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No coach would ever complain about having too many shooters on a basketball team. In fact, athletic directors may often hear the exact opposite from their coaches: "We have talent, but not enough shooters to spread the floor and win more games."
With the game becoming more and more positionless, it has never been more important for all players in your program to have the ability to shoot. However, there are ultimately no shortcuts to becoming a great shooter. It will always require countless, purposeful and focused shooting repetitions.
That's where Dr. Dish basketball shooting machines offer the best solution in the world to not only maximize reps, but provide unmatched analytics and versatility. By incorporating this technology into your program, you can empower coaches and help players accelerate their skill development faster than ever to win more games and hopefully more championships.
If all of the players in your program can shoot, it makes everyone a threat to score at all times and opens up the floor for more driving lanes. The best programs put an emphasis on shooting and make it a priority both in-season and in the off-season.
Let's dive into how you can provide the year-round blueprint for your coaches to build great shooting teams year in and year out.
In-Season
In-season shooting has some limitations because of time and keeping players fresh, but ensuring players are getting up plenty of shots to improve their skills will go a long way for the success of your team. The most obvious way to prioritize shooting is to incorporate it into practice. The possibilities for shooting during your practices are endless and can be done in block fashion, guided defense, and small side-games. In all cases, these drills and reps be maximized with Dr. Dish shooting machines.
Here's one great option to work on team shooting in practice with 10+ players getting a maximum number of repetitions. There are many variations of this drill (ex: Drive and Kick, Drive and Pitch, Baseline Runner, Pick and Pop, etc.), but it's essential to make all reps as game-like as possible.
Free Throw Competition
Another way to incorporate shooting in-season is to have a season-long free throw shooting competition. Players can shoot free throws before school, before practice, after practice, at lunch, etc. This can be done quickly and your coach can have the amount set at 20, 25, 50 and it can be done daily, twice a week, or once a week.
If your program doesn't have a Dr. Dish machine, one way to track progress is having a white board in the locker room with player names on it and have them write down their scores. However, you will have to go on the honor system and it will be time consuming to keep track of the progress.
An easy way to keep track is by using the Dr. Dish App and Training Management System to keep track of each shot taken and made. These stats can be uploaded for coaches to keep players accountable with verified results.
Shooting League
Taking the free throw competition a little further, a great way to incorporate shooting during the season is by implementing a "shooting league." The league can have a shooting drill that is used every day throughout the year or changed weekly, monthly, etc. The scores can be recorded just like the team would for free throws on the Dr. Dish app or on a whiteboard.
But if you have a Dr. Dish machine, your coaches will be able to build and assign specific drills and complete workouts to specific players and send them directly to their phone through the Dr. Dish app! Once they've completed the drill, they just click a button and all of their stats will be uploaded to the Dr. Dish Training Management System for coaches and teammates to view the stats and leaderboard.
This is a fun way for players to track their shooting throughout the year and compete against their teammates. Here are some of my favorite shooting competition drills to use during the season:
Five Spot Combo Shooting
32 Shooting
Relocate Challenge
Corner Challenge
Off-Season
The off-season provides players with more time to concentrate on improving their game, so your coaches should have the expectation that players are getting more shots up. There are several clubs, leagues, and workouts that your coaches can provide players with throughout the off-season.
The 10,000 shot club is a classic, but one that is beneficial and motivating to players. There can be several levels of the club from 5,000 to 7,500 to 10,000 and even 15,000 total shots. There can be different levels of awards for each level. Some award ideas are a t-shirt, name in program, recognition at half time of a game, etc. These type of clubs are largely done on an honor system where parents have to sign off. But again, Dr. Dish shooting machines can provide increased efficiency and verified results.
The Dr. Dish Training Management System stats database.
Another challenge or club that was recently created is the "One Count Challenge" by Coach Ryan Smith. The One Count Challenge is a challenge to be able to make 70 out of 100 catch and shoot threes. The beauty of this challenge is it can be done with one rebounder or with Dr. Dish. Your coaches can adjust the number made to whatever the skill level of your players is or make it so the shots have to be taken on the move. Make sure your coaches get creative with the challenges and make sure the shots they are having players work on are shots they will see in games.
Depending on your state rules, a large obstacle in the summer is being able to hold players accountable and ensure that they are getting in the gym. If you have a challenge like the One Count challenge and a player eventually accomplishes the goal, it is very likely that player has been in the gym.
The Dr. Dish Skill Builder is a way to be able to keep stats throughout the summer and be able to see who has been in the gym, what they're doing, and how they're progressing. Skill Builder allows coaches to make and program workouts that players can use while working out. This helps players know and understand how to work out and actually have a plan once they get into the gym.
Below is an example of a complete Skill Builder workout that incorporates multiple shooting drills and ball handling drills into one complete workout.
With Skill Builder, you can choose a pre-made workout from Dr. Dish or one of their expert trainers like Pro Skills Trainer Drew Hanlen (there are over 100+ pre-made workouts), or your coaches can build their own workouts! From there you can send a workout directly to the Dr. Dish app for players to complete the next time they are in the gym.
Conclusion
Shooting has always been a premium skill in the game of basketball. As the game continues to evolve, shooting continues to be increasingly valuable at every level and a team full of shooters will always be difficult to defend.
But in order to build a program of great shooters, your players must get up countless shots throughout the entire year. Without a specific plan, accountability, or engaging competitions, it will be hard for your coaches to motivate players to get in the gym and put in purposeful work necessary to translate into game situations.
Help your coaches utilize the tips and drills above both during the season and in the off-season to transform your program into a perennial great shooting team year in and year out.
If you're looking for an extra edge and provide your coaches and players with maximum reps, accountability, training expertise, and excitement, investing in a Dr. Dish shooting machine can do wonders for your program. Join top programs like the University of North Carolina, Duke, Florida, Texas A&M, Cincinnati and countless others and take your program to the next level with Dr. Dish!
Learn more about Dr. Dish and request a quote here. For more basketball drills and videos featuring Dr. Dish shooting machines, make sure to visit this page. Experience Dr. Dish for yourself at the 2018 AB Show in New Orleans, booth 1848.
