Proper shooting form for youngsters

Proper shooting form for youngsters
By Jack Simms

Thought I would do something different today, and will try to do this once a week. If want the whole series in one file contact me.

This article will be the first in a series detailing, why it is important to teach good habits during practice in basketball. This article will first cover shooting form, as this should be the first skill a budding basketball player learns. This is article is tailored for teaching elementary students as young as 6 years of age.

It is very important to demonstrate the proper technique the first time around to your players, or child if you are teaching them on your own. If you are a coach of a team you should have three players at each basket, two players to either side and one player in front. If it is just you and your son or daughter, then have them stand in front of the basket holding the ball while you retrieve the rebounds. The players should stand no more than 2 feet from the basket, this is important. They are not trying to sink an 8 foot jumper here, just need to be able to get the proper form of shooting at the basket down.

Right handed shooters should have their right foot centered on the basket and pointed directly at the center of the basket. The left foot should be positioned shoulder width apart, and be comfortable for the player. Most player will want to leave there left foot slightly behind there right foot. This is OK, as long as the left foot is pointing in the relative area of the basket, and not directly at the basket. Majority of the players you encounter will feel comfortable with there foot pointing just to the left of the basket.

From this position is where the form for shooting the ball should start. The player must bend there knee about 45 degrees. With your feet aligned properly, your body will follow through. Hold the ball in your shooting hand, this is a one handed shooting drill so let the hand dangle by your side. You will want to slowly bring the ball in, and have your arm at a 90 degree angle. Your tricep will be parallel to the floor and directly above your right leg. Bend your wrist so that the ball rests on the finger pads, do not let it rest on the fingertips. The index fingers should be in the middle of the ball, double check that your feet, arm, and ball are in correct form. Look to the front of the rim, there is a shiny spot on the back of the rim that you should aim for. You should shoot from the legs. You can tell you are doing the shot right, if you end it with being on your toes. You follow through your shot and have your hand pointing downward. This gives the ball good spin and leaves less room that it will bounce too far out for a rebound. This process should be repeated at minimum 20 times at the beginning of every practice, ideally 100 times is better.

This drill should be done the first 5 minutes of practice to help the players keep there form. As the players master this simple technique you can proceed with some more advanced forms. Such as Shooting two handed, just have to verify that the off hand is not used to shoot the ball. Doing jump shots from 2 to 4 feet away. You would pass them the ball and have them take the jump shot, just as they would in a game.

Making sure that your feet are properly set, the ball is resting on your finger pads and keeping your arm and knees in proper angles will ensure that your players learn the proper form of shooting a basketball. Practice this everyday for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure that the next game will have perfect form on all there shots.

RPG Basketball

Jack Smith vs. Sleeping Shadows

Jack Smith wins the jump off and starts off on the offensive!
sleeping shadowz steals the ball!
sleeping shadowz takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
0 - 2

sleeping shadowz steals the ball!
sleeping shadowz takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
0 - 4

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
3 - 4

sleeping shadowz takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
3 - 6

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
6 - 6

sleeping shadowz pushes down the court and runs it for 2.
6 - 8

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
9 - 8

sleeping shadowz pushes down the court and runs it for 2.
9 - 10

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
12 - 10

sleeping shadowz takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
12 - 12

Jack Smith lunges down the court and dunks it for 2.
14 - 12

sleeping shadowz pushes down the court and shoots it for 3!
14 - 15

Jack Smith moves the ball outside, shoots.. misses and rebounds it!
Jack Smith lunges down the court and dunks it for 2.
16 - 15

sleeping shadowz pushes down the court to smash it off the backboard too hard.Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
19 - 15

sleeping shadowz takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
19 - 17

Jack Smith lunges down the court and dunks it for 2.
21 - 17

<bgsound src='sound/won.wav' loop='false' />

You Won 1 Ingame Cash!

