Simple Shooting Ideas for Youth

1. Basketball:
Simple Shooting Ideas for
Youth
EDPE 5151
Instructor: Jason Scanlan
Part I

2. Common Foot Fault
Youth players will try
to get the most
power by positioning
their feet incorrectly.
This picture
demonstrates a right
handed shooter with
the left foot forward.

3. Correct Foot position
The feet are
shoulder width
apart.
Shooting foot
forward.
Shooting foot should
be 1-2 inches in
front of other foot.

4. Common Leg problems
Youth will shoot the
basketball with
locked knees.
This picture also
shows poor base
stability with feet to
close together.

5. Correct Leg position
Youth’s knees
should be flexed /
bent when shooting
the ball.

6. Incorrect wrist position
“Wrist Flopping”-
Youth will have this
wrist position and
proceed to “flop”
their wrist in the act
of shooting the ball.

7. Correct Wrist position
The correct position
is having the wrist at
a 90 degree angle-
forming a sideways
“U”.
Youth should have
this same bend in
the wrist with the
ball at waist level.

8. Incorrect Hand Position on
ball
Youth start shooting
the basketball with 2
hands. When they
change to one hand,
it is hard for them to
place the shooting
hand in the middle
of the ball.

9. Correct Hand position on ball
To find the correct
hand position, use
the insertion hole of
the basketball
(placing index finger
over the spot).
Make sure the palm
of the hand is not
tilted to the side.

10. “Thumbing” the basketball
“Thumbing” the
basketball is defined
as using the guide
hand to help shoot
the basketball.
This is very common
with youth changing
from shooting with
two hands – to one
hand.

11. How to correct “Thumbing”
Repetition
Have youth shoot with one hand
– watching backward rotation of
ball.
Keep guide hand on side of ball
and in one place.
Youth need to know that it will
feel “awkward” when first trying
to change their shot.
Youth need to know that if the
ball is rotating “like the earth” or
not rotating at all – their thumb
is getting in the way.

12. Incorrect Follow - Thru
This youth is right
handed and finished
his follow thru: low
and to the side.

13. Correct Follow-thru
This youth’s follow-
thru position is
correct.
Arm high and wrist
bent.
Guide hand flat (no-
thumbing the
basketball)

14. Tips for coaches
#1- Youth should
have a good solid
base when catching
the basketball.

15. Tips for coaches
#2 – Youth need a
“shooting pocket”:
A place where the
ball always starts.
This should be
somewhere
between the navel
button and chest
level

16. Tips for coaches
#3- Follow Thru:
Youth should have a high
follow thru with the wrist
bent. Ex. Youth should
envision themselves
reaching into the “cookie jar”
on a top shelf.

17. Part II:
Movement Analysis of the
Basketball shot-
Students need to view one subject. The
subject may be anyone: children, player, wife,
or husband. Observe and give corrective
feedback for proper form.
Briefly describe their current form and
corrective measures recommended.