How can basketball players improve their post moves. What are effective drills for developing post play skills. Why is post play important in modern basketball. How can coaches integrate post move drills into practice sessions. Which post moves are most effective for different player positions.
The Importance of Post Play in Modern Basketball
Despite the trend towards positionless basketball, mastering post play remains crucial for players and teams. A skilled post player can significantly impact both offense and defense, creating scoring opportunities and anchoring the team’s defensive efforts. Let’s explore why developing post moves is essential for players of all positions.
Versatility in Offensive Strategies
Post play adds a dynamic element to a team’s offensive arsenal. When a player can effectively operate in the post, it forces the defense to adapt, often leading to mismatches or open opportunities for teammates. This versatility can be a game-changer, especially against teams unprepared to defend strong post play.
Creating Scoring Opportunities
Effective post players excel at creating high-percentage scoring chances. They can score directly from post-ups or draw defenders to create open shots for perimeter players. This inside-out game is a fundamental aspect of basketball strategy that remains relevant at all levels of play.
Essential Post Move Drills for Players
Developing a strong post game requires dedicated practice and the right drills. Here are some essential post move drills that players should incorporate into their training regimen:
- Duck-in post move
- Leg whip technique
- Drop step and power move
- Up-and-under move
- Hook shot variations
These drills help players master footwork, body control, and finishing techniques crucial for successful post play. Regular practice of these moves can significantly improve a player’s effectiveness in the post.
Adapting Post Moves for Different Positions
Post play isn’t just for centers and power forwards. Guards and wings can also benefit from developing post skills. Smaller players can use post moves to exploit mismatches against smaller defenders or create space for mid-range shots.
Coaching Strategies for Implementing Post Move Drills
Coaches play a crucial role in developing players’ post skills. Implementing effective post move drills in practice sessions can significantly enhance a team’s overall performance. Here are some strategies for coaches to consider:
- Integrate post drills into daily practice routines
- Use progressive drill sequences to build skills systematically
- Incorporate game-like situations to improve decision-making
- Provide individual feedback and corrections
- Encourage players to practice moves on both sides of the basket
By consistently focusing on post play development, coaches can create a more versatile and dynamic team offense.
Advanced Post Move Techniques and Drills
As players progress in their post play skills, introducing more advanced techniques and drills can further elevate their game. These advanced drills focus on combining moves, reading defenses, and making quick decisions in the post.
Combining Moves for Maximum Effectiveness
Advanced post players should learn to chain multiple moves together. For example, starting with a drop step and transitioning into a spin move if the initial attempt is defended well. This unpredictability makes post players much harder to guard.
Developing Counter Moves
Every post move should have a counter. If a player’s go-to move is well-scouted, having effective counters allows them to remain effective. Drills focusing on reading the defender’s reaction and quickly transitioning to a counter move are essential for advanced post play.
Integrating Post Play with Perimeter Skills
In modern basketball, the lines between positions are increasingly blurred. Post players who can also handle the ball and shoot from the perimeter are incredibly valuable. Here are some drills to help integrate post and perimeter skills:
- Post-up to face-up drills
- Pick-and-pop exercises
- Dribble hand-off sequences
- Post-to-perimeter passing drills
These drills help players become more versatile, making them harder to defend and more valuable to their teams.
The Role of Footwork in Effective Post Play
Footwork is the foundation of successful post play. Without proper footwork, even the most physically gifted players will struggle to be effective in the post. Let’s explore some key aspects of footwork in post play:
Establishing Position
Good footwork starts before the ball is even received. Players must learn to use their feet to establish and maintain good position in the post. This involves sealing off defenders, creating space for entry passes, and setting up for potential moves.
Pivoting Techniques
Mastering various pivot techniques is crucial for post players. The ability to pivot quickly and efficiently allows players to protect the ball, create space, and set up their moves. Drills focusing on both forward and reverse pivots should be a staple of post play practice.
Footwork Drills for Post Players
Here are some effective footwork drills for post players:
- Mikan drill variations
- Pivot and shot fake exercises
- Step-through drills
- Quick feet ladder drills
These drills help players develop the agility, balance, and coordination necessary for effective post play.
Developing Basketball IQ for Post Players
Physical skills are important, but basketball IQ is equally crucial for post players. Understanding how to read defenses, make the right decisions, and work within team offensive structures can elevate a post player’s game significantly.
Reading Defenses
Post players must learn to quickly assess how they’re being defended. Are they being fronted? Is help coming from the weak side? Understanding these defensive strategies allows post players to make better decisions with the ball.
Decision-Making Drills
Incorporate drills that force post players to make quick decisions. For example:
- Post-up with varied defensive looks
- Reaction drills to double teams
- Pass-out-of-post exercises
These drills help players develop the mental aspect of post play, improving their overall effectiveness on the court.
Conditioning for Post Players
Playing in the post is physically demanding, requiring strength, endurance, and explosiveness. Proper conditioning is essential for post players to maintain their effectiveness throughout a game. Here are some key areas to focus on:
Lower Body Strength
A strong lower body is crucial for establishing and maintaining position in the post. Exercises like squats, lunges, and deadlifts can help build the necessary strength.
Core Stability
A strong core helps with balance and power generation in post moves. Planks, Russian twists, and medicine ball exercises are excellent for developing core strength.
Endurance Training
Post players need to be able to run the floor and maintain their energy throughout the game. Incorporate conditioning drills that mimic the stop-and-start nature of basketball, such as suicides and interval training.
By focusing on these areas, post players can improve their physical capacity to dominate in the paint.
Analyzing and Learning from Professional Post Players
Studying successful professional post players can provide valuable insights and inspiration for developing players. Let’s look at some techniques for analyzing and learning from the pros:
Video Analysis
Watching game footage of skilled post players can help identify effective moves, footwork patterns, and decision-making processes. Encourage players to study and emulate the techniques of their favorite post players.
Signature Moves
Many great post players have signature moves that they’ve perfected over time. Analyzing these moves and understanding why they’re effective can help players develop their own go-to moves in the post.
Adapting Pro Techniques
While it’s valuable to learn from the pros, it’s important to adapt these techniques to fit individual players’ strengths and physical attributes. Coaches should help players identify which pro techniques are most suitable for their game and how to modify them if necessary.
By combining study of professional players with dedicated practice, developing post players can accelerate their growth and effectiveness on the court.
The Mental Aspect of Post Play
Success in the post isn’t just about physical skills and basketball IQ. The mental aspect of post play is equally important. Let’s explore some key mental factors that contribute to effective post play:
Confidence and Assertiveness
Post players need to be confident and assertive to demand the ball and make strong moves. Developing this mindset through positive reinforcement and successful repetitions in practice is crucial.
Patience and Timing
Effective post play often requires patience. Players need to learn when to make their move and when to pass out of the post. Drills that focus on timing and decision-making can help develop this aspect of the mental game.
Resilience and Adaptability
Post players will face tough defensive matchups and strategies designed to take them out of the game. Developing mental toughness and the ability to adapt to different defensive looks is essential for consistent success.
Incorporating mental training techniques such as visualization and positive self-talk can help post players develop the mental fortitude needed to excel in this demanding position.
Integrating Post Play into Team Offense
While individual post skills are important, the ultimate goal is to integrate effective post play into the team’s overall offensive strategy. Here are some ways to incorporate post play into team offense:
High-Low Action
Utilizing two post players in a high-low formation can create scoring opportunities and open up the perimeter. Drills focusing on high-low passes and reads can help teams develop this aspect of their offense.
Post-Perimeter Interaction
Effective offenses often involve interplay between post and perimeter players. Drills that focus on actions like cutting off post players, pick-and-roll/pop plays involving post players, and kick-out passes from the post can enhance team offensive cohesion.
Transition Post-Ups
Quick post-ups in transition can catch defenses off guard. Incorporating drills that emphasize running the floor and establishing early post position can add another dimension to a team’s fast-break offense.
By integrating these concepts into team offensive drills, coaches can create a more dynamic and versatile attack that leverages the skills of their post players.
Defensive Considerations for Post Players
While much of the focus is on offensive post play, defensive skills are equally important for post players. Developing strong defensive techniques can make post players true two-way threats. Here are some key defensive aspects to consider:
Positioning and Angles
Proper defensive positioning can neutralize even the most skilled offensive post players. Drills focusing on maintaining position, using angles to deny entry passes, and contesting shots without fouling are essential.
Help Defense and Rotations
Post players often serve as the anchor of team defense. Teaching proper help defense techniques and rotations can significantly improve a team’s overall defensive effectiveness.
Rebounding Techniques
Securing defensive rebounds is a crucial aspect of post defense. Drills that focus on boxing out, tracking shots, and securing rebounds should be a regular part of post player development.
By developing these defensive skills alongside offensive post moves, players can become complete, impact players on both ends of the court.
As we continue to explore the nuances of post play and its importance in modern basketball, it’s clear that developing these skills requires a comprehensive approach. From fundamental moves to advanced techniques, from physical conditioning to mental preparation, mastering the art of post play is a challenging but rewarding journey for both players and coaches. By dedicating time and effort to these various aspects of post play, teams can add a powerful dimension to their game, creating more opportunities for success on the court.