Jack Smith gained 11 xp

RPG Basketball

Jack Smith vs Joe Macmn

Jack Smith wins the jump off and starts off on the offensive!
Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
3 - 0

Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
3 - 2

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
6 - 2

Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
6 - 4

Joe Macmn steals the ball!
Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
6 - 6

Joe Macmn steals the ball!
Joe Macmn hops to the inside sinking it for 2!
6 - 8

Joe Macmn steals the ball!
Jack Smith steals the ball!
Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
9 - 8

Joe Macmn pushes down the court to shoot for 3, misses and rebounds it.
Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
9 - 10

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
12 - 10

Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
12 - 12

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
15 - 12

Joe Macmn takes it down and shoots it off the rim!
Jack Smith lunges down the court and dunks it for 2.
17 - 12

Joe Macmn pushes down the court and runs it for 2.
17 - 14

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
20 - 14

Joe Macmn takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
20 - 16

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
23 - 16

<bgsound src='sound/won.wav' loop='false' />

You Won 1 Ingame Cash!

Jack Smith gained 11 xp.

RPG Basketball

Challenge Match Jack Smith vs Barry Vicious

Thought I would post a match that I just had this morning to show people what a 1 on 1 challenge looks like.

Jack Smith just barely wins the jump off.
Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
3 - 0

Barry Vicious hops to the inside and Swishes it for 2!
3 - 2

Barry Vicious steals the ball!
Barry Vicious takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
3 - 4

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
6 - 4

Barry Vicious hops to the inside for a classic air ball, no good!
Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
9 - 4

Barry Vicious pushes down the court and runs it for 2.
9 - 6

Jack Smith runs it to the outside shooting from downtown for 3!
12 - 6

Barry Vicious takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
12 - 8

Jack Smith moves the ball around to shoot and misses!
Barry Vicious pushes down the court and shoots it for 3!
12 - 11

Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
15 - 11

Barry Vicious takes it down to the range, firing in 2!
15 - 13

Jack Smith lunges down the court missing the layup but rebounds it.
Jack Smith moves the ball into postition for 3!
18 - 13

Jack Smith steals the ball!
Jack Smith runs it to the outside shooting from downtown for 3!
21 - 13

<bgsound src='sound/won.wav' loop='false' />

You Won 1 Ingame Cash!

Jack Smith gained 12 xp.

RPG Basketball

Fun game that takes 10 min a day to compete

Are you tired of having to work long days to make ends meet, and coming home to unwind with your favorite game. To find that all of the kids are way ahead of you? I know I get tired of trying to keep up with my favorite games and then get overpowered the moment I have to go back to work on Monday for my 10 hr shifts.

Well I found a game that I think has a lot of potential, and I have been playing it about 10 minutes a day for the last few weeks. I have garnered more experience and won more challenges than anyone else. The game is called RPG Basketball, and you can literally play this game 1 to 2 minutes every hour and show some signs of progress and stay on top against anyone else in the game. It is the perfect game for those of us that work long days and just want to have a little bit of relaxation without spending hours pounding through some map killing beasts.

Right now the game only has 1 on 1 challenges, it is in beta and they are busy adding in 3 on 3 challenges, tournaments for 1 on 1 and even team play. You control one player, or if you wish they give you two free players to play with. You then go and challenge people in 1 on 1 matches, kind of like you did as a kid. You make bets on if you are going to win, they are small like 1 to 3 dollars of in game money. Whether you win or loose you gain a bit of experience, winner gets the money pot. There is some equipment to buy in the game, I have even seen stuff that gives a bonus to your stats, although it is rare to find see it at this point.

The game is still in beta, and they are still adding stuff. But it is fun to do 10 minutes a day. You get maximum 3 challenges every single hour so you can do other things while you wait for the stamina to build up. I clean the house and make dinner or watch some TV, it is pretty cool and fits me perfectly.

I hope that you decide to try this game out, I will not give a referral link as I just want more people to play this game.

RPG Basketball