Can You Work On Your Basketball Shot During the Season?

I come up against this all the time, coaches saying they don't want their players "messing" with their shots once the season starts. So what's the truth?

WHY IS BASKETBALL ANY DIFFERENT?

The first question that comes to mind is why should basketball be any different from other sports? The great PGA golfers are working on their swings, short game and putting all the time. They probably don't try to adjust anything right before a round, but afterward they get with their coaches and work on such things as tempo, swing plane, club face at contact, ball flight, this and that. Baseball players have hitting and pitching coaches to work with them throughout the season. Tennis players work with their coaches all the time. If they could talk to them during a round, they surely would. (It's kind of unfair that golfers can have caddies [who can be coaches and teaching professionals] and talk to them throughout a round, but tennis players can't even talk or signal their coaches in the stands during matches.)

Basketball is no different! In fact basketball shooting is a much more forgiving skill than hitting a 90 mile an hour fast ball, or controlling a golf clubhead traveling at 120-140 miles/hour. The basketball rim is about twice the size of a basketball. Free throws are taken only 13 feet nine inches from the center of the rim. Jump and Set Shots are taken from just a few feet away up to 20 feet or more, not huge challenges.

NOT MAJOR CHANGES!

By working on your shot, I don't mean you should make major changes to your shot during a season (usually), because it takes time for the body to adjust to and trust a very different shot action. But minor things can be worked on and "tweaked" all throughout the season. And if your stroke is really suspect (a nice way of saying "poor"), what is the risk in a major change? If you're losing playing time or games due to poor shooting, why not address it, both individually and as a team, whatever it takes?

AWARENESS IS HOW TO DO IT

The way to do this most gently is through awareness rather than telling someone (or yourself) how to do things. Awareness is how our marvelous body/brain/nervous systems work (let's call it the "body"). Awareness gives the body the feedback it needs to know what is happening, and then it can make the, usually, subtle changes it needs to learn and perform better. Patience is important, too, as the body cannot be rushed. If you are always short, for example, yelling at yourself or a player isn't of much help. In fact it would hinder growth. But simple awareness and then observation of how such-and-such feels, and what the results are, will lead to solid, lasting learning.

EXAMPLES OF AWARENESS COACHING/LEARNING

Let's say a player shoots everything flat and has a low shooting percentage. The awareness questions to ask are "How high are you shooting now?" and "What might you do to shoot higher?" Once the player has some knowledge of the height of her/his shots, then invite him/her to play with the answers to the second question. The player could aim higher with the arm action, one possibility, or the player could jump more strongly to shoot. Also you could notice "when" in the jumping motion (or down-up for a Free Throw) you are shooting. Is it "early," "middle of the jump," or at the "top"? With experimentation, the player will learn that shooting quicker is a simple and powerful way to increase the height of shots. Then play with this instruction -- "Shooting quicker" -- and the player will LEARN about height and how to get it. The major part of the work on improving height can be done by the player, just noticing things, giving precise feedback, and then getting out of his/her own way. Letting the learning happen!!!

(A note about "Letting Go!" It means to stop interfering and give your magical body the freedom to perform what it knows to do. You might ask, then, "How can I do perform with excellence if I don't yet own the skill, don't know how to do it?" One of my mentors put it this way: If you know what to do, then "LET IT HAPPEN!" If you don't know what to do, "LET IT LEARN!" The magic is in the "LETTING...")

YOUNG KIDS ESPECIALLY

Kids should be coached and encouraged to work on their own on their shots all year long. These are the developmental years, so allow them to try new things throughout the season. Teach them to be responsible (able to respond) for their own learning! That's what's so powerful about the Swish videos, THEY TEACH KIDS TO COACH THEMSELVES! It's in the "practice" that they're going to develop themselves more than in the few and far-between coaching sessions. Coaching can get them started beautifully, but it's in the follow up (and repetition with awareness) that they'll learn the most. And, coaches, don't worry about losing games! Skill development for your players is much more important at the younger ages.