Basketball Post Move Drills for Coaches and Players
As basketball begins to shift towards a positionless sport, it seems like a true post player is becoming rarer and rarer. And, while the position may be adapting, there is still a ton of value in a player dominating the post. A quality post player adds a whole new dynamic to a team, which is exactly what these basketball post move drills are going to work on.
On offense, post players create more scoring opportunities through post-ups, screens, etc. On defense, they can anchor the team defense and clean up the boards. And, while this all sounds great, it doesn’t just happen. Quality post players must be developed.
These post-move basketball drills will provide everything that a post player needs to develop. These post-move basketball drills will cover it all, from low post moves to playing out of a screen to running the floor.
And, these basketball drills aren’t just for centers or forwards either.
There are plenty of post-up opportunities for wing players and guards as well. Players of all positions need to play with their back to the basket and learn to face up in the mid-range.
Here is a general rule of thumb when playing in the post. If your defender is smaller than you, start with your back to the basket and look to back them down. If you are smaller and quicker than your defender, face them up before making a move. The goal is to use your strengths against their weaknesses to get a quality shot or finish.
Basketball Post Move Drills for Coaches
Pretty much any time the ball can go inside to the paint area and then back out, your team’s offense is going to end up with a good look. A great way to get the ball inside is to have a good post-up player, which doesn’t always have to be your center.
If your post player is a threat to score on the block, the defense will be put in a difficult situation. The defense will either have to stay home and allow the post player go one on one, or they will have to send help and leave one of the other players open for a kick-out shot.
The only way this happens, though, is if you develop your post players and make them a threat to score when they get the ball.
These post-move drills will give you everything you need to develop your players into a dominant post presence. Also, regardless of the style you play, there will be post drills for you to use. There are transition post drills as well as half-court drills.
Also, there are multiple areas of post-development to consider. So along with working on these specific post move drills, make sure to check out our other drill categories. Our basketball rebounding drills and basketball competition drills are both going to have some more quality post-development resources. If you are looking for the breakdown of some of these moves, visit our basketball fundamentals section.
Basketball Post Move Drills for Players
A big misconception about posting up on the block is that you have to be a big man to do it. However, that is not true, and you see more and more guards learning to post up on the block and mid-range area.
If you are a bigger wing that struggles to get around quicker guards, then adding some post moves to your game is almost a must. Use your size, strength, footwork, and moves to get yourself a quality shot. You will add a ton of value to your game if you can add some post-up moves to it.
These post-move basketball drills will teach you how to do the duck in post-move, leg whip, and more to master the block area. They will teach you everything you need to know when reading the defender and then making the correct move.
Basketball Post Move Drills Teaching Points
As it goes with most things, the better you can understand post play and everything that goes into it, the more effective it will be. So along with taking advantage of all of the post-move basketball training videos offered below, here are some teaching points that you should focus on as well. They will help you to be able to master the details of these different post moves and better understand when to use them.
Positioning and Timing
A big part of playing in the post in basketball is positioning. If a player can catch the ball right next to the basket and then drop step finish, they will have a much higher percentage finish. On the flip side, if the defense can push the offensive post player out away from the basket, it drastically lowers finishing percentages. This means that before a player catches the ball in the post, they must fight to get a deep catch. To do this, they must perfect their timing. If they try to fight for positioning too early, the post defender will have time to ride them out. If they go too late, the timing of the pass will be off, and the player making the pass may not be able to enter the ball. A good post duck in needs to be on time and in a good position.
Read the Defense
Once a post player gets the ball, they must read the defense. This starts with reading how their defender is guarding them and what the help is doing.
A good post player must account for both if they want to get a high-quality shot or finish. Once they have read the defense, they can determine what move or countermove they want to use. And, where there will be times when a post player can go quick finish, most of the time they are going to need to catch, read, and then go.
Simplify Your Moves
It is better to be great at a few different moves than just okay at a bunch of moves. So rather than spending your time switching back and forth between all of the different moves, spend time mastering a move before continuing on. Start with a quality jump hook and jump hook counter, and then move on to more advanced finishes. Also, most of the more advanced moves use aspects of the basic post moves. So the better you can master the basics, the better you will be at the other post moves.
Quality Repetition
Most of these post moves are going to take a soft touch around the basket. To develop that soft touch, quality repetition is going to be a must.
Whether it is shooting the basketball, finishing around the basket, etc., if a post player wants to be great at a particular move, they must be willing to put in the time. As a basketball coach, if you want your post players to be dominant, you need to develop them.
Work on Both Hands
A good post player needs to be able to finish with either hand well. If not, the defense will recognize this and then will always force them to their weak hand. So when working on all of these different basketball post move drills, spend the needed time working on both hands. If a basketball player is struggling with their off-hand, spend even more time working on it. A dominant post player must be confident in using both of their hands.
Be Willing to Give the Ball Up
The better a basketball player is in the post, the more the defense will be focusing on helping. This means double teams and over helping by the defense. As a post player, you must make the defense pay when this happens and keep them honest.
If you can pass out of the post well, then the defense will be hesitant to help or double, and this means that you will have room to operate. So as a post player, you must be balanced in your attack and be willing to give the ball up if necessary.
Basketball Post Play & Post Moves
Few positions on the basketball court are as pivotal to a basketball team as the post player. A player at any position can have impact, but no other position can change the game like a post player. Many of the rules we play by today are the result of post play. The foul lane was widened from 6 feet to 12 feet due to the play of Bill Russell. The rule that the ball cannot pass over the backboard came about as a reaction to Wilt Chamberlain. The no dunk rule (now in effect only in warm-ups) was a result of the dominating presence of Lew Alcindor (no Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
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The Miami Heat went from out of the playoffs to NBA Champs and the L.
A. Lakers went the other way with the trading of Shaquille O’Neal. Bill Russell anchored the most dominating dynasty in NBA history, the Boston Celtics of the late 1950’s and 1960’s. A dynasty that started with his arrival and ended with his departure.
What is a
good post player?
A post player has to be something other than tall. Many tall players should not be in the post (Kevin Garnett). By the same token, a post player does not have to be tall (Zach Randolph). A post player is a player who is comfortable playing with his back to the basket. He is not afraid of contact and will come back play after play despite getting hit even when he doesn’t have the ball. A post player is willing to go to the boards on every play and if he can’t get the rebound, makes sure that his man won’t.
A post player, by virtue of his physical position on the court, has to be willing to run endline to endline even though he won’t get the ball most of the time. He must be willing to defend on every play and make up for his teammate’s shortcomings.
He is the goalie, the last person that can protect the basket. He must be willing to sacrifice his body on every play.
Because of these unique abilities, post players must be evaluated on their teams a little differently than other players. I have heard things like, “The only thing Shaq has is size. He can’t dribble or shoot outside of 5 feet,” and “Matumbo is so tall but with his offensive skills he wouldn’t even make a HS team if he were 6-6.” The fact is Matumbo is 7-3 and Shaq is a giant. They bring different things to the table that smaller players can’t bring. With his shot blocking and rebounding ability, Mutumbo must save 15-20 points per game over his career. And if Shaq were on your team, would you even WANT him to dribble or shoot from 15 feet. Think about what they bring to the game and then evaluate them.
How do you build a post player?
A lot of effective post play is instinctual. It is difficult to play with your back to the basket. It takes a feel and a comfort level that comes from hours and hours on the court.
We can teach the skills but we cannot force our players to be comfortable. I think too many coaches make the mistake of taking players and just throwing them on the block and then complaining when the player can’t adapt. I have always believed in finding out which players are comfortable down there and then deciding who is the post player. It may not be the tallest player but it will be the ones that are most comfortable playing down low.
Once you identify who your post players will be, what do you do next? What do you teach him to make him better?
Footwork
Without question, I believe the most important and the most under-taught skill is footwork. One common thing that all great post players have is great footwork. Look at the greatest post players in history. They may have different games, Shaq (power), Olajuwan (speed), Kareem (finesse), but they all have great footwork.
There are only a certain number of things you can do with your feet. There are a finite number of pivots, but an infinite number of things you can do with those pivots
The pivots are:
- Front Pivot
- Inside Pivot
- Drop Step
- Step Through
- Sweep
Players should be equally adept at performing pivots on either foot.
I have learned to teach offensive moves based on pivots (Right foot, inside pivot, jump shot) rather than names (“Sikma Shot”). This allows the player to use his imagination when creating his game. In addition, the footwork is common to performing other skills on the floor. We teach our players to “Sikma” inside, “Step Out” on the perimeter and “Reverse Pivot” to box out, the player has to learn 3 things. In reality, all three post moves are “inside pivots” and presented as such, it is much easier for the players to learn and they are more confident in performing them.
Shots
Just like pivots, there are only a certain number of shots you can shoot. Combine them with different pivots, or combination of pivots, you come up with an array of offensive post moves.
The shots I believe post players should have are:
- Layup
- Jump Shot
- Jump Hook
Players should be equally adept at each shot with either hand.
On the block, you may have a “Turn around jump shot,” at the elbow you may have a “Face up jumper,” catch a pass on the wing – face the basket and shoot you may have a “catch and shot jumper.” Or, on all three shots, you have a “front pivot jumper.”
Common names for common moves are very important teaching tools. Using pivots and shots also allows you to use the same language for all your players, regardless of position.
