Youth basketball players can practice shooting for weeks and months, but if they don’t have the correct form, they are just creating and reinforcing a habit that can become hard to correct. At Hoop Dreams basketball camp with coach Mike Scott, youth will learn the nuances of correct shooting form and will have the opportunity to practice this form through drills and real games. Before young basketball players begin practicing shooting form on the court, they must understand the fundamentals of the movement and why each motion is important.
STANCE AND BALANCE
For any shot, your feet should be pointed towards the hoop, but not necessarily square. If you are a right handed shooter, it may feel more comfortable to point your toes slightly to the left of the rim for an open stance. The feet should also be shoulder width apart to aid in balance. Stagger your feet so that your shooting foot is slightly ahead of the non-shooting foot. Remember, the position should feel comfortable and remain consistent. Line up your feet and your body the same way each time.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE RIM
Ensuring your body is correctly lined up with the rim, you need to find the rim as soon as possible. When shooting the ball, be sure that you are focused on the rim and try not to follow the curve of the ball.
SHOT POCKET
Every basketball player has their own shooting pocket position, whether that’s in the center of your body or slightly to the right or the left of their hip, but it should be several inches above the waist. Line up your shooting eye and the ball with the basket. Make sure that when you catch the ball, move it quickly to your shot pocket and keep that position consistent.
