We are in the NCAA National Championship for 2008. I have been watching and seeing that these kids, just like those of my generation, do not know how to shoot free throws.
I am going to let you know the secret of teaching foul shooting.
Part I. Physics
Look at the places in the body, from the floor to the release point, where motion (variation) can take place:
1. toes/toe joints (up to 30 points)
2. ankles (2)
3. knees (2)
4. hips (3)
5. shoulder (1 or 2)
6. elbow (1 or 2)
7. wrist (1 or 2)
8. fingers/finger joints (15 to 30)
The main point, from the point of view of physics, is to reduce the variation at as many as possible of these joints. The problem with most players who have troubles with consistency in free throws is that they learned how to shoot before they were full-grown. In order for kids to get the ball above the basket, they have to use their legs. They just don't have the arm strength to do it any other way.
Unfortunately, old habits die hard. They go on to college (or even the pros) and still habitually use their legs to push the ball up and, as a result, add several points of variation to their free throws, yielding inconsistency.
My goal in re-training these athletes to be more consistent in free throws, is to get them to make every joint from the floor to the shoulder to be almost rigid. That means the joints from the shoulders to fingertips are the only moving parts in the basket-shooting machine. Everything else should be constant.
Part II. The mind.
Many athletes have some weird ideas about shooting free throws, bordering on superstition. Getting control of the mind is at least 80% of the battle to get consistency in free throws.
The first thing I do with an athlete who wants to improve his free throw percentage is to ask him or her to go to the line and take a shot, while I watch what they do. Most of them, knowing I am going to try to teach them what is wrong with their shot, will put all their concentration into it, and make it.
That is what I am hoping for. I say, "OK, you don't need a shot coach. Just do that same thing every time you stand at the line." I ask them to take another shot. Most seem to miss this one. Sometimes, they hit it, and I ask for another, and another, until they miss.
When they miss, I ask them what they did differently, that time.
They never know. But I do. You see, after years of observing young athletes shooting free throws, I am able to see what they do differently from one time to another.
They may breathe differently. They may bounce the ball a different number of times, or not bounce it at all. They may "dance" before they shoot, i.e., step from side to side, or bounce their weight from one leg to another. They may dip their knees or extend their toes. There are literally hundreds of things they can do differently from one time to the next.
It is true that if they do everything exactly the way they did it when it went in, it will go in, again.
There is a very small percentage chance that something else can affect their shot: the air conditioner may go on or off and change the wind resistance; a butterfly may flap its wings in Japan, and that gust of air can move molecules that move molecules that move molecules that ... move molecules that go through the open door to the gym and cause the shot to be blown off course. That is only a possibility, but it is why I do not think it is possible to shoot 100% free throw percentage. As a matter of fact, I only set the bar that I expect from my shooters to be 95%.
There are some things which are not under control of the shooter, but these are few in number, and include differences in the environment. For example, a different kind of backboard or goal than what one is accustomed to, a hostile crowd, etc., or other differences, can affect some shooters. But these things can be zoned out by concentration.
So getting the athlete to learn to concentrate and focus only on the goal and to control the physics of his or her shot, is the key to shooting three throws.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Coaching Basketball
I have a passion for coaching basketball and it is just another manifestation of the teaching gift that has been given to me. That passion to teach, when it comes to a sport, is a passion to coach.
The big lesson coaches must first learn is that it doesn't matter how good of a player they are or were. That will earn you some respect when you are an unknown quantity as a coach, but, when your team is on the floor, the only thing that matters is what they can do, right now, not what you were, back then.
That works both positively and negatively. A great player may make a poor coach and a poor player may make a great coach. Coaching and playing require different gifts and different skill sets.
The big lesson coaches must first learn is that it doesn't matter how good of a player they are or were. That will earn you some respect when you are an unknown quantity as a coach, but, when your team is on the floor, the only thing that matters is what they can do, right now, not what you were, back then.