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I asked a few coach friends to give me their comments on this subject, and their input is included below.

"Like you, Tom, I believe there is no time like the present to work on and improve a player's shot. The old chestnut that you don't want to play around with a player's stroke during season should have gone out with the two-handed set shot!

"Golfers continually work and refine their swings; there is no reason why shooters should "wait" until the off-season to maintain and refine form and technique.

"The great players always want information and look for ways to get the slightest edge. Coaches need to have the courage to provide this information and not be worried about the chance it might cost a game along the way.

"The other poignant point in this discussion/debate is when is it a good time to make change and work on technique? In Australia, the basketball "season" never seems to end, and in the US, the advent of endless AAU tournaments leave little time to wait until there is a spare 3 months period in the coaching calender.

"It is a similar argument to not changing a player's shot once they have reached a certain age. This is such an important skill, why would any coach not want to provide players of any age or experience with information and knowledge to improve in this area?"

- - Peter Lonergan, NITCP Head Coach, Basketball New South Wales, Australia

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"Tom, I believe every year we could benefit from going back and getting brushed up on the raw basic fundamentals of shooting to help keep our shooting in top form and keep accurate and, hopefully, improve. I have found from my own experience in life, that sometimes when I have done something so long, I do tend to neglect certain "small" things that can add up to a big difference. If I stay on top of those "small" things, I can be more successful. I would recommend that sometime during the year, players go back to the elementary basics and start from scratch and work their way back to where they are at to keep from ignoring something that may make a big difference in their shot."

- - Tommy Huneycutt (Tommy's Playbook website:

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"Just a quick thought here ... I think the age and experience of the players is a big factor. Assuming the player is advanced and needs only refinement, then, yes, you work on the shot, but don't overhaul it, because winning in the short term is too important (like on a college team).

"However, taking that mentality to anything under HS varsity does a great disservice to the kids. Can you imagine a high school C team coach, for instance, not wanting to change a player's shooting form just to protect his W/L record? First, the whole point of youth sports is to prepare players for higher level play. The sooner the better for fixing shooting form. If your subject player doesn't change ASAP, he may never be ready for varsity play. If his performance in the C team level hurts his team (by missing a few shots, I guess), then that is a very small price to pay.

"Second, the longer you wait to change form, the harder it is to train new habits. Even when you can prove to a high school player that a form change is beneficial, when the pressure is on, he will resort to old habits. Only the exceptional students of the game will willingly change their fundamental habits when they are older."

- Steve Jordan, Coaches Notebook

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"My thoughts on how kids are training are very similar to what Bob Bigelow (bobbigelow.com) has been saying (Ed. note: Steve, Bob and I met this fall in Massachusetts; Bob is an expert in Youth Sports and how they could more effectively be coached). So much time is devoted to game preparation and conditioning ... and so little time is being spent on developing players' skills. Kids are playing too many games and not enough time is being spent on just shooting a basketball. How many kids today go outside and shoot for an hour everyday?

"I recently did a clinic for a youth basketball team, and after I was finished my with my skills segment, the coach had them go right into a game. Just running up and down the court throwing shots from everywhere. Shooting is a skill, an art, and a science which needs to be worked on everyday. There's nothing more satisfying than shooting at the park or in your driveway and swishing shot after shot.

"I sympathize with youth coaches today. The youth sports system puts so much emphasis on winning games that it doesn't allow for coaches to spend the needed time on fundamentals such as shooting. Our kids can run 4-5 offensive plays and zone trap, but they can't hit a free throw.

"Some suggest blowing up the system ... but that's probably not realistic. I suggest working to improve the system. Traditionally town travel teams practice a couple times a week and play games on the weekend. Parents should consider basketball skill and shooting coaches to supplement their kids practice schedule. Working with a coach will focus them more on developing their skills than on winning basketball games.

"And for the kids who might have been cut from an AAU or travel team, they can now gain an advantage by working with a coach who helps them develop their skills."

