Steve Alford – Gun shooting drills

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.



Basketball Coaching | Basketball Drills



0 Comments(s)



May 28, 2014

Steve Alford – Gun shooting drills

I enjoy finding new ways to use equipment that we already have in the gym and many Division 1 coaches have shared their favorite shooting drills using The Gun shooting machine. Coach Alford is a well known coach for the UCLA Bruins that played college ball for Coach Knight at Indiana University.

The drills that he teaches with the shooting machine are a reflection of how Coach Knight taught because it involves all players (no standing in line waiting) and develops player’s ability to make basketball moves/plays while shooting. The more your players can screen, pass, and cut while trying to shoot the better they’ll be in game situations.

Steve Alford – Gun shooting drills: Screen React & Shoot:

The first player catches the pass from the machine while the other two players are setting up the down screen. Keys to a good downscreen: 1) Screener get set & wide 2) Cutter set your man up away from open area 3) change speed / change direction 4) cut straight to the passer. The first shot goes to the cutter, the second shot is to the screener that fades to the wing after the screen.

Steve Alford – Gun shooting drills: To expand the drill and allow time for players to reset, have the third shot go to the first player that catches the ball from the Gun.
Watch the details on both the screener and cutter to make sure that footwork, speed, and balance are all being performed correctly.

We have a new basketball coaching contributor in Mark Chapman He is doing an excellent job in providing basketball coaching clinic notes, basketball drills, and basketball plays. He is the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio. I think that you will enjoy the Steve Alford – Gun shooting drills that Coach Chapman gave us.