No coach would ever complain about having too many shooters on a team. I often hear the exact opposite from coaches. With the game becoming more and more positionless, it has never been more important for all players to have the ability to shoot.
If all players on the court can shoot, it makes everyone a threat to score at all times and opens up the floor for more driving lanes. The best programs put an emphasis on shooting and make it a priority both in-season and in the off-season.
In Season
In season shooting has some limitations because of time and wanting to keep players fresh, but ensuring players are getting up plenty of shots to maintain their skills and to even improve will go a long way for the success of your team. The most obvious way to prioritize shooting is to incorporate it into practice. The possibilities for shooting in your practice are endless and can be done in block fashion, guided defense, small sided games and with your Dr. Dish shooting machine.
Another way to incorporate shooting in season is to have a season long free throw shooting competition. Players can shoot free throws before school, before practice, after practice or at lunch or any other time that works best for you and your team. This can be done quickly and you can have the amount set at 20, 25, 50 and it can be done daily, twice a week or once a week. An easy way to keep track is by having a white board in the locker room with player names on it and having them right down the score each time and every week recording the score.
A great way to incorporate shooting and competition is by having a shooting league in season. The league can have a shooting drill that is used every day throughout the year or changed whenever you would like. The scores can be recorded just like you would for free throws on a whiteboard. This is a fun way for players to track their shooting throughout the year and be able to compete against their teammates. Here are some of my favorite shooting competition drills to use:
Dr. Dish Drills
Shooting Drills
Off-Season
The offseason provides players with more time to concentrate on improving their game, so the expectation should be that players are getting more shots up. There are several clubs, leagues and workouts that you can provide players with throughout the offseason. The 10,000 shot club is a classic, but one that is beneficial and motivating to players. There can be several levels of the club from 5,000 to 7,500 to 10,000 and even 15,000. There can be different levels of awards for each level. Some award ideas are a t-shirt, name in program, recognition at half time of a game, etc. These type of clubs are largely done on an honor system where parents have to sign off, but if you would like to lower the number and track player shots only on the Dr. Dish that is a possibility as well.
Another challenge or club that was recently created was the One Count Challenge by Coach Ryan Smith (@r_b_j_c ). The One Count Challenge is a challenge to be able to make 70 out of 100 catch and shoot threes. The beauty of this challenge is it can be done with one rebounder or with Dr. Dish. You can adjust the number made to whatever the skill level of your players is or make it so the shots have to be taken on the move. Get creative with the challenges and make sure the shots you are having players work on are shots they will see in games.
Depending on your state rules, part of the issue of summer is being able to hold players accountable and ensure that they are getting in the gym. If you have a challenge like the One Count challenge and a player eventually accomplishes the goal then it is likely that, that player has been in the gym.
The Dr. Dish Skill Builder is a way to be able to keep stats throughout the summer and be able to see who has been in the gym. Skill Builder allows coaches to make and program workouts that players can use while working out. This helps players know and understand how to work out.
For more basketball drills and videos featuring Dr. Dish shooting machines, make sure to visit this page.