Counters
A counter is a pivot that is used when your initial pivot or shot is defended. It should flow smoothly from the initial move into the counter. Because of his proximity to the basket, counter moves are very effective for post players who don’t have to finish with long shots. They are done in close quarters so they are quick and will often get your post player to the foul line.
Let’s say your player is effective at right foot, front pivot, jump shots (turn around jumpers). He gets the ball in the post, makes his right foot, front pivot and finds his jumper defended.
He then counters by making a right foot pivot, step through (using his right foot as his pivot foot, he takes his left foot and steps across his right foot) and takes a layup. The result is called an “Up and Under” move. However, you did not have to teach him the move because you have taught him the footwork. He can use it in the post or on the outside.
Positioning
When playing in the post, positioning is of the utmost importance. A foot or two can mean the difference in the effectiveness of your post play. If you set too high, you might find the need to execute skills that you’re not comfortable with, set to low, you might find your options limited.
I like to have post players straddle the first marker above the block on the lane. This allows them the freedom to turn both ways, without going behind the backboard. More importantly, it gives passers more room and better angles to get the ball into the post. It also provides more room for cutters and better angles for screens.
Locating your defense BEFORE you receive the ball is critical to effective post play. Once you find your defense, only allow him to play you one way. If he is playing on your low side, work to keep him low, if on your high side, work to keep him high. Your perimeter players should be taught to pass away from the defense. If so, pivot with the pass. For example, if your post player is in the right post and the defense is low, the perimeter player should pass the ball to the post’s right hand and the post player should use a pivot that will open him to the middle (right foot pivot). This will help your post player to be more assertive. If, after making the pivot, he fids his shot defended, he can go immediately to a counter, still using his right foot pivot (sweep, step-through).
By positioning properly on the court and using the body to position against defense, the post player becomes quicker, more aggressive and has more offensive options.
Mental Aspects
There is no question that post players must be mentally tougher than the other positions on the court.
To start with, the game and the court are longer for post players than for the other players. Perimeter players may go long stretches of time without ever going past the foul line yet post players must run every play endline to endline. Perimeter players can avoid contact, especially when they don’t have the ball. Post players are physical on every play, whether they have the ball or not. Perimeter players have the ball, post players must get the ball.
It all adds up to what could be a frustrating time, especially when your post player is not getting enough touches. Regardless, he has to be tough enough to play every play, regardless of the situation. He must do it again and again, play after play, game after game.
Coaches must take this aspect of the game and give it special attention. Pete Gillen, the great former coach at Virginia has a phrase he would use over and over again, “Let the big dog eat!” Other wise you run the risk of coaching a “bagel” (plenty of stuff outside and a hole in the middle).
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Drills
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Book – How To Develop Post Players
If you would like to learn more about developing post players, take a look at Don Kelbick’s simplified process that he uses to train pro
players in the book
How To Develop High Scoring and Highly Skilled Post Players.
If you are interested to see what other people are saying about the book, view the bottom of this page for reviews.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions…
Basketball Drills for Post Play by Hustle Training
The mid-range game might be a dying art form, but low post play will always be the heart and soul of basketball. Youth basketball players don’t have to be tall, traditional bigs to learn how to play in the paint. The skills learned from posting up actually translate all around the floor as well.
Mastering low post play has made the careers of many NBA superstars like Hakeem The Dream Olajuwon and Wilt The Stilt Chamberlain. Say what you will about today’s game, these players would still dominate today.
We will be reviewing some great drills to practice with your youth basketball squad to help them learn how to control the game from the inside out.
Pivoting and the Importance of Footwork in the Paint
Offense in the low post starts from the floor up. Good positioning, footwork, and body control make posting up nearly indefensible. Even big bodies like Shaquille O’Neal used their footwork to get into advantageous scoring positions.
Here is a great drill for low post footwork:
- Have an offensive and defensive player start in the low post with a ball handler at the top of the key or anywhere around the three point line.
- The offensive player must first use his or her feet to position themselves for a pass.
Feet should be towards the ball handler with a wide base and hands out to receive the pass. - The ball should then be passed into the low post.
- The low post player can now make any moves they choose without dribbling. The no dribbling rule forces youth basketball players to think about their feet first.
- Work on drop steps, step backs, and pivoting to get up and under towards the basket.
Feet should be towards the ball handler with a wide base and hands out to receive the pass.Youth Basketball Rebound Drills
Playing in the post isn’t just about scoring. Low post players also absorb the majority of your team’s rebounds. There are plenty of rebounding drills, but we like this one for rebounding in the low post:
- Have two defenders and two offensive players paired up, with each pair picking a side of the low blocks.
- All players should be facing the top of the key, where there is a shooter (coach or other player).
- The shooter takes the shot.
- Defensive players must locate their opponent and box him or her out while turning towards the basket.
- Offensive players should try to work around or fight through the box out legally.
- From there it’s about reaching the ball at its highest point and securing the board.
Low Post Ball Movement Drills
Luka Doncic is this generation’s best passing big man. He controls the game from the inside out by feeding passes to teammates while maintaining a scoring threat at all times. Again, we recommend trying these drills without putting the ball on the floor, but that is not a requirement.
Have players positioned anywhere that is natural on the court so long as there is a singular offensive player in the low post. You may choose to do this as a 5 on 5 for realistic passing options.
The point guard should make an entry pass to the low post player. At this point, the post player must make a productive pass without shooting or dribbling. Other offensive players are encouraged to make a cut towards the basket, get open for three, set screens, etc.
The point of this drill is to improve passer vision and make young players understand that an extra pass can be productive even from the inside.
Defensive Post Drills
Low post defense is an art form all on its own. There are so many intricacies that make a good player a great player with anticipation, body control, and instincts. Here are some high level concepts to include into your low post defensive training:
Denying the entry pass – The first line of defense to the inside is jumping the entry pass. Players should understand that this is a calculated risk. Jumping a pass can lead to easy buckets. The key is to understand a good risk vs. a bad risk.
Helping on the drive/taking a charge – Low post defense is much more than just one-on-one play. Post players are often helped to slide over and help with a slasher. Drills that work on communication and team defense help all defenders.
One-on-one low post defense – Of course, low post defense does often include bodying up against your opponent. Drills should focus on good footwork, active hands, and staying up and down when going for shot blocks.
Basketball Training with Hustle
Pittsburgh startup Hustle Training is quickly rising to one of the most popular sports drill apps out there. Their website, along with their mobile app puts players and coaches at the top of their game by providing skilled workouts and drills crafted by coaches, trainers, and professional athletes, and informative articles to take your team to the next level.
Drills to teach the single-post offense
Almost all our team shooting drills will incorporate actions or concepts out of our single-post offense. Practicing the field goals you attempt in a game will only increase your shooting percentage. Furthermore, the proper execution of these breakdown drills requires focus and attention to detail and can enhance your conditioning. Improvement in those areas will increase your chances of being a more efficient offensive team.
The game of basketball is constantly evolving and, as coaches, we must evolve with it. Today, “positionless” basketball is the latest movement. Identifying and developing a player that can play with their back to the basket effectively is a difficult task; finding two is next to impossible. The single-post offense is an excellent option for your team if you have multiple perimeter players who have similar skill sets. Here are several drills that will teach your team this style of play.
V-cut to rip-and-go
DIAGRAM 1: Our first drill emphasizes the footwork that is necessary for the wing to get open and receive the entry pass. We have an assistant coach or manager play token defense and, if possible, hold a blocking pad. The offensive player (4) will step into the defender and make contact with the pad before breaking out to the wing and receiving a pass from 1.
DIAGRAM 2: After catching the pass, the ball handler will rip or sweep the ball below their knees and execute a one-dribble, pull-up jumper. The passer and shooter change lines. You can incorporate as many different shots as you like (i.e. step-back jump shots, or different finishes at the rim).
Logo cut to Chicago cut
DIAGRAM 3: Form two lines with both slot positions being occupied. The slot with the ball (1) dribbles at the other slot (4), who makes a logo cut.
DIAGRAM 4: After the slot-to-slot pass is completed, the passer will follow the pass and make a Chicago cut. The recipient of the pass will time their dribble, rubbing right off the cutter’s back and into an elbow area jump shot.
DIAGRAM 5: Here, we add a third line to incorporate the post. We initiate the drill with a Chicago cut, as the slot (1) drives the ball to the elbow area, the post (3) circles behind the defense for a drop-off bounce pass from 1.
Fire action: backdoor cut
DIAGRAM 6: This is another two-line drill with the ball-side wing and post being occupied. Coaches or managers can make the entry pass. The post (4) flashes to the elbow and receives the entry pass from the coach or manager.
DIAGRAM 7: On the catch, the wing (1) cuts backdoor and receives a bounce pass from 4.
Make sure the post leads the wing with his pass. A pass thrown behind a teammate who is making a backdoor cut will surely be stolen. The post player does not have to pivot at all to complete the pass. He or she simply needs to twist their torso and execute the pass as soon as they catch the ball. When the timing is done correctly, the success rate of backdoor plays increases dramatically.
Fire action: flare screen
DIAGRAM 8: This is our final two-line breakdown drill with the post and the ball-side slot lines being filled. The post (4) flashes to elbow area, and the slot (1) hits them with a pass.
