FREE THROW SHOOTING DRILL THAT ADDS GAME-LIKE PRESSURE: 1-AND-1 STREAKS

1-and-1 Streaks is a free throw shooting drill that you can use with your entire team.  This drill gives players some added pressure to make it more game-like.

Split the team up into smaller groups at each basket.  It is not necessary to have an equal number of players at each basket.  Let your team know how many minutes they will be shooting free throws. The goal is to have the most successful 1-and-1 streaks, as a group, by the end of the drill.  

For explaining purposes let's say that there are three players at a basket (Player A, Player B, and Player C).  Each time a player gets their chance to shoot, they shoot a 1-and -1 free throw situation.

Player A steps to the free throw line to shoot a 1-and-1.  If they miss the first attempt they don't get to shoot the second free throw (just like a game).  Then Player B gets their turn to shoot.  If Player B makes the first and misses the second free throw this group still does not have a successful 1-and-1.  You have to make the first and second shot to count it as part of a streak.

If Player C makes the first and then the second free throw the group now has a streak of one.  Now Player A shoots again.  If Player A makes both the first and the second free throw their group has a streak of two.  Now it's Player B's turn again, and if they do not make the first and second free throw, the group is now back at zero.

The group that has the most consecutive successful 1-and-1's at the end of the drill, wins the drill.

This is an effective drill because it can add some focus to practicing free throws in a practice setting. The players at each basket are counting on each other and this can make shooting free throws more game-like.

2 OR 8 FREE THROW SHOOTING DRILL

2 or 8 is a free throw shooting drill that includes both pressure shooting and conditioning.  This drill is best utilized with two players shooting at one basket.

Player A goes to the free throw line while Player B rebounds for them.  Player A will shoot free throws until they either make 8 in a row or miss 2 in a row.  If Player A misses 2 in a row before they make 8 in a row they run a predetermined number of sprints.  If Player A makes 8 in a row before they miss 2 in a row they do not have to run.

Player A could make 5 in a row, then miss one.  If they miss the next shot, they run (that would be 2 misses in a row).  If they make that next shot their count is now at 1 in a row and they continue.

Player B starts to shoot once Player A is either finished with their 8 makes in a row or running their sprints for missing 2 in a row.

PLUS 1 MINUS 1 FREE THROW DRILL

This free throw shooting drill adds requires a little more focus by players if they are to win the drill.  There are a few different ways to run this drill as you can run it as a team, in small groups, or individually.

Regardless of how you decide to run the drill the scoring will remain the same.
Made free throw that is a swish = +1 point
Made free throw that hits rim and/or backboard = +0 points
Missed free throw = -1 point

Have each player on your team shoot a designated number of free throws using the scoring system listed above.  If you have each player shoot one free throw, the goal should be to achieve half the points per number of players.  For example if you have 14 players on your roster the goal should be to get 7 points.  That means 7 swishes.  You can adjust the scoring however you like.

If you run the drill with small groups you could have each group compete against each other. The group with the highest points, wins.  Doing the drill in smaller groups allows your players to shoot more free throws.

If you do the drill by having your players keep individual scores have a record score for the team to try and beat.  For example, if a player gets a score of 6 when shooting ten free throws and that is the high score then this is the score the players will try to beat next time you do the drill. 

COACHES SHARE RESPONSES: FREE THROWS DURING YOUR PRACTICES

Thank you to the coaches who took the time to submit a response to the Coaches Share.  It is incredible to think about how much we, as coaches, can learn from each other.

This week's Coaches Share question: How much time do you spend on free throw shooting during practice?  Do you have any good free throw shooting drills to share?

"I make sure to incorporate free throw shooting drills immediately after drills that make my players tire out. This way the free throws are executed when the players are puffing and it's more like a game situation.  Usually I get them to shoot 10 free throws each. After they've completed them, they must report to an assistant to get their makes out of 10 jotted down. This holds the players accountable to improve on their current free throw percentage as they can see their progress (or lack of progress)."

 ~ Coach Mac  http://www.basketballforcoaches.com

"We have our players shoot 5 free throws three different times throughout practice.  We try our best to have them shoot those free throws after a tough drill so their legs are tired."

~Coach T.L.

"I have my team do a variety of things with free throws during practice as I don't have any one philosophy on when to shoot them, or how many to shoot.  At the end of at least one practice per week the players have to make 20 free throws before they can leave the gym.  Seems to be a lot of focus with them at that time because the reward is that their practice is over when they make their 20th free throw.  The one downside to this is that players are leaving the gym at different times, which I don't always like but free throw are important so I feel the trade is ok."

~Coach Davis

"At some point during practice, usually after a drill that tired out the players, we shoot ten free throws.  One drill we do (probably once a week) is we shoot pressure free throws.  Each player shoots ten free throws.  I set a number of free throws made as a goal - which is usually 75%.  For each free throw under 75% they run what we call a Tiger (our nickname) which is a sprinting drill.  So making four less free throws would equal four Tigers.  If the team meets the goal we do not run."

~Coach B (IL)

"We chart our players free throws each day in practice.  At the end of the week we have an award for the best free throw percentage for the week.  Usually the award is a Gatorade, nothing big, but it is something that motivates the players."

~Coach Marty

"Our players have to make 15 free throw a day in practice.  They make some of them during our free throw shooting period which is usually seven minutes.  If they don't make 15 during that time then they make the rest of them after practice."

~Coach Scott (NY)

"Keep it simple.  Shoot them when they are tired."

~Coach A.R. (FL)

COACHES SHARE 8-18-12

Coaches help coaches by sharing.  Email your response to today's Coaches Share question and have your response added to tomorrow's blog entry.  Your response can be as long or short as you like.  Email your response to  dietelgreg@gmail.com

QUESTION:  How much time do you spend on free throw shooting in your practices?  Do you have any good free throw shooting drills to share?


Email your response to dietelgreg@gmail.com and be part of the discussion.  Your response is then posted in tomorrow's blog.

WIN THE GAME FREE THROW SHOOTING DRILL

As every coach knows, free throw shooting is a big part of every game.  Win The Game drill can be beneficial to your players as it puts some pressure on the players while they are shooting in hope of making it more game-like.  Shooting free throws in this manner keeps your players from going through the motions in practice while shooting free throws. 

SKILLS COVERED
*Shooting form
*Pressure free throw shooting

 ALIGNMENT
*This drill can be done individually, in small groups, or as a total team.

EXECUTING THE DRILL
*For this example assume we are doing this drill individually.
*Coach sets up a game situation. "The score is 70-70, and it's late in the game."
*Player shoots ten free throws. Every free throw made equals 1 point for your team. Every free throw missed equals 2 points for the opposing team.
*After ten free throws you should want your team to have more points than your opponent.

DRILL VARIATION
*If this is done as a team, each player will shoot one free throw. Keep score the same way.
*If in small groups of 3 or 4, keep score the same way.
*To add more pressure the coach can designate the player(s) or team runs __ sprints if you lose they end up having a lower score than the opponent during the drill.