Most coaches who have seen our teams play in the past three seasons, know that we have had very talented three-point shooters. We worked very hard to become good three-point shooters. Though I believe in the three-point game, I still feel that great players need a "Mid-Range Game". The Mid-Range Game is free throw line, in the paint, the wing, and short corner. Twelve to seventeen feet.
I was listening to UCONN women's coach Geno Auriemma the other day on a DVD and he was talking about kids lacking in today's game a "Mid-Range Game". If you want to emulate someone with a great mid-range game, study the habits of Richard Hamilton of the NBA Detroit Pistons.
Here are some thoughts on how to work on your Mid-Range Game.
1. Develop Good Habits: Basketball is a game of habits. The players with the best habits are always the best shooters, best ball handlers and play makers. The players with the worst habits, such as poor footwork, will never reach their potential.
2. Work On Your Dance Steps: You don't even need a basketball hoop to practice your footwork. All you need to do is practice the correct dance steps.
For a right-handed player, it takes one dribble and three steps to get to the right elbow for a quick pull-up jumper. Step with the right, dribble, left, right, shoot.
Going to the weak side, a player needs only one dribble and two steps. Dribble, step with the right, step with the left, shoot. These are called dance steps, and they are a great way for players to focus on the quality of the mid-range footwork.
The key word here is quality. To get something out of this kind of practice, you must get low. Drop your hips, bend your knees to 90 degrees, and keep your back straight. When you are taking your first step, you must not stand up. Stay in your stance and take ling, low steps. Finally, once you have mastered the correct form, you must practice this footwork at game speed. If you're going hard enough, you'll get a workout!!
3. Practice Makes Perfect: So players, if you have a basketball court with no drawn lines, you are out of excuses. At least you can practice your mid-range footwork when you are taking your shots. And if you don't have a basketball hoop, grab your basketball, work on your dance steps and shoot the ball in the air to yourself.
Focus on your form, get quality repetitions, and visualize the ball going thru the net. You'll be surprised at how much better your mid-range game will be the next time you hit the court.
The workout below will give you repetition in the area of pull-up jump shots. 125 shots are taken, going left and right and in different spots on the floor. Get your players comfortable at attacking without becoming out of control.
2 sets of 10 around the horn (8-foot shots)
Kentucky Left side
- 5 - 15 foot jumpers off the catch
- 5 hesitate before catch, 1 dribble pull-up
- 5 hesitate before catch, drive to spin, emphasize control
- 5 - 15 foot jumpers off the catch
- 5 hesitate before catch, 1 dribble pull-up
- 5 hesitate before catch, drive to spin, emphasize control
- 5 sweep left to pull-up
- 5 counter sweeps to pull-up
- 5 sweep left to pull up
- 5 counter sweeps to pull-up
- Left Side, 5 in-outs to pull-up
- Middle, 5 cross-over dribble to pull-up
- Right Side, 5 thru legs to pull-up
2 sets of 10 Short Corner vs. zone sweep to pull-up - Right Side
2 sets of 10 Short Corner vs. zone sweep to pull-up - Left Side
Shoot 50 Free Throws
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