Dear Coach, Parents, Players
Best of luck in the 2015 22nd Annual JAM Spring League tournament. As we wind down the Spring season, it in now time to register for the Dave Hopla Shooting Clinic Memorial Day weekend, the JAM / Earl Boykins Basketball Academy summer camps in June and the JAM summer tournament series.
Remember Our #1 priority for JAM continues helping coaches and parents build confidence in today’s youth. Continue setting goals to make sure plans are in line to improve your game.
- Mark Sharpley
WHY SHOOTING IS IMPORTANT - SHOOTING 101
As you no doubt know, among the factors that make the most difference in the game of basketball, shooting percentage has to be at the very top of the list. There are many valid reasons to become a great shooter, but let’s cut them down to 3 important points on why shooting is a major skill for players to improve on this summer.
Good shooters completely change how your offense works and make it easy and simple to get lay ups.
Offensive minded coaches that have great shooters on the floor understand that every offensive scheme works as long as the players create space and pass correctly to open shooters. Just by having the threat of a good shooter stretches out the defense and causes them to cover more ground. Good shooters open up driving lanes for everyone on the team and make it easier to score. However, if nobody on the floor can shoot, the defense will pack things in (sag on team defense) and make it more difficult to score inside. Bottom line is great shooters STRETCH out the defense.
Good shooting can get you more playing time! This is what ever basketball player in the world can not get enough of - Playing Time! With all other factors and skills being equal, players who shoot at a higher percentage usually get most of the playing time! It's simple; coaches want great shooters on the court. Of course they want good defensive players, passers, and rebounders on the floor too. But great shooters are hard to come by and coaches are always searching for a good shooter in order to spread the floor and make open jumpshots. Great shooting can make you a super valuable player that the coaches want on the floor as much as possible.
A tiny improvement in your percentage will contribute towards winning more games! Teams that shoot at a higher percentage give themselves a tremendous competitive advantage. All other factors being equal, it's clear as glass that the better shooting team will win. Let's review and step into math class and see why statistically this it true. Taking 78 points as a target example, how many made shots are needed? Well, you'll need to make 39 two-pointers. If your team shoots 40%, then you'll have to generate about 98 two-point attempts. But suppose your team shoots only 30% from the field. For two-pointers, you will now need to generate 130 shot attempts to reach 78 points - That's 32 more attempts than you needed with the team shooting at 40%!
As one can easily see, if your team's shooting percentage falls by 10%, then the team will have to increase rebounds or forced turnovers dramatically to reach the same point total. Obviously, we can all see that shooting at a higher percentage makes winning much more attainable.
So to conclude. From both perspectives, team and individual, shooting at a relatively high percentage is a critically important goal. As a coach, player, or parent, you will want to do everything possible to build up your team's or your youngster's shooting percentage.
Now that we've taken a quick look at how important shooting at a high percentage is, you are probably anxious to learn all that you can about developing this vital skill. The Dave Hopla shooting clinic at Manual High School on May 23rd and 24th, is the best place on the planet to begin seeing instant improvement. Look for a flyer at the gym this weekend and we will see you Memorial Day Weekend!
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