Basketball Shooting Activities

Since the object of the game of basketball is to score more baskets than your opponent, shooting is arguably the most important skill in the game. Some practice activities can be run in a group setting, while others are individual drills. Like any skill, repetition is the key to improving shooting in basketball.

  1. Flat on Your Back

    • The goal of this activity is to emphasize correct hand and arm form. The idea is to focus on how the ball feels leaving and returning to your hand, coupled with the movement of the arm and wrist. For this drill, lie flat on your back. Using your usual shooting hand, work on shooting the ball straight up into the air and catching it when it comes down. Pay attention to the position and movement of your wrist (let it flex naturally in a fluid motion), your shooting arm (which should be straight and extended while waiting for the ball's descent) and your hand (attempt to catch the ball on the pad and fingers of your shooting hand instead of the palm). The repetition of this activity promotes a high level of comfort with the "feeling" of shooting the ball.

    One-Handed

    • The one-handed shot forces you to shoot the ball straight. As such, it builds shooting arm strength and accuracy. For this drill, stand five feet from the basket (or another comfortable distance). Hold the ball in your shooting hand, and keep the non-shooting hand behind your back. Shoot with one hand, focusing on a straight shot. Repeat from this distance until you are making most of your shots and then move one foot farther away and repeat. Continue in this vein to improve your strength and accuracy. Never move farther back until you have mastered shooting from the current distance.

    Bump

    • This is a very popular shooting game, especially with younger teams. It requires two basketballs. Players form a line behind the free thrown line. The first person in line takes a shot; then the second player shoots. If the first person makes his shot, he should give the ball to the next person in line and go to the back of the line.Continue like this and move through the line. However, if the first player misses his shot, then he must engage in a shooting battle against the second one. If the second player makes a shot before the first player does, then the first player is out. Play continues. As players move up in line, the instructions for players one and two are repeated. The last person left is the winner.