Teaching the Jump Shot with Coach Sandy Brondello Observations from the FIBA World Association of Coaches Clinic Townsville – Wednesday, April 4, 2018

“If you teach the right mechanics, every player, male or female can become a jump shooter.”

Introduction - - No reason all players can’t develop and become jump shooters - If a player is open to it, they can change their shot - Important to practice shooting at game speed to develop muscle memory – including developing strong core - The pull-up jump shot is somewhat of a lost art - The value of the pull-up allows for versatility by the offensive player to take what the defence gives you - The pull-up adds a dimension to play

Technique – - One of the keys to a consistent jump shot technique is “creating energy from the ground” - Concept of “short contact” on the foot pattern into - Coach Brondello often talks to players about the importance of being “loose in the hips” in all basketball movements, including the shooting mechanics - Stance and body positioning – lose in the hips, slight knee bend, not hunched over - “The ball is part of the body” – importance of getting the ball to the “shot pocket” quickly and starting the shot close to the body - Lower shot pocket – bring the ball into the body, hand behind the ball - Importance of the “wrist cock” - From the shot pocket to the release has to be fast – “shot pocket, let it fly”

Drills and breakdowns –

Energy creation into the shot – - Player with a ball in short range - Ball at release above head – “start to build the shot from the top down” - Create energy through “short contact” hops - On the third hop, “let it fly”

Shot pocket into the shot – - As above, now the ball in the shot pocket - On the 3rd hop, create energy through the shot - Add a clap command to the drill – on the clap, quick movement into shot off the short contact foot pattern

Ball gather into the shot – - Hold ball out front with extended arms - On the command, bring the ball back to shot pocket, then lift into the shot - Rhythm of the shot should be 1….2, 3 – slower to the short pocket, fast from shot pocket to release

Catch and shoot rhythm – - Importance of “creating energy from the catch” - “Create movement by moving” – shooter light on their feet, small movements back and forward re-locating side to side - Receive the firm flat pass from the coach, ball to the shot pocket, then lift into the shot

Pull-up shooting – - Last dribble has to be hard to create energy into the shot - Get the ball quickly from the dribble to the shot pocket - Ball and foot goes down together on the drive - Drill two dribbles, with the emphasis on the second dribble being hard and quick - Drive in straight lines - Emphasis on ability to players to jump and land in a similar spot on the floor – balance and core strength - Quick, hard last dribble will in this and create energy through the shot