That works both positively and negatively. A great player may make a poor coach and a poor player may make a great coach. Coaching and playing require different gifts and different skill sets.
self control
One of the most important aspects of the basketball game is ball control. You want to be able to utilize the clock effectively, having the most of the shot-clock time available for your team on offence, but forcing the other team to have a minimum time to carry out their plan, when you are on defense.
That means that basketball needs to be played on the whole court all the time. If a team falls back on defense and waits for the other team to come leisurely down the court, call a play, and then run it, that is not basketball; that is half court game. You allow them to pit their strength against your defense.
No! Pressure them full court. Make them take all ten seconds to get the ball past half court. Then, they have two enemies, you and the shot clock. That puts the pressure on them, where it belongs. They are forced into something unplanned, not being able to run what they have practiced half court with full shot clock.
The key to ball control is self control. Each player must be in control of his thoughts, attitudes, and actions for the entire game. If you let a referee's call or a player's actions make you lose your temper, you have lost self control and you will lose ball control, because your concentration is divided.
This works both ways. Try to get into the opponent's head and make him mad. If he loses self control, he will foul you, lose concentration, and make mistakes.
This is part of the mental aspect of basketball. It is the meta game within the game. Determine to control the other team's thoughts and to cause their players to lose self control. And determine not to let the opponent cause you to lose your self control.
If you lose self control, you are, by definition, a loser.
That means that basketball needs to be played on the whole court all the time. If a team falls back on defense and waits for the other team to come leisurely down the court, call a play, and then run it, that is not basketball; that is half court game. You allow them to pit their strength against your defense.
No! Pressure them full court. Make them take all ten seconds to get the ball past half court. Then, they have two enemies, you and the shot clock. That puts the pressure on them, where it belongs. They are forced into something unplanned, not being able to run what they have practiced half court with full shot clock.
The key to ball control is self control. Each player must be in control of his thoughts, attitudes, and actions for the entire game. If you let a referee's call or a player's actions make you lose your temper, you have lost self control and you will lose ball control, because your concentration is divided.
This works both ways. Try to get into the opponent's head and make him mad. If he loses self control, he will foul you, lose concentration, and make mistakes.
This is part of the mental aspect of basketball. It is the meta game within the game. Determine to control the other team's thoughts and to cause their players to lose self control. And determine not to let the opponent cause you to lose your self control.
If you lose self control, you are, by definition, a loser.
peripheral vision
All players need to develop their peripheral vision, but especially the guards. They need to be able to see cutters and even to sense when someone is behind their backs, e.g., when they only see eight others, it is likely someone is behind them.
You can develop peripheral vision. First, look straight ahead while clasping your hands with your arms perpendicular to your body. Now, release the hands and swing them apart in a wide arc, slowly, at the same rate of speed.
Your goal is to be able to see both hands at the same time, while they move farther and farther apart, even when they are extended to your sides.
With practice, you can develop this vision. You might need to wiggle the fingers to draw attention to them, but keep looking straight ahead. Try not to focus on anything in particular, but concentrate in your mind on seeing those hands.
When you have developed your peripheral vision, you will be able to see teammates making moves all down the court, and will be able to see that ninth player on the court behind you. You will learn to automatically count four of your players and five of theirs, and will develop the ability called "seeing the court."
Seeing is the first step in making an assist.
You can develop peripheral vision. First, look straight ahead while clasping your hands with your arms perpendicular to your body. Now, release the hands and swing them apart in a wide arc, slowly, at the same rate of speed.
Your goal is to be able to see both hands at the same time, while they move farther and farther apart, even when they are extended to your sides.
With practice, you can develop this vision. You might need to wiggle the fingers to draw attention to them, but keep looking straight ahead. Try not to focus on anything in particular, but concentrate in your mind on seeing those hands.
When you have developed your peripheral vision, you will be able to see teammates making moves all down the court, and will be able to see that ninth player on the court behind you. You will learn to automatically count four of your players and five of theirs, and will develop the ability called "seeing the court."
Seeing is the first step in making an assist.
get your education
During lunch, when our office was celebrating the birthday of one of our colleagues, a rather tall family came in and was seated at the adjoining table. I recognized them as the family of an NBA basketball player that had been drafted directly from high school, and mentioned that to the person on my right who is one of our newer faculty members. He asked, "Did he finish college?"
