When training shooters, you want to help them develop confidence, rhythm, and correct mechanics. Be positive and keep it simple. It helps the shooter focus on the mechanics that will help him the most on his shot. Your goal is to help the player learn to train himself. Keep in mind the following tips:
1. Get to know the player you are coaching. Learn to listen more than you speak. A player wants to feel comfortable with you and have confidence in you before working with you. Sometimes you will coach a player who will feel like you think he can’t shoot. Always start with what the player is doing well.
2. Train each player individually. You don’t want a player to learn everything you know about shooting. You want each player to learn what he wants to know in terms of improving his shot. However, you should be able to answer all the questions the player asks you.
3. Encourage the player to talk to you and say what they like and what they don’t like. Tell the player that I want you to shoot with confidence and rhythm. I want to work on that mechanic that helps your shot the most. The point is that it’s your shot and you adjust what you want to adjust. I am here to train and help you, but you are going to learn to train yourself.
4. Find out what a player is looking for by asking them questions. You can learn a lot about a player from their responses. When you really listen to the answers, you can tailor your training to meet your particular needs. Ask the player, when you are shooting well, what are you doing? There is no wrong answer to this question. It just gives an indication of his confidence level and what he knows about his own shot. If a player responds, I just shoot! It can indicate that he is confident or that he does not think too much when shooting. When a player responds, when I shoot well, my shoulders go towards the basket. So you have an idea that he has an understanding of what he wants to do by shooting. When a player responds, the ball is going in! It probably means he doesn’t know much about his shot.
5. Keep it simple. Keep your instruction short, simple, but inspiring. Players lose interest if their training is long, too detailed, or boring. For the most part, a player doesn’t progress while you’re talking. Make the player shoot.
6. Strive to keep the confidence level high. Be positive and keep encouraging the player knowing that he can and will achieve his goals. Motivate the player to do whatever it takes to consistently achieve their goals and never allow them to think for a moment that they will be anything less than successful. Constantly tell the player that you are a marksman.
7. When a player doesn’t want your help, don’t take it as a personal attack on you. In fact, only one player or a few players may be interested in receiving your training. Once you are successful with one or more players, others will be interested in how you can help them.
8. Never stop training. When a player sees that you care about him, are positive, enthusiastic, full of energy and tenacious, it will inspire him to reach new heights. Above all, make it enjoyable! You become a better coach for a player when he sees that you have a good mood, a bright smile and a sense of humor.
Of:
Wissel, Hal. (2005). Basketball shooting: confidence, rhythm and mechanics. Basketball World, Suffield, CT.
Wissel, Hall. (2005). Basketball shots: off the pass, off the dribble, and on the post. Basketball World, Suffield, CT.
Dr. Hal Wissel leads SHOOT IT BETTER minicamps around the world throughout the year for players ranging from the youth level to the NBA and WNBA.
Visit: http://www.basketballworld.com or call BASKETBALL WORLD at 888-812-5452 or 860-668-7162.
