The Knights of Columbus are Promoting
Youth Basketball Free Throw Shooting
By Coach Al Heystek
Inventor of the FREE THROW TRAINER™
On Sunday, February 5th the Michigan Knights of Columbus held a district level free throw contest at Our Lady of Consolation Roman Catholic Church in Rockford, Michigan for about 20 youth up to age 14. I took a few hours to drive up. The Knights of Columbus are to be applauded for their support of youth, basketball, and the way free throw shooting can pull them all together.
Each youth had time for a 3 warm up, during which practice shots were taken. Following the warm up, each youth was given an opportunity to make as many free throws as they could out of 25 free throws attempts.
What a great message the Knights of Columbus is sending these youth basketball players.
To me, it was loud and clear! “We care enough about the development of these youth to volunteer our time and energy to this event.” And, the message is clear that improving free throw shooting is crucial in the development of youth basketball players.
I believe that one of the primary reasons free throws are missed so often is that there is general lack of enthusiasm among many coaches of youth basketball about working on free throw shooting There are so may other things to work on, which I certainly understand. When was the last time any of us saw a highlight film on the Top Ten Free Throws? There are a lot of other parts of the game that get attention from coaches and players. And yet….
Games are won and lost at the line.
Apathetic and lackluster free throw practice regimes are a huge problem that result in an epidemic of missed free throw opportunities at every level.
We have all seen it. We get good at what we practice, and we never get good if we don’t practice. It doesn’t matter if you are practicing the piano, singing a rap song, or practicing free throws. Practice typically leads to improvement.
Free throws aren’t practiced enough, especially among our youth basketball players. This lack of practice shows up especially in the final minutes when the difference between making and missing free throws is often the difference between winning and losing.
Great free throw shooters are great shooters. Practice at the free throw line, and you will be a better shooter, period.
My little invention, the Original, Made in the USA, “Nothin’ But Net” FREE THROW TRAINER™ is a great tool for youth basketball coaches as they seek to improve their players’ free throw percentages. Because it’s so simple to use, younger players get excited about a visual target around which they can orient their practice sessions.
They discover the self-evident truth that just about every time they hit the trainer (which develops muscle memory for direction and distance) the ball goes in the hoop.
To the youth who are out there competing, I want to say, “Keep it up! Get a FREE THROW TRAINER and practice and practice, and win that competition!”
My hat is off to the Knights of Columbus! To all those adults who are coaching youth basketball players, I want to say, “Thank you for your time and your commitment. It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Keep it up!”
Coach Al Heystek
Al@freethrowtrainer.com
www.FREETHROWTRAINER.com
Each youth had time for a 3 warm up, during which practice shots were taken. Following the warm up, each youth was given an opportunity to make as many free throws as they could out of 25 free throws attempts.
What a great message the Knights of Columbus is sending these youth basketball players.
To me, it was loud and clear! “We care enough about the development of these youth to volunteer our time and energy to this event.” And, the message is clear that improving free throw shooting is crucial in the development of youth basketball players.
I believe that one of the primary reasons free throws are missed so often is that there is general lack of enthusiasm among many coaches of youth basketball about working on free throw shooting There are so may other things to work on, which I certainly understand. When was the last time any of us saw a highlight film on the Top Ten Free Throws? There are a lot of other parts of the game that get attention from coaches and players. And yet….
Games are won and lost at the line.
Apathetic and lackluster free throw practice regimes are a huge problem that result in an epidemic of missed free throw opportunities at every level.
We have all seen it. We get good at what we practice, and we never get good if we don’t practice. It doesn’t matter if you are practicing the piano, singing a rap song, or practicing free throws. Practice typically leads to improvement.
Free throws aren’t practiced enough, especially among our youth basketball players. This lack of practice shows up especially in the final minutes when the difference between making and missing free throws is often the difference between winning and losing.
Great free throw shooters are great shooters. Practice at the free throw line, and you will be a better shooter, period.
My little invention, the Original, Made in the USA, “Nothin’ But Net” FREE THROW TRAINER™ is a great tool for youth basketball coaches as they seek to improve their players’ free throw percentages. Because it’s so simple to use, younger players get excited about a visual target around which they can orient their practice sessions.
They discover the self-evident truth that just about every time they hit the trainer (which develops muscle memory for direction and distance) the ball goes in the hoop.
To the youth who are out there competing, I want to say, “Keep it up! Get a FREE THROW TRAINER and practice and practice, and win that competition!”
My hat is off to the Knights of Columbus! To all those adults who are coaching youth basketball players, I want to say, “Thank you for your time and your commitment. It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Keep it up!”
Coach Al Heystek
Al@freethrowtrainer.com
www.FREETHROWTRAINER.com