Amanda Knapp
Helping an 11-year-old improve their basketball shot is a rewarding process that takes time and dedication. It's important to remember that young players will need constant adjustments to their shots and coaching to develop good habits and avoid falling back into bad ones. There are many online resources, such as r/BasketballTips, where you can post a video of your shot and receive feedback and advice from over 35,000 members. Additionally, drills can help players of any age or level advance their technique, and it's crucial to ensure you're using the correct size basketball and hoop height for their age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Persistence | Coaches need to be persistent in adjusting their players' shots. It could take a lot of corrections before the player improves. |
| Practice | Players need to practice consistently and not expect immediate results. |
| Technique | Coaches need to teach players the correct shooting technique. |
| Balance | Players should evenly distribute their weight on both feet when taking a shot. |
| Foot position | When shooting, a player's feet should be turned slightly to the left if they are right-handed. |
| Training with older kids | Training with older kids can help 11-year-olds improve their skills. |
| Additional resources | Instructional videos, books, and watching games on TV can help players improve their skills. |
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What You'll Learn
- Weight distribution: Distribute weight equally on both feet, with a slight turn to the left for right-handed shooters
- Persistence: It takes time and persistence to improve shooting skills, with consistent corrections from coaches
- Practice: Encourage the 11-year-old to practice shooting regularly, learning from older players
- Technique: Focus on shooting technique, as young players can develop bad habits early on
- Resources: Utilise online resources, such as instructional videos, forums, and books, for tips and drills
Weight distribution: Distribute weight equally on both feet, with a slight turn to the left for right-handed shooters
When it comes to shooting a basketball, footwork is crucial. The right footwork will help you improve your shot and give you more opportunities to shoot. For right-handed shooters, it is important to distribute your weight equally on both feet, with a slight turn to the left. This will help you maintain balance and stability when shooting.
To do this effectively, right-handed shooters should place their right foot slightly in front of their left foot. This stance will allow you to jump slightly forward when shooting, giving the ball more forward momentum. It is important to keep your knees bent to maintain balance and be ready to jump.
The left foot serves as the pivot foot for right-handed shooters. This is the foot you will use to jab, or step, before shooting. The jab step is an important move to create space between you and your defender, giving you an opportunity to shoot. By jabbing with your left foot, you can create the space needed to get your shot off.
When shooting, it is also important to keep your centre of gravity in mind. As you step with your right foot, lower your hips to prevent your centre of gravity from moving forward of your stance leg. This will help you maintain proper balance and keep your body squared to the basket.
By distributing your weight equally on both feet and following these footwork techniques, right-handed shooters can improve their balance, stability, and overall shooting ability.
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Persistence: It takes time and persistence to improve shooting skills, with consistent corrections from coaches
Improving basketball shooting skills takes time and persistence, and coaches play a crucial role in this process. It is essential to understand that correcting a player's shot is not a one-time fix; it requires consistent adjustments over time. This persistence in coaching is key to helping 11-year-olds improve their shooting technique.
Youth basketball coaches often face the challenge of preventing players from reverting to old, bad habits. It may take hundreds or even thousands of corrections before the player consistently applies the correct technique. Coaches should remain patient and persistent, understanding that this is a gradual process that requires continuous reinforcement.
To effectively guide their players, coaches can employ various techniques. Firstly, they should focus on the fundamentals, ensuring that players master the correct shooting mechanics. This includes proper footwork, such as angling the feet so the shooting shoulder is slightly in front of the other. Additionally, coaches can recommend filming practices. By filming their shots from different angles, players can review their form and identify areas needing improvement.
Another critical aspect that coaches should emphasize is the importance of elbow placement. As players raise the ball to initiate the shooting motion, coaches should remind them to keep their shooting elbow tucked in. This simple adjustment helps maintain a straight line from the ball to the wrist and elbow, making it easier to shoot accurately.
Consistent corrections from coaches are essential in helping 11-year-olds improve their basketball shooting skills. By focusing on the fundamentals, recommending filming practices for self-assessment, and emphasizing the importance of proper elbow placement, coaches can effectively guide their players toward more accurate and consistent shooting.
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Practice: Encourage the 11-year-old to practice shooting regularly, learning from older players
To help an 11-year-old improve their basketball shooting, regular practice is key. Encourage the player to dedicate time to shooting practice, learning from older players who can demonstrate proper form and technique.
Older players can provide valuable guidance on the mechanics of shooting, such as teaching the younger player to start with bent knees and the ball near their hip or waist, bringing it up smoothly to a release point above eye level. This can help the 11-year-old develop a smooth and efficient shooting motion. Additionally, learning from older players can help the young player understand the importance of protecting the ball during the shooting motion. Keeping the ball close to the body not only safeguards it from defenders but also ensures a seamless transfer of power from the player to the ball.
Regular practice with older players can also help the 11-year-old build strength and improve their shooting form. At this age, players may not have the physical strength to shoot with great power, so practicing with older players can help them develop their upper body strength and shooting technique. Older players can also provide tips and advice on shooting form, such as the importance of bending the ankles, knees, hips, back, and elbows, and then straightening them rhythmically to transfer power to the ball effectively.
