When it comes to player development, nothing beats reps. But if you’ve ever run a youth basketball practice, you know that getting kids to take shooting seriously can be a challenge. That’s why adding a competitive basketball shooting drillat the end of practice is such a powerful tool.
It not only builds skill, it also creates the intensity and focus players need when the game is on the line.
Why Shooting Drills Still Matter
Many players today rely heavily on shooting machines or organized workouts. Gone are the days when kids would spend hours at the park just getting shots up. As a coach, that means you have to carve out time during practice to make up for the lack of reps.
Dedicating even 10–15 minutes per session to structured shooting can make a huge difference over the course of a season.
The “Up Two” Drill
One of the simplest ways to get players locked in is with the Up Two competitive basketball shooting drill. Here’s how it works:
- Split players into two lines, often grouped by position.
- Start at the elbow and have both shooters fire at the same time.
- Teams compete to be the first to get up two points.
- Winners stay locked in, while the drill resets and the competition continues.
It’s fast, it’s fun, and it taps into the natural competitiveness of your team. Later in the year, you can increase the challenge by playing “Up Three.”
Ways to Add Variety
The beauty of this drill is its flexibility. You can adjust it to keep practices fresh:
- Move from the elbows to the wings or corners.
- Turn it into a three-point competition.
- Add rules to discourage interference (like resetting the drill if players touch an opponent’s ball).
Small adjustments keep players engaged and stop the drill from becoming routine.
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Why Coaches Love It
The Up Two competitive basketball shooting drill turns what could be a stale end-of-practice session into something players look forward to. It encourages:
- Repetition: Players get plenty of shots up in a short time.
- Competition: The drill gets surprisingly intense once teams get invested.
- Focus under pressure: Shooting with a score on the line simulates real-game scenarios.
Final Thoughts
If your players aren’t getting enough shots outside of practice, you need a solution that maximizes efficiency. The competitive basketball shooting drill known as “Up Two” does exactly that.
It’s easy to set up, quick to run, and highly effective in building both skill and competitiveness. Try adding it to the end of your next practice and see how much sharper your team becomes.
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