First of all today we are going to talk about what I think most good coaches tell our players and that is that they have to establish a routine on the foul line. This may be very elementary for a college player to watch to this but sometimes college players need these elementary things. They needed an added reminder. I think the first fundamental is and we will talk about this in our whole scheme is that we want a straight release to the basket. If we are going to shoot to the basket they we want the ball to travel in a direct to straight line from the foul line. We see sometimes many kids stand to the side.
We shoot a free throw to the left or to the right. They are just playing head games with themselves. A good free throw shooter will always stand and it really does not depend on what your stance is but they have to have a direct release to the basket. If I am a young man and I want to shoot off my right shoulder because that is the way I am taught then I am going to have to move my spot over towards the middle so that when I release the ball it travels in a straight line to the basket. If I have learned to shoot the ball to my left cheek as some kids have and I shoot it over here then I am going to have to stand slightly to the other side to where I have a direct release.
Now as you can see I am not very good at that because it is not the way I shoot but this is the way we would have to shoot it and keep a direct release. Because with that last miss is you are going to see that is one of the keys for our three free throw rebounding situations it will put in a little bit later. Alright what does a good free throw shooter do? Let me use one of my fellows here and let them be an official and standout here with the ball. There are two theories as you step to the line. One theory is that you get your spot and then you take the ball. The other theory is you take the ball and then you address your spot.
I really do not think there is a great deal of difference in the two theories but whatever you feel most comfortable with that is what you should stick with. I think one of the key points of free throw shooting is how far do I stand from the line. This is something that I have taught all the young kids and I think if you learn it as your younger this will be very advantageous to you. In this particular situation in this Jim we are in a very, very warm condition. All basketball games are not played in a very, very warm condition. I have lots of adrenalin in my body. My arms are elongated. My muscles are elongated. I am going to have a lot of energy here.
I normally would stand two inches from the line. I pick two inches because that gives me a chance to just forward and I can always adjust backward. I probably know today I am going to have to move back just a little bit because I have so much energy. As you take the ball from the official you determine exactly what your routine will be. You determine it by the number of bounces and by what you do with the basketball. My particular routine is from the official. I take my spot two inches. I center in my feet. Shoulder width, slightly staggered. I take the ball. I bend the knee slightly. I take a big deep breath.
I take three bounces. Spin the ball slightly and cock it. Take another deep breath and shoot the ball. Now it is not always going to wind it never does. I do not care if you are professionally or the best college basketball player in the world. It does not always go in. But in fact if you mentally work on that shot and every time you do it you practice at the same way because you feel good about it. Two inches, three bounces, a spin, a deep breath, and you shoot. Even though they do not go in you know you have at least done everything you can give your team a chance to win. That is what we call a routine.
It is called building a habit. When you go to the foul line there will always be a mark in the middle to tell you where the center of the floor is. No matter what floor you play on you should always dress a line, pick your distance, and take the ball, deep breath, your spin, and three bounces for me that was two. I am trying to save some film time shoot the ball, knees are bend. Everything is in just like we are told elbow in on the finger tips. Now I cannot adjust to every players form. That is not what this program is for. It is not what this tape is all about.
But it is to tell you to establish some type of you rhythm, some type of routine on the foul line so when you go up there and there is distraction in the stand and people hollering. You feel very comfortable with what you are doing and you have confidence that you are going to make. Now in the next part of the tape, we are going to talk about if you do not make it what your team can do to help your percentages to win.
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