One-foot shooting teaches balance and isolation. It forces kids to focus on the arm and hand motion without the distraction of footwork. Start close to the basket.
What you need: 8-foot basket. Youth ball. One per kid. Flat court.
Setup: Kids stand 5 feet from the basket, on one leg. Their other leg is up for balance.
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Bend, Lift, Cookie. Feet set (stand on right leg). Knees bend slightly. Lift the ball up with elbow under.
- Release with the cookie jar follow-through. Hand finishes relaxed forward, fingers pointing at the rim.
- Shoot 5 shots from the right leg. Then switch and shoot 5 from the left leg.
- Do 2 rounds.
What to watch: Is the shooting arm elbow under the ball or out to the side? Under the ball is the key. If the elbow flares out, the shot will be off-line.
If they’re struggling: Use a lower hoop (6 feet). Move closer to 3 feet. Use a softer ball. Skip the balance drill and let them stand normally while they build confidence.
If they’ve got it: Add 2-foot form shooting from 6 feet. Keep the same Set, Bend, Lift, Cookie cues.