Coaching Youth Basketball: Shooting Principles for a Successful Jump Shot

There are several techniques that a person can use in order to make their jump shot more effective, as well as accurate. We are all aware that in order to succeed in our daily lives we must be willing to work diligently at whatever it is that we have chosen to do. This same truth is evident for those of who would like to become better basketball players. “Practice makes perfect” as the old adage goes! Although practice is the foremost key to becoming a proficient shooter, there are several fundamental areas that we must work on during our practices on a routine basis. The following steps should provide you with the basic knowledge you need to help you get well on the way to having the basketball jump shot you desire to have.

SHOOTING OVERVIEW:

Since we are discussing shooting in terms of Youth Basketball, some kids who may be very young, it is important for us to mention that we will not be spending any time talking about shooting the ball from above head, as we would expect from older players. Many youth, especially at the younger levels, simply won't be physically capable of doing this anyway. It is something, however, that older youth players should begin working toward as they develop. With this in mind we will focus mainly upon the four key components to any good jump shot.

Step 1: Body Positioning

Every good jump shot begins with the feet. Whether you are pulling up off of the dribble, or receiving a pass, your feet must always be set in the proper position to correctly take the shot. This is called “squaring up” in basketball lingo. When you are properly squared up to the basket to take a shot your feet should be facing in the general direction of the basket. This may be accomplished by using a pivot off of a pass or dribble. Also, a player’s feet should be spread comfortably around shoulder width apart.

Step 2: Using the Legs

After you have gotten properly squared up to the goal, the next thing to keep in mind is your stance. It would be fair to say that the majority of strength it takes for a person to make a good jump shot comes primarily from the legs. Therefore, your legs must have a slight bend at the knees so that you are in a position to perform the springing action it takes to get the ball up and over a defender, while giving you the power you need to get the ball where you want it to go.

Step 3: Hand and Arm Positioning

The next area we need to look at involves the proper positioning and use of the arms. As you get your feet squared up to the goal, and you are properly using your legs, your arms should be moving in an upward motion in sync with the lower parts of your body. Your dominant hand side should be the arm which you are mainly controlling the direction of the shot with. A little before the point of the release your forearm should be at almost a ninety degree angle to your upper arm, with your weak side arm at an angle so as to give you good stability.

Step 4: Follow Through

This is the final step in the jump shooting process and probably one of the most crucial of all fundamental principles when it comes to successful jump shots. It is the use of the hands. The hands are what guides the ball, and gives it the extra little push it needs to get to where it is going. In basketball terms this would be called the “follow through”. At the point of release, when all of the previous motions have been executed, and the shooting arm has begun its forward and up movement, the ball should be resting mainly upon the pads of the fingers. It is acceptable that it touch the palm pads at the base of the fingers, but it should never rest solely on the flat of the palm. When the ball is brought forward, with the weak side hand guiding the ball, and it is release, you should bring the shooting hand forward in a flicking motion, while letting the ball go off of the tips of your fingers. At this last stage of the shot your hand and fingers should be pointing in the general direction of the rim. What the follow through does is creates a nice backspin on the ball, and will allow for better distance, and more forgiveness at the rim.

Once you have brought all of these simple steps together, and have gotten each principle in time with the other, you are sure to see your jump shooting ability greatly improve.