Make it Fun: Improve Your Free Throw Performance

(Originally posted on Dec. 16, 2009, as Have Fun While You Practice - Part I. Revised April 20, 2022.)
 
A problem that many young players face is the difficulty in staying focused during their individual workouts. There are a lot of distractions and probably, their friends are not as committed as they are to getting better. This isn't their job; they don't have a full-time trainer and they are not on a scholarship.
 
On the other side, kids may be pushed by their parents, heading to multiple practices and workouts. Being “encouraged” to get up more shots to prepare themselves for their eventual shot at the NBA.
 
One way to keep workouts from becoming boring or stressful is to add some fun and challenging games to the workout. One game I used to use is a Free Throw contest against Steve Nash. Nash is a career 90% Free Throw shooter, so he is a pretty good player to try and emulate. When I was growing up, I competed against Steve Alford, the Hoosier great. Today, you may want to change up the name and compete against Steph Curry. 
 
Nash or Net
This is a free throw shooting game that makes you focus on not only making your free throws but making them cleanly. The thought is to improve your accuracy with tighter control - like focusing on the bull’s eye on the dartboard. The results of each free throw attempt can be categorized in one of three ways:

1. A make that is nothing but net. A swish No rim touch at all.
2. A make, but it touches the rim somehow.  Basically, not a swish.
3. A miss.

 
This is how the game works; you shoot free throws and use the scoring system listed below until you reach a score of 20 points.

• Nothing but net = +2 pts
• Make but not clean = +1 pt
• Miss = -2 pts

 
Steve Nash, on average, would take 12 free throws to reach 20 pts. How many will it take you? While you are “competing” against Alford, Nash, or Curry, they are NBA players and some of the greatest shooters of all time. What’s important is to compete against yourself. Work to get better and like with track, look for your own personal records (P.R.s) to drive your continued improvement. Ultimately, finding enjoyment in competing against yourself instead of others, will help grow the love of the game Beyond Today.

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