I said, "I don't know." In a few minutes, the player walked in and joined his family.
As we finished our party and were preparing to leave, I tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "What are you doing about your education? Are you going to try to get a degree?" (We had been introduced at a funeral, so he recognized me, so it wasn't just an out of the blue thing. His father and I have known each other for several years.) He said, "My mom wants me to." I said, "We do, too!" indicating that my colleagues at the university and I thought it was important.
I asked if he had looked into the online degree programs, and recommended he check them out as a way to reach the goal, even with an NBA schedule.
You see, a great deal of basketball is in your head. I have already mentioned the importance of self control, but basketball really is applied physics, which is applied math.
When you make a pass or a shot, the law of conservation of momentum dictates the velocity of the ball as it leaves your hands. Momentum IN = Momentum OUT. Momentum is mass times velocity. The momentum IN has to do with the mass and velocity of the whole system, i.e., you and the ball, but the momentum out is separated into the ball's mass and velocity, and your mass and velocity.
If it were possible for you to completely, instantaneously stop, but release the ball at that same instant, all your momentum would go into the ball. The ball weighs a little more than a pound (21 oz). If you weigh 200 pounds, and you released a one pound ball, the ball should leave your hands about 200 times faster than you were traveling while holding it.
Even though that isn't possible, you can still take advantage of the momentum rule by stepping forward while you are passing. We call that, "stepping into the ball." To put zip into your pass, put your body weight into the pass by stepping forward as you release the ball.
There are two other physics laws involved in passing, viz., acceleration and angular momentum, where you have a great deal of influence on the ball. We will talk about them, later.
Get educated before playing. If not, get educated. Your career only lasts until your next injury or someone smarter and quicker comes along.
I said, "I don't know." In a few minutes, the player walked in and joined his family.
As we finished our party and were preparing to leave, I tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "What are you doing about your education? Are you going to try to get a degree?" (We had been introduced at a funeral, so he recognized me, so it wasn't just an out of the blue thing. His father and I have known each other for several years.) He said, "My mom wants me to." I said, "We do, too!" indicating that my colleagues at the university and I thought it was important.
I asked if he had looked into the online degree programs, and recommended he check them out as a way to reach the goal, even with an NBA schedule.
You see, a great deal of basketball is in your head. I have already mentioned the importance of self control, but basketball really is applied physics, which is applied math.
When you make a pass or a shot, the law of conservation of momentum dictates the velocity of the ball as it leaves your hands. Momentum IN = Momentum OUT. Momentum is mass times velocity. The momentum IN has to do with the mass and velocity of the whole system, i.e., you and the ball, but the momentum out is separated into the ball's mass and velocity, and your mass and velocity.
If it were possible for you to completely, instantaneously stop, but release the ball at that same instant, all your momentum would go into the ball. The ball weighs a little more than a pound (21 oz). If you weigh 200 pounds, and you released a one pound ball, the ball should leave your hands about 200 times faster than you were traveling while holding it.
Even though that isn't possible, you can still take advantage of the momentum rule by stepping forward while you are passing. We call that, "stepping into the ball." To put zip into your pass, put your body weight into the pass by stepping forward as you release the ball.
There are two other physics laws involved in passing, viz., acceleration and angular momentum, where you have a great deal of influence on the ball. We will talk about them, later.
Get educated before playing. If not, get educated. Your career only lasts until your next injury or someone smarter and quicker comes along.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Introduction
My other blog, http://chapfam.blogspot.com, was too complicated and had too many topics.
I am separating basketball out by itself since the other topics have more in common with each other.
Basketball has been a love of mine since the tenth grade in high school when I fell in love with a star on the girls' team.
These comments are things I have learned in almost fifty years about winning basketball.
I am separating basketball out by itself since the other topics have more in common with each other.
Basketball has been a love of mine since the tenth grade in high school when I fell in love with a star on the girls' team.
These comments are things I have learned in almost fifty years about winning basketball.
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