the off-season as much as possible. Giving them goals and being able to see how they are doing weekly. I have attached the Excel form that I use to help keep track individually of each players shooting totals. I have them share it with me so that I can see their progress in real time. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions (Keenez@mcusd185.org)
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