In addition to learning from older players, the 11-year-old can benefit from practicing with peers their age. This can help keep the game fun and engaging, fostering a love for the sport. Practices with other 11-year-olds can focus on running motion offenses, passing, and catching defenders off-guard. These drills can improve the player's overall game and keep them interested and motivated.
Remember, when teaching young players, it's essential to provide positive reinforcement. Celebrate their successes and point out improvements to build their confidence. It's also crucial to be patient and persistent, as it may take many corrections before the player fully grasps the proper shooting form. Embrace the process, have fun with it, and trust that the hard work will pay off in the long run.
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Technique: Focus on shooting technique, as young players can develop bad habits early on
When teaching an 11-year-old how to shoot a basketball, it is important to focus on their shooting technique and ensure they do not develop bad habits. Young players can easily fall back on bad habits, so coaches must be persistent and keep adjusting their shots. This could take hundreds or thousands of corrections, so it is important to not get frustrated and to make the process fun.
One user on Reddit who coaches a third-grade basketball team suggests that at 8 years old, the focus should be on ball handling and layups with the right or strong hand. At 10, they recommend starting to work on form shooting. Another user agrees that at 8 years old, they would focus on ball handling and layups with the dominant hand, and at 13 or 14 years old, they would begin to focus on shooting form.
To shoot a basketball correctly, it is important to have the right form and habits. Keep your feet no wider than shoulder-width apart, with your shooting foot slightly ahead of your non-shooting foot. Your shooting foot is on the same side as your shooting arm. For example, if you are right-handed, your right foot is your shooting foot. When shooting, follow through with your wrist to make the shot more accurate. Your arm should be arched towards the basket, with your hand loosely cocked downward and your fingers pointed at the hoop. This is called follow-through. Practice shooting from many angles so that it becomes natural.
Once the player is comfortable shooting on their own, they can scrimmage with friends or join a league to play in games. Shooting during a game is harder than practicing on your own, as you have to catch passes, dodge steals, and be aware of the team's strategy. However, with practice and good muscle memory, the player will improve.
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Resources: Utilise online resources, such as instructional videos, forums, and books, for tips and drills
There are many online resources, instructional videos, forums, and books that can help an 11-year-old improve their basketball shooting and overall game.
Online Resources and Instructional Videos
The Official Youth Basketball Website of USA Basketball is a great online resource for kids between the ages of 4-11. It provides a variety of workout ideas, including skill drills to improve perimeter defence, dribbling skills, and shooting free throws. The website also has game drills such as jump rope exercises and tips on improving mental performance and leadership skills. HoopCoach is another website that teaches basketball basics to beginners, focusing on game knowledge and basic skills like dribbling, shooting, passing, and rebounding. It also explains the differences between offence and defence and the various basketball zones and court lines. Pure Sweat Basketball is another online resource with links to information for kids and parents about basketball and skills development. AVCSS basketball offers an interesting take on the history of the game and has an extensive YouTube channel with instructional videos. Breakthrough Basketball is another great website for players and coaches, offering advice on basketball plays, offence and defence strategies, player development, and basketball camps. They also offer free DVDs and e-books with additional tips and advice. Online Basketball Drills is another website that provides coaching resources and information for young players.
Forums
Forums are a great way to connect with other basketball enthusiasts and players. Websites like Basketball Forum provide a community for competitive basketball players and enthusiasts to discuss everything from the NBA to college basketball.
Books
Books can provide valuable insights and tips for young basketball players. Some books to consider are:
- 'Basketball's Greatest Players' by S.A. Kramer: A photo-filled book with biographies of legendary players like Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird.
- 'Basketball Break' by CC Joven Lucas: A story about a boy who loves basketball but must learn to share the ball with his teammates.
- 'STAT: Standing Tall and Talented: Home Court' by Amar’e Stoudemire: A book based on Amar’e's life at 11, where he balances skateboarding, playing basketball, and working with his dad.
- 'Power Forward' by Hena Khan: A short chapter book filled with Urdu and Pakistani culture about a boy who loves basketball.
- 'Little Shaq Takes a Chance' by Shaquille O’Neal: A book about trying new things and having fun.
- 'The Crossover' by Kwame Alexander: A verse-style book about basketball player Josh and his life narrated in quarters.
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Frequently asked questions
It is important to remember that players fall into certain shooting habits early on, so be persistent and keep adjusting their shots. It may take many corrections before they get it right, so don't get frustrated. You can also try to make a game out of it to keep it fun. Positive reinforcement is key. You can also try shooting imaginary shots or form shooting. If you can, get them to spend time with a personal trainer to help refine their skills.
Many youth coaches fail to adjust their players' shots enough times for the correction to stick. They may fix a player's shot a few times, but then let the player start shooting with their old, bad habits. Another mistake is that coaches may not give advanced enough advice to older and more experienced players.
It is important that players still want to play basketball as they get older. You can try to spark their interest by getting them to watch instructional shooting videos and diagnose problems with their jump shot. You could also get them to shoot an imaginary basketball and then give them a real basketball to see the difference.
