Teaching Lindsey How to Improve Shooting Free Throws

Kelsey TimmermanNicole MapesDecember 7, 2011

Introduction- Learner Characteristics

Lindsey: 13 years old 7 years of basketball experience Post player for Roosevelt Junior High

basketball team Succeeds at post position Fairly physically fit Highly motivated and willing to learn In the motor stage of learning to refine

shooting skills

Free-Throw Background

Tends to air-ball free throws Has elbow “out”

Ball tends to fly to the left of the hoop

Different pre-shot routine Discouraged/No Confidence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgLXpJSn8jE

Lindsey’s Goals(Aspects to Focus On)

Have the highest free-throw percentage on the team (Outcome Goal)

Improve to 70% (Performance Goal)

Routine Fundamentals (Process Goals)

Develop error-detection and error-correction capabilities

Stay calm under pressure (Generalization)

Target Skill- Free Throw

Discrete, Closed Skill

Open-Loop Control System

Intrinsic Feedback

Proprioceptive Feedback

Little risk of injury

Target Context

Crowd/Crowd noise

Other players on court

Pressure of the situation

Pressure of time Only have 5 sec to get shot

off

Fatigue

Instructional Plan Focus

Program Learning – learn new generalized

motor program

Instructional Plan

Instructions/Demonstration Verbal/Visual

Visualization Segmentation

Ground drill Line drill

Mental-Rehearsal Techniques Schema Development: Constant Practice Feedback

Instructions/Demonstration Verbally explain shooting process

Set feet (dominant slightly in front of the other)

“Swing your purse” Set your elbow Extend your knees/elbow▪ Up on your toes

“Reach in the cookie jar”

Now Nicole will demonstrate!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63N8Nu4d4Gg

Visualization

Lindsey will picture herself performing the techniques shown and the basketball going in

(Mental Imagery)

Segmentation (Part Practice) Get into shooting position (feet) “Swing your purse”

Set Elbow Elbow “IN” Get “Set” with guide hand

Push with legs/Extend Arm Start motion towards basket

Follow Through Ground and line drills

**Put it all together in Slow Motion** (Speed-accuracy trade-off)

Finding a Routine

Lindsey will try out different pre-shot scenarios

She will perform the same routine before each free throw attempt

Mental-Rehearsal Techniques

Lindsey is instructed to mentally see herself

practice the “full shot” and then imitate it with her

eyes closed (Intrinsic Proprioceptive Feedback)

Constant Practice

Shoot 10 Free Throws in a row—take a break Repeat 10 times every practice session

Introduce a crowd/make noise

Introduce a pressure situation (anxiety)

Set up a scrimmage game

Goals for Activities Prescribed Combine segments in fluid motion

(Progressive Part Practice)—gain the fundamental pattern

Increase speed and accuracy in drills

For Lindsey to complete the process with little to no attention (Autonomous Stage)

How We Intend to Measure Progress

Statistics % of free throws made out of 100 % of free throws made during the

scrimmage Observational analysis:

Fluid motion? Using proper technique? Following segmentation steps?

Feedback

Allow for Lindsey to ask for feedback Answer any specific questions

Instantaneous Feedback Summary Feedback

Constant shooting practice/scrimmage practice—little to no feedback

Modifications

Going back to old habits

Adjusting to unfamiliar gyms

Progress goals are met quickly

Going Back to Old Habits Focus Lindsey’s attention on back of

the rim (Attentional Narrow Focus) Mental imagery Physically practice “going through

the motions” before shooting (Proprioceptive Feedback)

Focus on every step Explain what went wrong when

Lindsey misses a free-throw (Error-Detection)

Adjusting to Unfamiliar Gyms Practice in various gyms around

town

Have Lindsey focus on gyms similarities rather than differences

Process Goals are Met Quickly

PRACTICE, PRACTICE,

PRACTICE!!!

References

Youtube Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgLXpJSn8jE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63N8Nu4d4Gg

Al-Abood, S. A., Bennett, S. J., Hernandez, F. M., Ashford, D. D., & Davids, K. K. (2002). Effect of verbal instructions and image size on visual search strategies in basketball free throw shooting. / Effets d ' instructions verbales et de la taille d ' image sur les strategies de recherches visuelles en lancer franc au basketball. Journal Of Sports Sciences, 20(3), 271-278.

Carboni, J., Burke, K. L., Joyner, A., Hardy, C. J., & Blom, L. C. (2002). The Effects of Brief Imagery on Free Throw Shooting Performance and Concentrational Style of Intercollegiate Basketball Players: A Single-Subject Design. International Sports Journal, 6(2), 60.

References

Czech, D. R., Ploszay, A. J., & Burke, K. L. (2004). An examination of the maintenance of preshot routines in basketball free throw shooting. Journal Of Sport Behavior, 27(4), 323-329.

Dandy, J., Brewer, N., & Tottman, R. (2001). Self-Consciousness and Performance Decrements Within a Sporting Context. Journal Of Social Psychology, 141(1), 150-152.

Malone, L. A., Gervais, P. L., & Steadward, R. D. (2002). Shooting mechanics related to player classification and free throw success in wheelchair basketball. Journal Of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 39(6), 701-709.