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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Unconventional Basketball- Personal Practice

Every coach has favorite offensive drills. Few if any of these are among yours. You've probably never seen or heard of them. 

Why practice? Practice to build skill and confidence. Our brain has to see the ball go into the basket for both. 

Perhaps the most unconventional ball handling drill was Kyrie Irving's "ball in the plastic bag" dribble. 

I used these growing up. Make practice hard and games are easier. 

Ball Control

  • Winter Gloves - Shooting in winter gloves takes the 'feel' off the ball. Plus the cold Boston winters were even colder back in the day. 
  • Blind Man - set up on either elbow with eyes closed. One dribble attack off the jab either strong side or off the rib through. This forces better feel into the shooting pocket. You can't open your eyes until the ball is in the shot pocket. 

Target Better (side of backboard) 

Shoot at a spot on the side of the backboard. There's minimal margin for error, so every bad shot means chasing the ball. 

Quicker Release

  • Quick draw - Hold the ball above the waist, slamming it down to require a "soft hands" catch and then the quickest release possible.
  • Turn and Fire - stand just inside the free throw line facing the basket. Flip the ball back over your head; catch the ball on the bounce, "turn, target, and fire. This improves targeting and quickness of release off the catch. 

Higher Release

  • Prayers - Shoot off of one knee. Unless the release is high enough, then the shot has no prayer. 
  • Ladder Drill...I taped a tennis racquet to a step ladder to simulate a defender in "Camp Driveway"...image created by ChatGPT Plus

Accuracy 

  • Swish or miss (free throws). The goal is to make at least 50 percent of free throws via swish. Score only when swishing the free throw. 
  • Bill Bradley (Beat the Pro) - Game to 11. One point for a make, "Bill" gets three for a miss. Must make 11/14 to win. Harder version...game to 14, "Bill" gets eight points for a miss. Must make 14/15 to win. 
We are only limited by our imagination. 

Lagniappe. "Always protect the team." Represent. 

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