DIAGRAM 9: The coach or manager then sets a flare screen for the slot. The post hits the slot with a skip pass. Since this drill simulates our fire action, have your post look for the backdoor cut first before making the skip pass for a jump shot off the flare screen.
Swing/swing/swing attack drill
This four-line drill reinforces the don’t-be-a-ball-stopper notion and allows your team to practice many different shots and actions. Start with the movements shown in DIAGRAMS 10 and 11.
DIAGRAM 12: After the ball has been reversed and is back in 1’s hands, they can shoot the ball or drive the ball to the baseline and look for the weak-side wing (2) on the drive and drift action or the ball-side slot (4), who will follow the ball as it’s being dribbled away from them.
If your team is more advanced and you have an assistant coach or team managers, you can attempt both of these shots simultaneously by placing a coach with a basketball right on the baseline in the exact spot the wing will drive the ball to. Whichever pass the wing does not make, the coach will complete. This will increase the awareness and concentration levels of your team along with the number of repetitions your players make. If the wing drives the ball to the middle of the floor, he or she can shoot a pull-up jumper or penetrate and pitch to the weak-side slot for a jump shot.
Step-up ball-screen drill
DIAGRAM 13: This is a three-line, two-shot drill. A coach or manager will initiate the action by passing the ball to the slot (1). Next, there is a slot-to-slot pass, and on the flight of the ball to the slot (2), the post sprints into a ball screen for 2.
DIAGRAM 14: As 2 uses the ball screen, there is a second coach or manager with a basketball that always hits the post (5) rolling hard to the front of the rim. The slot without the basketball (1) follows the ball as it is dribbled away from him or her.
DIAGRAM 15: The slot with the basketball will make the throwback pass and 1 will shoot a jump shot. You can always adjust who makes which pass. In other words, the coach can make the throwback pass and the slot with the basketball (2) can hit the post rolling hard to the rim. You can also tweak which side the ball screen is set on (DIAGRAM 16) to address your roll/rise action from different angles and spots.
Slot-is-denied drill
In this final drill, we prepare for those teams that will attempt to play passing lane defense. This is a four-line drill and quick ball movement with hard, sharp cuts are emphasized.
DIAGRAM 17: The slot (2) enters the ball to the wing (1), and he or she makes their traditional cut to the weak side of the court.
DIAGRAM 18: The weak-side slot (3) spaces over, realizes they are denied and immediately makes a backdoor cut. If your resources permit, you can have a coach or manager standing right next to the wing with the ball (1) to complete a pass to the slot making a backdoor cut. In this illustration, the wing with the ball (1) dribbles to the slot area and makes a slot-to-slot pass to 4 (DIAGRAM 19), who has spaced up from the weak-side wing. On the catch, 4 executes a sweep-and-go move and attacks the defense by dribbling into the gap. The ball-side wing (2) reads their teammate and drifts into the corner, making it more difficult for their defender to help-and-recover, and he or she prepares to shoot the ball if it’s passed to them.
Another variation of this drill would be for 4 to swing the ball to 2 and have that player drive the ball for baseline drive-and-drift action with 3 or middle drive the ball for a penetrate-and-pitch jump shot to the weak-side slot (1).
Michael Murphy is a basketball coach and co-founder of the Revolution Basketball training academy in Illinois. He also is a member of Winning Hoops’ editorial advisory board.
20 Killer Basketball Shooting Drills
These best shooting drills for basketball practice enable you to amp things up and continuously strive to improve every aspect of their shooting ability.
The panache of a basketball player reflects in his shooting abilities more than any other. As a result, basketball enthusiasts and buddying basketball players aim at being the best shooters because the associated glitz influences them. If you are looking for the most prolific or the best shooting drills for basketball, you have reached the perfect place.
The secret of a great shooter:
Steph Curry is one of those phenomenal athletes who converts around 5 out of 10 shots he makes.
Ray Allen is another superb example of a prolific shooter with an impeccable shooting percentage.
If you want to develop into a great shooter yourself, you need to follow shooter basketball greats and learn what they do that gives them these special abilities.
The MVPs and stars of the game follow great shooting routines that could be boring or tedious to most but have a marked influence on your form and consistency. Shooting routines are a crucial facet to improve the game for both amateurs and professionals.
- Youth and high school players can fix their forms and learn a lot from shooting progressions.
- On the other hand, advanced players and professionals can use such shooting drills to warm up and keep on refining their shooting techniques.
Following rigorous shooting regimes and practicing drills are essential for success because:
- They help you in maintaining and developing a robust shooting technique
- They enable you to create an immense consistency in form
- They boost your confidence so that you perform well in match situations.
Some of the best shooting drills for basketball practice:
If you are actively looking for the best shooting drill for basketball, you need to be wary of a number of such routines instrumental to developing certain vital aspects of your shooting. While some focus on form, others focus on release, and some on your timings.
Types of basketball shooting drills:
Individual drills:
These shooting drills allow you to go solo and practice your game. You can try your hands at these shooting drills by using chairs as dummy players.
- Spin outs- The player needs to spin the ball away, sprint towards it, and shoot. They can even do various straight and curl cuts like corner to wing, wing to top, low post to high post, etc.
Form shooting drills:
These are the best shooting drills for basketball that enable you to minimize the margin of error by developing your technique and ingesting the method into your subconscious by continuously making thousands of shots.
- One hand form shooting- It is the best shooting drill for basketball that teaches you to release better with foolproof hand placement, feet placement, and enhanced coordination.
- Adding guide hand- It is one of the best ways to develop the best practice regimes with the guide hands.
- Starting at shoulder-It equips you with proper coordination with your lower body movements and is a clear progression that enables you to develop a full shooting motion form.
- Waist to shoulder- It is an impeccable form shooting drill that develops coordination, rhythm, and timing between the upper and lower body.
- One motion- It is the final form shooting drill that encompasses the previous four’s knowledge and integrates them in one.
- Ball pickups and shooting off the dribble- It is an essential drill that teaches you to shoot with fluidity off the dribble.
- Bank shots- It is a superbly efficient drill that enables you to develop a touch off the glass and convert better.
Quick-release shooting drills:
The quick-release shooting drills are the best shooting drills for basketball practice that develop your form, motion, capacity, and speed.
- Partner shooting drill- It allows you to develop a quick shot release by teaming up with your partner and isolate your shooting skills while practicing the same in a short period.
- Changing spots- It is a brilliant shooting drill practice that allows you to develop your learning and ability to use the court from various positions and still retain the same shot percentage.
- Soft and hard close-outs with defense- It is a drill that enables you to practice with a defender moving out.
- 1v1 to 3v3 close-outs- Playing with a live defense always develops your shooting abilities.
Dynamic form shooting drills:
These shooting drills are ideal for pre-game preparation and enable you to transition quickly into stable positions. These advanced drills are suitable for youth players and even pros.
- One-foot reaches- It is a great drill to practice shoulder extensions and high follow-throughs during shooting.
- One-foot squats- These drills allow you to improve core strength, stability, and balance during shooting.
- Touch the ball to the ground- It is a great drill that develops your ability to transition into the regular shooting position without a pause.
- One-foot jumps- It is the best shooting drill for basketball practice that develops core-stabilization. It is similar to a plyometric workout.
- 360-degree dance step- It is a great workout that develops your feet coordination and prowess during shooting.
Drills with game-like cuts:
Many drills enable you to develop several shooting opportunities during the game, and hence these game-like cuts should be practiced before training. These include-
- Straight cuts- Away screen, corner pin screen.
- Curl cuts- Down screen.
- Fade cuts- Flare screen.
There are also flash cuts, v-cuts, l-cuts, back cuts, post down screen cuts, and zippen screen cuts.
Basketball Offense: 42 Shooting Drill
It’s no secret: To find success on offense in basketball, you need to shoot the ball well.
No matter if you can shoot the ball from beyond the arc or hit a solid mid-range jumper, scoring skills are a must to be successful on offense. Whether you’re a guard, center or forward, it can be important to practice shots from across the court.
If you’re looking to improve your shooting, try adding the 42 Shooting Drill to your practices.
“It is a conditioning drill as well,” says Suzie McConnell-Serio, a former coach and player at both the professional and Division I level. “But you can get a feel for how well you are shooting the basketball with your total score you accumulate.”
THE 42 DRILL
This drill requires a friend, teammate or coach to act as a rebounder to pass you the ball.
You’ll make your way across seven spots on the court. The rotation begins in one corner before moving onto the medium post and the elbow extended. The midpoint of the drill is the top of the key. You’ll complete the drill with the other side of the arc at the elbow extended, the medium post and the opposite corner of where you started.
The drill is all about making shots. To perform the drill:
- You’ll begin on either corner.
- Your first shot will be a three-pointer. Remember: You always start the drill on a make.
- You’ll then perform a shot fake from beyond the arc, dribble once and attempt a pull-up jumper.
- The final shot of the series starts at the three-point line. Use a shot fake, dribble once and go all the way to the basket for a layup.
The most points you can score in this drill is 42 (hence the name). A three-pointer is worth three points, a jumper is worth two and a layup is worth one.
Working on this drill regularly can help sharpen your shooting skills. Keep track of your score and see if you can beat it every time you hit the court.
Looking for even more shooting work? Then check out the 5-Star Shooting Drill. This drill challenges you to make a variety of shots from around the court.