- - Steve Smith (basketball coach at Forekicks, a Golf and Indoor Sports Complex in Norfolk, Massachusetts)

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the “essence” of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that it’s very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Tom’s website (http://www.swish22.com/) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/416647

Whose "Fundamentals" Are They Anyway? (A New Look at the Fundamentals of Basketball Shooting)

What are the so-called "Fundamentals" of shooting? This reflection was triggered in late 2005 by viewing some of my collection of shooting videos, DVD's and CD's, including some new ones I recently got. (I thought to update it as of a year later, with some new insights.)

Though there is some consistency of thought, I find a lot of differences, too. And some of the things that many of these people agree on are totally contrary to what I've discovered in my own exploration of shooting. (If you've read my stuff for awhile, you know what I'm talking about.)

That the Fundamentals can be viewed so differently by different people shows how mixed up things are. Since shooting is at such a low ebb, I think we have to look at everything we considered sacred and be open to different points of view.

DEFINITION

The Dictionary defines the word "Fundamental" to mean: "... of or forming a foundation, a basis; basic; essential; a principle theory, a law." So it means things that are essential, things that form a foundation, in this case for putting a basketball into a basket. It's the things that need to be understood and learned in order for a skill like shooting to have a strong foundation for success.

The general areas of the Fundamentals I see are:

- GRIP -- your physical connection with the ball

- STANCE & POWER -- how you position your feet and body and how you generate power

- VISION -- how you see and relate visually to the target

- SETTING THE BALL, THE SET POINT -- how the ball is brought to the Set Point, and the alignment and positioning of the arm, hand and ball before the final releasing action

- THE RELEASE, ARCH AND SPIN -- how the ball gets to the basket

- THE FOLLOW THROUGH -- how the shot can finish for a powerful connection to the target

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

Here's a quick summary of the Fundamentals as described by other players and coaches.

- GRIP:

... Some say the ball should be held by the finger pads of the strong hand only, not touching the palm at all.

... Some say the ball is held by the fingers and rests on the upper part of the palm.

... All agree the ball should on the finger pads, not the finger tips, and not be touching the base of the palm -- that there should be a "gap" there.

... Some say the first finger should be in line with the valve stem, other say to straddle the valve with the first and second fingers.

... Some say the middle finger should be the last one to touch the ball as it leaves the hand

... Some say both of the first two fingers are last to touch the ball

... Some say it's the first finger alone

... Basically everyone these days says the weak hand should be on the side of the ball, though one fine NBA player actually has it almost on the top of the ball. It's how his dad taught him, he says.

- STANCE & POWER:

... Most say you should "Square Up," meaning the feet are pointing at the target (either parallel to each other or with the weak foot staggered back, the weak foot can turn, some say) and the shoulders should square to a line to the basket.

... I've even seen some great NBA shooters say, in their videos, to "Square Up," but in actuality they don't when they, themselves, shoot. It's such a "given," everyone seems to think they have to say it. Often on TV, I'll see a shot made by a player stepping into an open stance and the commentator says "He squared up that time!" I guess just because it went in they think the stance "must" have been squared up.

... Many say that the shot should be taken at the "Top of the Jump," though some say you should shoot "On the Way Up."

... One of the best 3-pt shooters of all time has a video out now that stresses squaring up and the B-E-E-F Method, though I don't think that's how he shot when he played. By stressing the elbow part of that (elbow under the ball), his stroke finishes with his hand moving abruptly to the side, which is not an effective finish to a shot. Though I couldn't see the spin his shots had in the video, I'll bet he's now getting side spin because of that outward motion.

- VISION:

There's a lot of variety here.

... Some say look at the back rim, some the front rim.

... A few say to focus on one of the hooks that hold the net.

... Some say focus on the whole rim, some say focus on the "middle" of the basket, one said focus "over the front rim."

... Most say to keep your focus on the basket when you shoot, though at least one suggests you watch the ball as it leaves the hand and flies to the basket.

