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Basketball · Intermediate · i4

Shoot after a decision

Park or court 10 min 2 to 3 players Park, hall or court

Ready when: Shoot close (b4) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

Reading the defender. When a defender runs right up to you (a close-out), dribble past them; when they stay back, shoot. Either way, balance first.

Words on this card Dribble, Rim, BEEF, Travelling, Free-throw line, Close-out, Drive
Dribble
Bouncing the ball with one hand while moving or standing.
Rim
The metal hoop of the basket.
BEEF
A way to remember the shot: Balance, Eyes on the rim, Elbow under the ball, Follow through.
Travelling
Moving with the ball without dribbling: more than two steps.
Free-throw line
The line in front of the basket where free throws are taken.
Close-out
A defender running out toward a player who has the ball.
Drive
Dribbling hard toward the basket.

Set up

A hoop, a defender at the free-throw line.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for basketball

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Stand at the shooting spot with the ball; the defender starts at the free-throw line.
  2. If the defender rushes up close: one or two dribbles past them, the other way.
  3. If the defender stays back: set your feet and shoot with BEEF.

Your part while they practise

Be the defender; close out left or right.

Step by step

  1. The defender runs out, up close or stopping back.
  2. The attacker reads it.
  3. Up close: one or two dribbles the other way, then shoot.
  4. Stays back: shoot from a balanced stance.
  5. 8 shots a round.

How much: 8 shots, 4 rounds 10 min a session 2 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Decide

If the defender steps up, drive past; if the defender stays back, shoot.

Who plays: an attacker and a defender; swap after 8 shots.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. The defender passes the ball to the attacker and runs out, either close or stopping back
  2. The attacker decides: drive or shoot
  3. Play until the shot, or until the defender touches the ball
Fair play
A grown-up defender stops a full step short.
Points
1 point for the right decision; 2 points for a basket, or 1 if the ball hits the rim.
Fouls
No points for that try
  • Travelling
  • Running into the defender
  • The defender touches the attacker (the attacker gets 1 point instead)
Winning
More points after 8 tries each.
Stars
  1. 8 points for 1 star
  2. 13 points for 2 stars
  3. 18 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

A slow close-out.

Harder

A fast close-out.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the child drives into the defender Read first, then moveLook at where the defender is before going.
  • the shot is rushed Balance, then shootFeet set, then the shot.

Self-check

4of 8

4 of 8 shots after a read land on or hit the rim.

Stop and get a coach when

Pain in the knee on jump shots.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains reading defence, shooting under pressure.

awiseathlete.com/sports/basketball/basketball-i4