TOP 5 BASKETBALL DRILLS FOR YOUTH BASKETBALL PLAYERS
By: Brendan Winters
NOTE: This blog was updated on 3/25/20 from it’s original version to include better videos and more up to date information.
Ten years after co-founding Pro Skills Basketball and coaching kids from 2nd grade through 12th grade year-round through our AAU basketball teams, summer camps, and clinics, I have a pretty good grasp on the areas most youth basketball players need to improve, and the basketball drills that can really help individual youth players get better.
Don’t get me wrong, there is no magic formula, but if the below 5 basketball drills (which I consider the top 5) are done everyday or almost everyday then with a little bit of good, old-fashioned hard-work, youth players can drastically improve their individual basketball games.
So without further ado, here at the top 5 basketball drills for youth basketball players!
#1 FORM SHOOTING
Form shooting is perhaps the most important basketball drill young players can do.
If done correctly everyday, this promotes muscle memory for young basketball players to develop great shooting form that translates to great game-speed shooting.
This is a basketball drill I did everyday growing up, and I believe it’s the main factor in my development into one of the best 3-point shooters ever in Davidson basketball history.
Basketball Drill:
There are two ways to form shoot; one-hand or two-hands. Form shooting is done in close to the basket, about as far away as a layup, and is a slow, methodical drill.
Every rep needs to be carefully thought about and attempted to be done exactly the same. I teach a simple 3-step process of “sit, lift, dip”.
To read in great detail and length as well as see example pictures, check out my entire blog posts dedicated to one-hand and two-hand form shooting.
Want even more shooting drills? Then check out our basketball shooting playlist on your YouTube channel!
Want to become an elite shooter with ONE YEAR’s worth of workouts that include drills, games and competitions? Then get 35% off our Ultimate Shooting Guide and Video Program now by clicking the link!
#2 TWO BALL DRIBBLING
Let me be very clear about this…This is NOT a game-like drill. This drill is simply for ball-handling improvement.
What I’ve noticed over the past 6 years is a real lack of dribbling skills in most youth basketball players. The majority of young basketball players can dribble with their dominant hand, but not their weak hand.
Doing basketball drills where a player dribbles two basketballs at once FORCES kids to:
A) Use their weak hand
B) Challenges their coordination
If a player can dribble two basketballs at the same time, well then he or she will definitely be able to dribble one very well with EITHER hand.
Basketball Drill:
Beginner: Stationary Two Ball Dribbling Drill – Player gets in a wide stance, low stance and dribbles two basketballs at the same time (aka “pound”) or alternating (aka “pistons”).
Work on dribbling below the knees, below the waist, and also popping them all the way to the shoulders to work on strength.
Once these skills are mastered, players can move on to crossing the basketballs over, going through the legs (one ball through legs, other ball cross over in front), and going behind the back legs (one ball behind back, other ball cross over in front).
Intermediate: On the Move Two Ball Dribbling Drill – Same as stationary but now player moves with the ball. Begin walking in a straight line to half court and back using pounds or pistons.
Once mastered, pick up the pace and begin to jog. Increase to full-speed when ready. After the player can do this with ease, begin attempting the crossover, between the legs, and behind the back in a straight line.
Advanced: Players progress to a zig-zag pattern on the move with two basketball. Make sure to plant that outside foot and explode when changing directions. Players can continue to pick up the pace as their skills increase to challenge themselves.
Check out our entire playlist of dribbling and ball-handling drills on our YouTube channel!
#3 GEORGE MIKAN DRILL
The George Mikan basketball drill is named after the NBA legend, George Mikan.
He was post-player famous for finishing around the rim. This drill is a continuous layup drill geared to help young players with their layup footwork and finishing with either hand.
Basketball Drill:
Beginners (one foot) – Player starts in front of the rim looking at the basket. Take a big step with the left foot towards the right side of the basket, jump off that foot, drive right knee up, and shoot layup off backboard with right hand.
Grab rebound quickly, and reset in front of the rim. Take a big step with the right foot towards the left side of the basket, jump off that foot, drive left knee up, and shoot layup off backboard with left hand. Grab rebound quickly, and reset in front of the rim. Repeat as necessary. No dribbling necessary.
Beginners (two feet) – Player starts in front of the rim looking at the basket. Take a big left-foot-right-foot step towards the right side of the basket, jump off both feet, and shoot layup off backboard with right hand.
Grab rebound quickly, and reset in front of the rim. Take a big right-foot-left-foot step towards the left side of the basket, jump off both feet, and shoot layup off backboard with left hand. Grab rebound quickly, and reset in front of the rim. Repeat as necessary. No dribbling.
Intermediate – Same as beginners except there is no resetting. Player continuously goes from right side to left side making without dribbling or the ball hitting the floor.
Find a good rhythm and continue as necessary. Players should be able to do one-foot and two-foot layup Mikans. See instructional videos below.
Advanced (Reverse Mikan Basketball Drill) – Same as intermediate, but instead of facing the basket, start under the backboard and face towards half-court.
Instead of doing normal layups, players will do reverse layups. Always use your outside hand and correct corresponding foot. For instance for one foot reverse Mikans, face half-court, take a big step to YOUR right-hand side of the rim with your LEFT foot, drive your right knee up, and shoot a reverse layup with your right hand.
Stay facing half-court, rebound the ball, and quickly take a big step to your left-hand side of the rim with your RIGHT foot, drive your left knee up, and shoot a reverse layup with your left hand. Repeat as necessary. For two foot reverse Mikans, repeat above except take a left-right step or right-left step into your layups.
Here is another great layup drill video on how to shoot an up and under layup! Also check out more footwork drills on our YouTube playlist here!
#4 WALL PASSING DRILL
Passing is a skill that is really overlooked and rarely worked on, yet it is crucial for young basketball players, especially guards, to be able to pass with both hands.
Basketball Drill:
Beginner: Stand 15 feet or so in front of a hard wall (cement, brick, etc). Work on the basics to begin – chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass – and make sure they are all done with proper mechanics.
For instance, with a chest pass, start with hands on the sides of the basketball thumbs pointing up, step into the pass and throw, flick wrists and finish with thumbs pointed down.
Ball should have back spin on it if thrown correctly.
Intermediate: Repeat the above, but before each pass, add a ball fake. For instance, fake high and pass low, fake low and pass high.
Advanced: Learn to throw left hand and right hand chest pass and bounce passes as well as left and right “wrap around” passes. Players should work on snapping their wrists to get more power.
#5 ONE-ON-ONE BASKETBALL
Aside from form shooting, I think playing one on one basketball is one of the best things a young player can do for their game.
My game took off during my post-graduate year at prep school once I started playing one on one against the best players on my team, including current NBA player Jarrett Jack.
Of course, to get the most out of one on one there has to be rules, such as dribble limits. Also, players should seek out competition that is a bit bigger, stronger, faster, and generally better than them. While this can be frustrating, the rewards are great.
Basketball Drill:
Beginner: From the top of the key, check the ball up and play. Five dribbles maximum. Only one shot.
If made, player keeps the ball. If missed, defender gets the ball and checks it up at the top of the key. Play by 1’s to 5 points. Play games from both wings and corners as well.
Intermediate: Same as above, but limit to 3 dribbles. Play by 1’s and 2’s to 12. Players can also now add in “live” dribble one on one where they must make a dribble move versus the defender.
To do this, offensive player starts from the “volleyball line” that is typically in between half court and the 3 point line. Defender starts at the 3 point line. Offensive player begins with a dribble and has 5-7 dribbles (depending on skill) to try to score. Again play to 9-12 points.
Advanced: In one-on-one, start by checking the ball, limit dribbles to 1-2. In games beginning with a live dribble, limit dribbles to 4-5.
Players can also add in rules such as players can only score on the left side of the court or right side, players have to score inside the paint, players cannot score inside the paint, etc.
There are so many different ways to play one on one basketball, and the trick is to use your imagination and make it challenging.
Don’t simply role the ball out and play with no rules. Make everything more difficult and game-like. Hard in practice equals, easy in games!
Below is another great drill for one-on-one that teaches how to properly use the jab-step!
Ok, that’s it! There are a lot of other youth basketball drills players can do to get better, but these are the top 5. They’re not always fun, but if players invest some time into doing them then they will get better! If you’d like a ton more drills please subscribe to our YouTube channel below and check out our entire free video library of youth basketball drills!
Brendan Winters is a former Davidson Wildcat and European professional basketball player as well as the co-founder of Pro Skills Basketball and co-director of Pro Skills Basketball Charlotte.
90,000 Shooting Technique Articles: Shot Model and Aiming
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Shot model and aiming
For successful firing, the shooter must hold the weapon before firing, during and after firing.Holding the weapon is provided by the shooter’s muscles, which are controlled from the cerebral cortex. In order to steadily hold the weapon in the center of the target, signals stable in amplitude and frequency must be directed from the cerebral cortex to the muscles. We learn to generate and send these signals to muscles during training. The better the signal is generated in the cerebral cortex, the better the stability. Considering that a large number of muscles are involved in holding the weapon, we must be able to not only control some individual muscles of the arms, legs, back, etc.and the whole complex of muscles involved in retention. This summed signal is called the muscle shot model. The Muscle Shot Model is a holistic sensation of muscle control while pulling the trigger. Considering that the scope of our attention is limited, it is much easier to control one, whole sensation than control several, separate muscle groups.