- SETTING THE BALL, THE SET POINT:

There isn't much talk about setting of the ball, the movement of the ball from where you start or catch it up to the Set Point.

... A couple said to bring it up in a straight line with the forearm vertical, called the "shot line" by one.

... As to the Set Point, most people stress that it should be above the eyes and they then talk about the elbow and the angle of the arm, etc. This neglects all the kids under about 14-15 who are not strong enough to have a Set Point above the eyes.

... Also, many are obsessed with the elbow, saying it should be "under the ball," or "directly under the ball," or "tucked in."

... A major new DVD on shooting by a top NBA player says, in the little booklet that accompanies it, to "Keep your elbow in," but the demonstrators in the video, both NBA stars, do NOT tuck it in. Their elbows are out to the side about 7-10 inches.

... Several said the elbow should be pointing at the target.

... Most make a point of saying the elbow shouldn't be out too far (the "chicken wing"), so their answer is to tuck it in.

... Some opinions talk of the elbow having to be at a 90 degree angle, and some include the arm, wrist and hand needing to form a "Reverse C," with the hand facing straight upward.

... Several stress that everything needs to be "aligned," hand, ball, elbow and target. The eye isn't always part of that alignment, however, so some think it's good to shoot in line with the shoulder so that the elbow can, more easily, be under the ball.

... Most who stress the elbow has to be under the ball have the ball in line with the ear or further to the side for that to be possible. I was even told years ago in person by one of the country's top college coaches that he wanted his players to have their "Strong arm over the strong elbow over the strong knee over the strong foot" before they go to shoot. Perhaps you've heard that instruction. It isn't mentioned much any more.

- THE RELEASE, ARCH AND SPIN:

... Flipping the wrist (or snapping it) seems to be the most prevalent action for this.

... One video says to have a relaxed wrist and hand, and suggests a way to learn this is to "wave" at the basket after the shot. In the example, a player snaps his wrist and then, after the ball leaves his hand, he waves at the basket.

... Many say the arm should be straightened (elbow lifted) with the elbow locking, so apparently you're supposed to do both: straighten the arm AND flip the wrist.

... Some say the arm is aimed upward, at a very high angle.

... Few, if any, suggest a pushing action of the arm (as I do). Most think that's a fault.

... The trajectory of the ball to the basket (and a discussion of arch and how one might control distance and direction) is rarely mentioned.

... Everyone sees backspin as the best spin, though there are different ways given to generate spin.

... Some specify that the first two fingers should control the flight of the ball.

... Some say you should drive down hard with the hand and fingers to create backspin.

... Others say the snapping of the wrist creates the desired backspin.

... Very common is the idea of "Reaching your hand in the Cookie Jar" after the release.

- THE FOLLOW THROUGH:

... Everyone says to follow through to finish the shot.

... Some say to hold the Follow Through until the ball reaches the target.

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With all these different suggestions, how is one to find the truth? From the state of shooting in the game today in the U.S., obviously not many players have been able to find it. International players seem to have figured out things better than our players have. Or maybe it's just that we see the "cream of the crop" from Europe, South America, China, etc. My feeling is that the international players put more emphasis on shooting and spend more time at it. Thus more of them find an effective way to shoot on their own, and they're the ones we see over here. If you look at them, most have open stances, shoot on the way up and release the ball with a relaxed wrist and hand. Most are not doing it the way the Fundamentals are described above.

A SIMPLE WAY TO LOOK AT THE FUNDAMENTALS

How simple can the Fundamentals be? One of the cornerstones of my coaching is to make and keep things "simple." Getting too technical or complicated will interfere with one's natural exploration and discovery, so I strive always to simplify. Rather than go through and comment on each the Fundamentals as described by other people and then give my, often, "different" takes on them, I'm going to just describe and define how I see the Fundamentals can be approached and invite everyone to examine, through practical experience, what works for them.

So what's "Essential" in the act of shooting a basketball? I can think of these things:

- That you feel "connected" to the ball and the target before and while you shoot -- with the ball, that's done by feel; with basket, it's done by vision.

