How to Improve Basketball Team Free Throw Shooting

Free throws determine the winners of many games. A lot of teams practice free throws, but are still not prepared to shoot them in game conditions. This article focuses on "Down the Line," a team drill that incorporates game conditions: fatigue and pressure.

Things You'll Need

• Basketball Team
• Basketball
• Basketball Court

Instructions

1. Line up the entire team underneath the basket, up and down the baseline. The team must stay in this order for the entire drill.

2. Call up the first player in line.

3. With a coach acting as referee, tell that player to step to the free throw line for a 1-and-1 bonus.

4. The player shoots the first free throw.

5. If the player misses the first free, that player is done and the entire team (including the shooter) runs a sprint to the other baseline and back.

6. If the player makes the first free throw, he/she is given the second shot (bonus shot). If the player misses that shot, the team runs a sprint to the other baseline. If the player makes the shot, the team does not have to run a sprint.

7. The next player in line is called up to shoot the 1-and-1 bonus.

8. This process continues until all players have had the opportunity to shoot free throws. In summary:
   
   1. If the player misses the first free throw, the team runs a down-and-back sprint (that player does not get the bonus free throw).
   
   2. If the player makes the first and misses the second free throw, the team runs a sprint to the other end of the court.
   
   3. If the player makes both free throws, the team does not have to run and the next player is called.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to simulate game conditions by having the coach deliver the ball to the player like a game official.

• This drill acts as a great team conditioner.

• Shooting free throws in repetition is still recommended during practice segments to provide a shooting rhythm for each player, but this drill simulates game conditions more effectively.