Almost all shooters who have achieved notable success use approximately the same scheme. The so-called muscle models associated with some acquired experience or associations are used.
Most often, a shooter having successfully performed in any competition (less often in training) remembers the complex sensations of a good shot and uses these sensations already in subsequent competitions for a long time. To use them, it is enough to remember those very successful competitions. Whole sensations are remembered, or the shooter, before the shot, concentrates his attention first on any muscle group or part of the body, and then the sensations spread to the whole body.
It often happens that over time, the shooter slightly changes the muscle model of the shot, if he manages to get better sensations from a good shot in some other competitions.
In addition to the model taken from the competition, the shooters use various associations and images. Below are examples of some of them:
- The shooter imagines that he has become a rigid, metal or concrete structure.
- Muscles froze like water in a lake in calm weather.
- The athlete introduces himself as one of the strongest shooters.
- Any abstract sensation that cannot be expressed in words or described, but which allows the weapon to be held in the center of the target when the trigger is pulled.
Of course, these muscle sensations are extremely individual, but everyone can find their own image for themselves.
In order to acquire your own individual and effective shot model, it is recommended to memorize the muscular sensations of one or more good shots during competition shooting. In the evening of the same day, before going to bed, remember and mentally scroll through these sensations several times. In the first trainings after the competition, you can already start using the newly acquired sensations.But I would like to warn you right away! You cannot immediately give heavy loads for several hours. In the first stage, short workouts with maximum concentration are recommended. In the future, the volume of training gradually increases, with mandatory quality control. (see article Path length).
With large volumes of training, the acuity of sensations is dulled and the shooter no longer trains subtle muscle sensations, but trains endurance. At the same time, quality suffers.
The use of the muscle model allows the shooter to have better stability and shoot more successfully.To analyze the muscle model, the main criterion for evaluating during training on the SCATT simulator is the parameter “S1” trajectory speed measured 1 second before the shot. The dignity of a hole in this analysis can be ignored.
Analysis of the “S1” parameter, simplifies and accelerates the process of searching for new muscle sensations.
The search for new variants of shot models is carried out according to the following method.
Training must be carried out after a 2-5 day break, with good health (not recommended after a hard day’s work, after a heavy physical or psychological stress).This will provide a high concentration of attention and acuity of sensations. If these conditions are not met, then the results will not be objective and the value of the training will decrease.
Start training with those muscular sensations that the shooter used in recent competitions and training. After a 10-15 minute warm-up, several shots are fired. As a rule, 5-10 shots are enough for an assessment. The value of the “S1” parameter and the holding of the weapon at the moment of the shot are fixed. Then a short break is made, during which you need to rest a little and try to most vividly imagine (preferably with your eyes closed) the muscle sensations that the shooter takes from his experience.After that, it must be repeated with a weapon. The value of the “S1” parameter and the holding of the weapon at the moment of the shot are fixed.
After several tests, you need to choose a muscle model in which the average “S1” value is minimal and the weapon remains in the aiming zone at the time of the shot. This testing must be carried out at least 2 times on different days. This will eliminate randomness when choosing the best model. If, as a result of testing, it turns out that the shooter has recently used not the best model, it must be replaced with a new model.
Another way to maintain dominant attention on muscles and pulling the trigger is dynamic aiming . In practice, it looks like this.
The shooter slowly introduces the weapon into the target from either side (there is no fundamental difference), brings it to the center and after 1-2 for a maximum of 3 seconds. fires a shot. Sometimes there is a stop for a few seconds in any part of the target not far from the center (in size 8 or 9), and then it is brought to the center and also 1-2 seconds and the shot.
You can download an example of using the “dynamic aiming” technique when firing an air pistol smirnova.aim
(To view the file, you must have the SCATT Professional program on your computer.)
When analyzing the aiming technique of the strongest shooters, this technique is found in 70% of cases. And more often when the arrows are in good shape and perform well.
How does this aiming scheme make it easier to maintain attention during the final phase of the shot?
The explanation is simple.In order to slowly introduce the weapon into the center and immediately make a shot, the shooter is forced to keep almost all of his attention on the muscles holding the weapon and pulling the trigger.
Alexander Kudelin
MSMK in bullet shooting
Independent training
Lull. Recently there were arms exhibitions in Las Vegas and Nuremberg, matches are taking place somewhere far away, on the other side of the globe. And our competitive season will not begin soon, in a few months.Now is the most training time and the best moment to hone shooting skills, practice various elements and shooting at targets of varying difficulty.
Today I would like to write about independent training. All successful athletes, regardless of their sport, always train with a coach. And champions who train on their own cannot be found at all without a coach. However, in practical shooting, it has already happened, most shooters do not train with a trainer all the time.This article is for those who most often train on their own, for those who have a trainer – the Internet.
Most of my practical shooting time, I did it on my own. And I can say that I have quite a lot of experience in building workouts. In my hard-won and well-established opinion, it is very, very difficult to train on your own.
The path of independent training is a path in the dark, when by touch, by trial and error, you find an effective technique, hone it and then test it in competitions, based solely and solely on your own feelings.In training, it is very difficult not to slip into recreational shooting – that is, shoot what you like and work out. After such training, you go home joyful and elated – well, of course, because everything is going so well. It’s just that various skills are tested at competitions and, sadly enough, in training you have to work out not what you like at all, but exactly the opposite – what you don’t like and don’t work out, and you don’t want at all, turning a new skill into your strong side. …
From the outside it may seem that if an athlete comes to the shooting range and is shooting at targets, then he is training.And if at the same time he hits the targets well, then the training is going well and the shooter is improving. But this is not entirely true, every successful training is the completion of a specific task, the development of new skills. Progress is only achievable with challenging and hard work. It happens that during training, the shooter shoots easily and accurately, shows good results without tension and effort. But such work has no beneficial effect. The result of the training is assessed only by the achieved progress in the skill.Exercising in training can be overwhelming, pushing your limits, and this will inevitably affect your results – speed and accuracy.
Experienced trainers know that when working out an additional element in a skill, other elements that have already been worked out can temporarily sag. In other words, while working on the correct movement when pulling the pistol out of the holster, the time of the first shot will necessarily increase, accuracy may drop, just because all the attention goes to the work of the hands.Therefore, you should not equate training results with target holes.
As has long been noted in the field of bullet shooting, the effectiveness of all shooting training is very low. The moment of the shot, for the sake of which the athlete comes to the shooting range, lasts hundredths of a second. Even if you make 200 shots – and this is a very big training, all the same, the time of the actual shots will take at most one and a half to two seconds. Therefore, the shooter’s task is to manage these seconds as efficiently as possible. In principle, everything else can be bachelor at home.
A few important tips for building your own workout:
- It is best to work out only one element per workout (taking out, pulling out of the holster, carrying, etc.).
- Work out all elements only very slowly. At the same time, one should consistently transfer one’s attention from one aspect of technology to another. Examining every detail practically under a microscope.
- Since there is no one nearby who could check the correctness, point a finger at a mistake, support the right moment, then pay maximum attention to your feelings, perception and assessment of each of your actions.There is no sense in thoughtlessly mechanically repeating one wrong movement hundreds of times. Only thoughtful and painstaking work will lead to improvements.
- Each action with a cartridge is better to pass several times beforehand. You can mentally imagine the correct technique, and then repeat it, keeping the sensations just spoken. Each shot must be deliberate and fully controlled.
- Praise yourself for every action you take correctly.And ignore the wrong ones – do not scold yourself, fixing the wrong pattern of actions in your memory. Sports psychologists have long proven that rewards for doing the right thing produces much better results than punishing for doing something wrong.
- Get more rest in your workouts. As soon as the shooter gets tired, his attention is scattered, it is difficult for him to assess the correctness of his actions. Then a dangerous moment comes when, instead of memorizing the correct technique, a mistake can creep in, and the mechanical repetition of this mistake will nullify the entire training.
- When practicing an element, change the emphasis. For example, practicing a snatch from a holster and the first shot can be divided into: actually snatching from a holster, forming a grip, aiming at a target, aiming and transferring vision from target to front sight, handling the descent, holding after a shot. If desired, this list can be further detailed.
- Warm-up is mandatory. Warm-up separates you from the rest of the world at the time of training, sets you up for shooting, brings the body, thoughts, all actions to a working state.The experienced shooter uses the warm-up to remember the sensation of the perfect shot, retains that sensation, and tries to use it throughout the entire training session.
- Save yourself 5-10 rounds for dessert at the end of your workout. Use these patrons to reward yourself for your work. Shoot what you really want, not for the result, but solely for pleasure.
- Give yourself “exams” from time to time. For example, once every three months, do the same simple exercises: – the first shot at the popper at 15m, shot-reload-shot, shot-port after 5m-shot.Objective numbers of times and hits will show your progress in training. My favorite grading exercise: four positions at 24-18-12-6m and three cartons in a line 2m apart. You need to go from the farthest port to the nearest one with a mandatory change of store, hitting three cartons from each port with two shots. Over the past two years, my time has come from 24 seconds to 17.
Before starting a workout, it is imperative to have a plan with prescribed cartridges for each exercise, below I give an example of such a plan.
My plan for one of the independent workouts.
