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Contesting Shots

Many coaching manuals, exhaust chapters on defensive patterns, and neglect the key moment. Contesting shots is paramount to  the success of any Defence. 

Sacred Cow “Get a hand to the Shooter” 

Observe: If you hear this sacred cow, the team is under prepared. Full stop. 

Problem: There are further tasks to merely getting a hand to the shooter. When you hear this, it is reactive because the opposition has got a scoring run going, rather than being inculcated in normal business. The imploring is actually better translated as 'more effort required.' If this is the situation, your problems are bigger than merely getting a hand to the shooter.  

Origin:  Poor training preparation, if this needs to be emphasised in a game, we need to start again with our training plan. 

The Solution

Every shooting drill in training needs to include close out to the shooter. A simple three man shooting drill, can include the rebounder closing out to the shooter, and becoming the next passer. Contesting shots in training also helps develop the competence of your shooters, and their ability to recognise how much (or little) space they actually need and grow comfortable with those situations. A shooter who feels unrushed and comfortable with extreme pressure becomes a great scorer. Creating these situations routinely will improve your offence and defence. 

Every team drill, if there is an uncontested open shot, where Defence gives up and fails to close out, and contest shot, is punished. The punishment should be short and executed where they are standing, but inconvenient enough that  it is easier to close out and contest shots in future, than do another punishment. 

Every training session have a score of how many uncontested shots occurred. This also provides a benchmark and an indicator of progress, as the number reduces indicating team proficiency in systems and individual stamina. 

Every high five is actually high. This is a really simple one, entirely overlooked by most. Muscle memory in raising your arm, not being lazy with a hip or shoulder height high five or fist bump. Arm at full stretch every time needs to be a source of pride, to show you are not fatigued and bent over pulling on your shorts. Instead reaching high, stretching open the lungs, standing tall. The body language translates to games, the opposition recognises their own lack of energy, momentum can shift on these 0.01%'s alone. 

The success of your defensive systems also needs to remain cognisant of your teams ability to apply pressure all the way through the shot clock, down to finally contesting the shot. If your system cooks the legs of your players, you need to consider what are your key objectives and whether the juice is worth the squeeze. 

The success of contesting shots, also needs to be considered. Are we overly contesting, i.e. fouling the shooter and giving them opportunities to get free throws. Are we contesting shot fakes, and that is providing opportunity for new passing lanes, or dribble attacks getting inside our defence. The considerations for planning properly include an analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of the opposition. Done properly, this includes an analysis of each individual opponent. Right or left handed. Do they prefer to shoot, drive, where is their money spot. How many dribbles to get their best shot off. How many dribbles until their offence breaks down. These specific pieces of information are then what drives our pre-game preparation, to tailor our shot contesting strategy. 

For these reasons, you can see the Sacred Cow of 'Get a hand to the Shooter', can actually be damaging. For a non-shooter, it could actually give them the ability to attack. It is important that as you coach, your parents and supporters also are aware of the level of detail. It can be very harmful for well meaning sideline spectators to encourage your team and in process unintentionally derail your shot contesting strategy. This sacred cow, is usually an imploring for more effort, but the effort with all your systems lies in preparation of not only your team, but also their supporters. 

Key Teaching Points

1. Design of every training drill needs to include contesting shots, with immediate penalty in order to correct behaviour, as well as improving the competence of your shooters. 

2. High Fives are actually high. 

3. Contesting shots needs a plan informed by the traits of the opposition. 

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Further Reading