- That power is generated quickly, efficiently and strongly by the big muscles of the body

- That you have a way of seeing the basket that increases your chances of making the shot

- That you have a setting of the ball up to the Set Point and a Release and Follow Through that are aligned with the target as long as possible

- That the Release delivers the ball up and into the basket with Accuracy, Consistency and Repeatability

- That your Follow Through completes the connection to the target

- That there is a "flow" of energy you catch and ride to the basket

- That you maximize the use of big muscles and minimize the use of smaller muscles

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MY FUNDAMENTALS OF SHOOTING

- GRIP:

Ball is held in the strong hand with a wide grip without strain. A little pressure in the finger pads raises the ball up slightly more into the fingers. The Guide Hand can either be on the side or more under and to the side.

- STANCE AND POWER:

Have an Open Stance with the front foot turned a little toward the weak side and the weak foot back and open more, open as much as 45 degrees. Feet are roughly shoulder-width apart for balance. The legs drive the shot, and for maximum power, shoot on the way up as quickly as you can for most shots.

- VISION:

Have "soft" vision of the basket, without any particular point of focus.

- SETTING OF THE BALL, THE SET POINT:

As you set the ball, align it with the shooting eye and basket as long as possible. This alignment is critical for accuracy. If you catch the ball high, it helps to "dip" the ball for alignment. If you don't have time to dip the ball, it might be better NOT to shoot.

The Set Point needs to be below the eyes for younger players, above the eyes for stronger players. Very strong players can raise it even higher. Make sure the hand is turned facing in line with the target as much as possible. If the Set Point is above the eyes, keep the back of the ball generally in line with the front of the head.

- THE RELEASE, ARCH AND SPIN:

Make the Release be an upward, automatic, elbow-locking pushing action, driven by the leg power. The wrist and hand can be basically relaxed, with only the job of keeping the ball on line. Arch happens automatically when you connect to the leg power early in the motion. The Release is the "Delivery System," what gets and keeps the ball exactly on line and determines the angle of release. You control distance by varying the arch. Spin will be consistent, medium backspin when you push at the same speed and force every time, an accelerating motion up to about 70% of the maximum possible for you.

- FOLLOW THROUGH:

Hold the Follow Through for an extra 1/2 to one second to complete the connection to the target.

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These, then, are the fundamentals I see. I encourage you now to go to a court and explore them, play with them. Don't just believe me or someone else. Take these suggestions and find your own variations of them. Challenge them. See what works for you. What I offer is so simple and universal most people will develop a stroke that looks very similar.

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the “essence” of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that it’s very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Tom’s website (http://www.swish22.com/) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/471957

Watch Others Like a Hawk!

I was in a gym in northern California recently and used the phrase, "Watch your partner like a hawk!" for the first time. I then looked up on the far wall and saw that the mascot for the team whose gym this was is the Hawk! I had to laugh.

What I was trying to convey is that observation of others can be a big part of your learning process. Birds of prey like hawks and eagles have incredible vision. They have to in order to spot prey like rabbits and mice from hundreds of feet away. My words were meant to tell the kids that seeing others is more than just entertainment. It can have a big impact on your learning.

We have a saying in our culture that says, "When you can see something in somebody else, you 'own' it!" That means that what you see in others becomes part of your potential, either right away or with some practice. If you can see that another shooter is hesitating before she or he shoots, and thus shooting flat and hot, then you can better see and feel your OWN hesitation (or non-hesitation) when you go to shoot. You'll have a better idea of what you're looking for. If you know that you want to shoot quickly without hesitation, examples of either hesitation or non-hesitation are teaching you about what you want for yourself.

Of course, your own experience of hesitation or not is the real teacher, but seeing others kind of primes the pump, helps you clarify the experience for when you perform the motion.

The point is, pay attention to others, as well as yourself. You can learn a lot from what you see in other players.

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the “essence” of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that it’s very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Tom’s website (http://www.swish22.com/) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/471951