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In any case, starting to practice shooting is better under the guidance of experienced instructors. In the beginning, it is better to get a base at a master class or training camp. But having developed an idea of the correct technique, you can already safely start training yourself or with friends.
But the most important thing is that one training session with a trainer is, in terms of effectiveness, equal to, probably, ten conducted independently.Therefore, look for coaches, attend master classes and training camps – and then there will be guaranteed progress.
Vaclav Winduška independent training
Laser shooting ranges for training in shooting – Scientific and Technical Center “Laser Technologies” LLC
Practicing exercises at the Nizhny Novgorod Academy using the combat shooting range BLIK-VT
To practice complex exercises of interdisciplinary training of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the BLIK-VT combat complex, instructors and teachers use ready-made solutions
Software PRACTICUM
A new “PRACTICUM” situational task base has been developed for practicing complex exercises of interdisciplinary training of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the BLIK-VT combat complex (combat shooting range).
Battle shooting range in the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
The “BLIK-VT” combat shooting range with 5 firing directions is located in the 50-meter shooting gallery of the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Shooting at the shooting range – at standard paper targets.
Program Duel for the combat shooting range BLIK-VT (Rubin)
The Duel program was developed for the BLIK-VT shooting galleries and allows real-time training against a real enemy, while using any firearm.
Battle shooting range BLIK-VT (Rubin) in the shooting club “Bunker”
For more than a year now, a combat shooting range “BLIK-VT” has been operating in the shooting gallery of the sports club “Bunker” (Samara, Karbysheva st., 63v, room 1). Various weapons are used in the shooting range: combat, hunting, sports, small-caliber, pneumatic, laser.
Combat firing in a shooting range in Moscow
A high-precision combat complex (shooting range) “BLIK-VT” is operating in one of the shooting galleries in Moscow.The shooting range is equipped with unique software – a duel program, programs for a panoramic and adaptive shooting range. Programs for combat shooting ranges BLIK-VT allow you to conduct fire training in the most effective form of training – realistic professional training.
IPSC Exercise Designer Program
combat shooting range, shooting range BLIK, shooting range Rubin
Battle shooting range at the military institute of Novosibirsk
An interactive rifle combat complex BLIK-VT is successfully used in practical training at the Novosibirsk Military Institute.Cadets perform exercises on the legality of the use of weapons, rapid aiming of weapons, firing in a stressful situation, using various dynamic targets and video clips.
Fire training in the “Atom-protection”, Novosibirsk
The “BLIK-VT” combat shooting range for 4 firing directions is located in the 50-meter shooting gallery of the shooting range of Detachment No. 1, branch No. 12 of FSUE Atom-Okhrana, Novosibirsk. Shooting at the shooting range – at standard paper targets.
Battle shooting range in the branch “Atom-protection”, Novosibirsk
The “BLIK-VT” combat shooting range for 4 firing directions is located in the 50-meter shooting gallery of the shooting range of Detachment No. 1, branch No. 12 of FSUE Atom-Okhrana, Novosibirsk. Shooting at the shooting range – at standard paper targets.
Battle shooting range in the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Saratov Region
Battle shooting range Ruby, high firing accuracy, shooting in accordance with the Firing course
Battle shooting range in the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
Battle shooting range Ruby, high firing accuracy, shooting in accordance with the Firing course
The firing exercise is repeated (completely or with the remaining ammunition) in the following cases:
In the case when the trainee has not completely used up ammunition through his own fault, the exercise is assessed based on the results of hitting targets. The order of re-firing and the amount of ammunition for it is determined by the firing officer (senior firing officer), who is checking. When re-firing, they show all the targets provided for by the conditions of the exercises, but in a different sequence (according to a different option), regardless of whether the exercise is completely repeated or only with the remaining ammunition.In the latter case, the trainee fires at the target at which he did not fire during the first firing, and at other targets only indicates firing. Repeated execution of the exercise is carried out at the end of the firing of the entire subunit in the presence of training time, ammunition and fuel, and from the weapons of combat vehicles as part of a regular (consolidated) crew (platoon). Trainees who did not complete exercise of training (preparatory) firing (did not hit any targets) may be allowed to repeat this exercise by the decision of the senior firing officer (field firing officer) only after additional training (training). The score based on the results of the repeated execution of the shooting exercise cannot be higher than “satisfactory”. During inspections and control exercises, repeating the shooting exercise in order to increase the score IS FORBIDDEN . |
TOP-4 games for training shooting (aim) in shooters
Shooting skills need to be trained and developed, these 4 games will help with this.
Aim Lab
Aim Lab is a free-to-play game with a range of drills ideal for developing your shooting skills in multiplayer shooters.After each exercise performed, she gives out your detailed statistics, where she points out specific strengths and weaknesses.
In a shooter, details like reaction time and accuracy are important. In addition, the game offers detailed feedback to make your workout more effective. This can be used to tailor your workouts to the player, identifying areas where you are weakest. With just a couple of hours of exercise, good results will already be noticeable. You can also compete with other players and take places in the leaderboard.
Aimtastic
Aimtastic is a training ground that will help you improve your hitting accuracy. Classes include different types of exercises that are good for improving your skill to the next level or just a warm-up. The game involves training in:
- movement and aiming skills at the same time;
- aiming speed and accuracy;
- muscle memory;
- reflex and precision;
- shooting in a clip at a moving object;
- reaction rates.
There are many settings in Aimtastic to help you customize all the functions. The game is able to keep track of your statistics and other information to show improvements and what else can be improved. The site receives regular updates, which further enhances the level and quality of your workouts.
Aim Trainer
Aim Trainer is a free browser and desktop game designed to improve aiming in various first person shooters.The site will help you improve your skills. It has many customization options and different tasks that are specifically designed to help the player improve various aspects of aiming.
On-site:
- user test;
- double shot training;
- precision training;
- reflex training;
- shooting at a moving target;
- target tracking.
This tool will help you get better at games like Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, PUBG and other first person shooters.
Reflex Aim Trainer
This game is special in that you yourself can customize the training scenario (reaction, flick, tracking, etc.). This can be done using AI by setting patterns of movement, health, movement speed, and more. The game makes it possible to share scenarios with other users and also download ready-made workouts from other players.
Allows you to improve skills in Overwatch, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Quake Champions, Paladins, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Realm Royale, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
Earn points and exchange them for valuable prizes – details
| 1. | I am building a unit in one line. To do this, I give commands, for example: “Branch (settlement), in one line – Become”. | They are built in the place indicated by me (to my left) in one line according to the state (ranking). | |
| I bring to the servicemen that shooting from a machine gun when performing 2 UKS is carried out: 1.from a machine gun – standing from a trench from a stop; 2. from a light machine gun – standing from a trench from a bipod. I recall the condition for this exercise. | Listen and remember. | ||
| 2. | I am showing the order of the exercise from the machine gun and the technique of unloading the weapon after firing. To do this, I command: “Showing. I give the command to myself. Look. ” I consistently give commands: “To battle”. Fire. Unload. “Weapons for inspection”. “Change, to the starting line by step (running) – March.” In the course of the demonstration, I explain the sequence of execution of these commands. In case of impossibility to demonstrate the order of execution of these commands in an exemplary manner, I call the most trained soldier to show them. | They observe my actions, memorize the commands and the order of the exercise. | |
| Forming a unit in a column of two.To do this, I give commands: “Disperse”, “In a column of two – Become.” | Are built at the specified place in a column of two by state (rank). | ||
| To receive ammunition for the next shift, I give the command: “Issue the ammunition dispenser to each shift with 30 rounds and one training-imitation hand grenade.” Controls the order in which the receive is performed. Fixes errors. | Having received 30 training cartridges each, they examine them, equip the magazines with cartridges (if the ammunition is obtained in equipped magazines, then check the presence of cartridges by the inspection hole in the magazines), put the magazines in a bag (grenades and fuses are placed in a grenade bag separately from each other) and follow to the starting line. | ||
| At the starting line, I clarify the combat mission for the change, and for each shooter, the order of the exercise (place and position for shooting, the sequence of changing positions, the type of fire and the sequence of shooting). | Listen and remember. | ||
| 3. | After making sure that the shift is ready to fire, I command: “ For battle” . I follow the actions of the trainees and seek to eliminate the mistakes they have made. If one or more servicemen make mistakes when fulfilling the standard, I give the command: “Set aside” , indicate the errors, and after they are eliminated, I allow you to continue training. I conduct the training until the servicemen begin to perform all the actions correctly. | They occupy a firing position, load weapons, prepare a hand grenade for use, put the equipped grenade in a grenade bag, prepare for firing and report, for example: “Private Ivanov, ready for battle.” | Errors were made: Decreasing the mark by one point: 1. The machine gun is not directed towards the target; 2.when sending a cartridge into the chamber, the bolt carrier is accompanied by a hand: 3. the sequence of the equipment of the grenade is violated. |
| Having accepted the reports on readiness for firing, I give command “Fire”. | Acting in accordance with the task received, they observe in the specified firing sector and, when targets are detected, they independently open fire from a machine gun. Having finished firing, put the machine gun on the safety lock and throw a training grenade at the attacking shooters. Changing the firing position (moving along the trench) is carried out independently after the end of the target display or its defeat. When changing the firing position, the weapon is put on safety. At the end of the exercise, report, for example: “Private Ivanov, finished shooting” . | ||
| I give command “Unload”. | They unload the weapon and report, for example: “Private Ivanov, the weapon is unloaded” . | Errors were made: Decreasing the mark by one point: 1. sight is not installed at “P” ; 2. to remove the cartridge from the chamber, the bolt carrier is pulled back sharply, and in the opposite direction it was accompanied by a hand; 3. the trigger is not released; 4. the magazine is not packed in the bag, but is attached to the machine; 5. the cartridge removed from the machine is not selected. | |
| Command: “Weapon – For inspection” .I go up to each trainee in turn and examine the weapon, remove the unspent ammunition, make an appropriate entry in the column “Ammunition consumption” in the statement of the results of the exercise. | The weapon is presented for inspection, after the inspection the trigger is released and the weapon is put on the safety lock. Surrender the remaining ammunition. | ||
| I return the shift to the starting line, for this I give the command: “Change, to the starting line by step (running) – March” , and then I listen to the report of each student on his actions during the exercise, on observing the results of shooting, ammunition consumption, malfunctions and delays in shooting. | Line up at the starting line in one line opposite their directions and report, for example: “Comrade Captain, Private Ivanov performed a combat mission to destroy the enemy in the indicated direction (firing sector). During the battle, I watched: dismounted infantry – hit (not hit), attacking (retreating) group of infantry – hit (not hit), lying infantry – hit (not hit), two attacking riflemen – hit (not hit). The ammunition was completely used up (not completely, there were so many cartridges left), there were no delays in firing (there were such and such). “ | Errors were made: Decreasing the mark by one point: 1. The weapon is not in the “ On belt ” position; 2. An incorrect report was made on the results of the exercise. | |
| 4. | I make a brief analysis of the results of shooting by shift, I draw the attention of the trainees to errors in preparation for shooting, aiming and firing a shot. I evaluate the performance of the exercise and fill out the control card. | Memorize shooting mistakes and personal assessments. | |
| I estimate the rest of the personnel in a similar way. | |||
| 5. | At the command of the training leader, I proceed to work out the next standard. | Acting in strict accordance with my commands. | |
| 6. | Summing up the results: I point out to each soldier his mistakes and what needs to be done to eliminate them, mark the most distinguished servicemen and announce the marks to each trainee. | Listen and remember grades and most common mistakes. |
“From the age of six I have dreamed of getting to the Olympics”
The pentathlete is a “universal soldier” who can swim, run, ride a horse, fence and shoot. Some of these skills may seem outdated now, but the beauty of this sport lies in the preservation of centuries of tradition.
