Basketball:Simple Shooting Ideas for

Youth

�EDPE 5151

� Instructor: Jason Scanlan

�Part I

Common Foot Fault

� Youth players will try

to get the most

power by positioning

their feet incorrectly.

� This picture

demonstrates a right

handed shooter with

the left foot forward.

Correct Foot position

� The feet are

shoulder width

apart.

� Shooting foot

forward.

� Shooting foot should

be 1-2 inches in

front of other foot.

Common Leg problems

� Youth will shoot the

basketball with

locked knees.

� This picture also

shows poor base

stability with feet to

close together.

Correct Leg position

� Youth’s knees

should be flexed /

bent when shooting

the ball.

Incorrect wrist position

� “Wrist Flopping”-

Youth will have this

wrist position and

proceed to “flop”

their wrist in the act

of shooting the ball.

Correct Wrist position

� The correct position

is having the wrist at

a 90 degree angle-

forming a sideways

“U”.

� Youth should have

this same bend in

the wrist with the

ball at waist level.

Incorrect Hand Position on

ball

� Youth start shooting

the basketball with 2

hands. When they

change to one hand,

it is hard for them to

place the shooting

hand in the middle

of the ball.

Correct Hand position on ball

� To find the correct

hand position, use

the insertion hole of

the basketball

(placing index finger

over the spot).

� Make sure the palm

of the hand is not

tilted to the side.

“Thumbing” the basketball

� “Thumbing” the basketball is defined as using the guide hand to help shoot the basketball.

� This is very common with youth changing from shooting with two hands – to one hand.

How to correct “Thumbing”� Repetition

� Have youth shoot with one hand

– watching backward rotation of

ball.

� Keep guide hand on side of ball

and in one place.

� Youth need to know that it will

feel “awkward” when first trying

to change their shot.

� Youth need to know that if the

ball is rotating “like the earth” or

not rotating at all – their thumb

is getting in the way.

Incorrect Follow - Thru

� This youth is right

handed and finished

his follow thru: low

and to the side.

Correct Follow-thru

� This youth’s follow-

thru position is

correct.

� Arm high and wrist

bent.

� Guide hand flat (no-

thumbing the

basketball)

Tips for coaches

� #1- Youth should

have a good solid

base when catching

the basketball.

Tips for coaches

� #2 – Youth need a

“shooting pocket”:

A place where the

ball always starts.

This should be

somewhere

between the navel

button and chest

level

Tips for coaches

� #3- Follow Thru:� Youth should have a high

follow thru with the wrist bent. Ex. Youth should envision themselves reaching into the “cookie jar” on a top shelf.

Part II:

Movement Analysis of the

Basketball shot-Students need to view one subject. The subject may be anyone: children, player, wife,

or husband. Observe and give corrective

feedback for proper form.

Briefly describe their current form and

corrective measures recommended.