Pentathlon was part of the program of the ancient Olympic Games, and since 1912, at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, pentathlon competitions have been included in the modern games.
The heroine of this interview is a native of the small town of Oktyabrsky (west of Ufa) Ulyana Batashova, the second place winner in the Women Senior Pentathlon World Ranking in the World Cup section. And Ulyana is a five-time champion of Russia, a silver and bronze medalist of the Russian championship in person and in a team (2018, 2019), a silver medalist of the world championship in the team event (2017). At the Russian Cup 2021, Ulyana took third place in the individual championship and first place in the team championship.
Ekaterina Preobrazhenskaya talked with Ulyana about how this fragile girl dared to start training five sports at once, how competitions and training are organized and whether it is possible to popularize pentathlon in our country.
– Ulyana, how did pentathlon appear in your life? It is unlikely that Oktyabrsky can be called the world capital of this sport.
– I swam since childhood, dreamed of getting to the Olympics, but by the end of school I realized that I would not go further than the CCM. I wanted to quit when a coach suddenly came up to me at a competition and offered to try pentathlon.
– Was that the pentathlon coach ?
– No, swimming.He noticed me long before that and invited swimmers to the training camp when I was only 9 years old. But then it was psychologically difficult for me to live for some time without my parents, and I refused.
And when I turned 17, I received an offer to go to Ufa for an interview with the pentathlon team. Dad supported, we went, looked at the training conditions – and I agreed. It was a new chance to realize my dream of the Olympics.
Training plans for marathon and half marathon.Download and start preparing today.
– How did this dream come about?
– I was just a child when I saw a girl in the beautiful uniform of the Russian national team. Dad explained that you can’t just buy such clothes, you need to go in for sports and get into the Olympic team. And since then, since the age of six, I have been going this way.
– Wasn’t it scary to take on four new sports at once , considering that three of them are not only for endurance, but also for skill?
– Of course it’s scary.But the desire to get to the Olympics was and still is. Plus, the coaches were very nice.
– Probably you needed financial investments from your parents? Sometimes even one sport is difficult to pull out in monetary terms, but here it is five at once.
– I am from a simple family. I was engaged in a budget sports school, where we were given all the necessary equipment. Of course, often it was not new and not of the best quality, but it was possible to study in it.
I remember when I just started training, I could not be formally enrolled in school, since I had to first show results in competitions.Then Gulnaz Gubaidullina (the second in the rating of Russian athletes in pentathlon and the third in the world rating after Ulyana – E.P.’s note) gave me her things. True, I’m 15 centimeters taller, and my foot size is much larger, but I somehow squeezed into them and went to perform.
– Which sport was the most difficult ?
– With fencing and show jumping, “chemistry” happened immediately, I really liked it. But other sports were also a pleasure.I understood that I had little time, since I was quite old, so I made a lot of efforts to speed up the learning process.
– How is the training process organized?
– Muscovites are lucky: they have the Severny sports complex, where you can train all disciplines without leaving anywhere. There is no such luxury in Ufa, so I went to different places. I had to go to training early in the morning, then go to school and immediately after it start the next trainings.
– How is the competition going? You perform tasks not for time, but for points.
– Every time the competition is organized more and more conveniently. For example, the world championship is held at a stadium: they build a pool, make a show jumping field, lay a route for cross-country running and create conditions for shooting.
We start from swimming, swim 200 meters, then fencing, show jumping and laser-run – 4 times 800 m each.
– Can the results of a pentathlete be compared with the results of professionals in individual sports?
– Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. There are those who “migrate” between disciplines. But if you take the average, then this is the level of the CCM in each form. We cannot manage to train as much in each discipline as the athletes of these sports.
– What is your weekly running volume ?
– In the off-season it can be up to 100 km, then, when work is added, about 70 km.
– How long after the start of training did the first results appear ?
– About 8 months later I took part in the first competition. Swam better than swam before. The horse was also lucky. But the run did not work, I ran the distance very hard. Moreover, I had to load the gun with bullets at a high pulse, it was time before switching to the laser, and I rolled back in the list of participants.
The pentathletes get the horse at the draw, and you need to “negotiate” with him right during the competition
– The first success is probably remembered.
– It was the Championship of Russia in Ufa. I fenced well on enthusiasm and fearlessness, although technically I was still poorly prepared. And then I got a difficult horse, which was usually not given even for training, but was released to the competition.
But I drove quite cleanly and was very grateful to fate for being in this situation: I believed in myself and since then was no longer afraid of what kind of horse I would get.
The shooting was still not very good. The rules give 50 seconds for 5 hits on the target, but usually you shoot them faster.Then everyone ran ahead after the shooting, and I was already catching up on the run. As a result, I took second place.
– What happened in 2018?
– A year earlier, we went to the World Championship, Gulnaz won it, and our team took second place. This gave me tremendous motivation, I began to exercise even more, went on a strict diet, from which I got an eating disorder – and ultimately drove myself out psychologically.
After a very difficult period of preparation, I decided that I simply had to win – but the competition did not work out.And that was a big blow.
– How did you manage to overcome this crisis ?
– This is a personal story, but several moments coincided here: both internal work and events beyond my control. It was as if I hit the bottom, pushed off of it and was able to go up again. Almost immediately after the championship, I took part in the World Cup and won a prize.
– Popularity and sponsors have also come into your life with successes ?
– No, pentathlon is not football or tennis.It is difficult even to broadcast it on TV. In fact, nothing changes with the receipt of rewards.
If you want to promote yourself, you need to maintain social networks, popularize healthy lifestyles and sports. I began to do so – and only then did commercial offers begin to arrive.
– Are there countries where pentathlon is a popular sport ?
– It is popular in Hungary. I think it has to do with their traditions.
– What does it take to popularize pentathlon?
– Here we get a vicious circle: in order for the sport to become famous and loved, more athletes must come to it, and for this it must be shown in the media.But to be shown, he must already be popular.
Pentathlon is like a theater when you transform into different roles
– Can you live on the salary of a pentathlete ?
– Our salary comes from several sources: the federation, the CSP of Russia, prizes for prizes. Last year it was very difficult without competition.
However, in some countries (for example, in Turkey) there are no salaries at all, and in Korea – 10 thousand dollars a month.
– You are actively developing your sports diaries project. How did the idea come about, and why do we need paper diaries in the digital age ?
– The idea came up spontaneously, and a friend helped me to realize it, who drew illustrations. The fact is that our brain is connected to the hands, so when you write with a pen, and not type, you get a completely different effect, which greatly develops awareness.
At first we made diaries only for pentathlon, then for triathlon, we will soon release them for basketball players.Moreover, we immediately made them in Russian and English, and they began to order from abroad.
– The main goal for this year is the Tokyo Olympics?
– First we go to the World Cup final in Hungary.
