This is a game I saw being used at Duke University by Coach K. This is used only when I have enough players and baskets so that only two players are at each basket. If there are not enough rims or too many players, then this game does not work. There also needs to be an even number of players for the game to work as well. Here is how the game works.
I put a time limit on the game. In a gym I will put the time up on the clock and let it run. Each basket has two players. The players shoot 2 free throws and rotate until both players shoot 10 total free throws. This simulates free throw shooting in a game. Each player keeps track on how many out of the 10 they make.
I number the baskets 1 through how many are being used. For most gyms I have been in this is 6 baskets. So, I have baskets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. I always make the number 1 basket the one we shoot at in the 2nd half of games. Basket 2 is the other main court basket. Then baskets 3-6 are the baskets on the sides.
The goal of the game is for the player to get to basket 1 and stay there. After each 10 shots, everybody moves basket except for the winner of basket 1 and the loser at basket 6. After each round the winners all move up 1 basket except the winner of basket 1 who stays. Each loser moves down 1 basket except the loser at basket 6. So, the winner of basket 2 will move to basket 1 and the loser of basket 2 will move down to basket 3. This happens at each basket. Once the players move, another round of 10 shots are taken by the two players at each basket and there are new winners and losers. The winners all move up one basket and the losers move down. The game continues like this until the time runs out. The players continue moving up and down depending on how well they do against each new opponent.
I will do this periodically throughout the whole season keeping track of where each player finishes when the 20 minutes are up. The next time we do the drill, each player will start at the same basket they finished on the previous time we did the drill. So not only is it a competition each round but it is a competition throughout the whole season.
As a coach this helps me see who the better free throw shooters are and who are the worst on the team. If a player is constantly on baskets 1 and 2, then they should be shooting a higher percentage in games. Likewise, if a player is always on baskets 5 and 6, then they are probably not going to make a high percentage in games. This information can help me as a coach determine lineups late in games when the games are close, and we will be shooting free throws. I want the better free throw shooters in a game and this drill helps me determine who those players are going to be.
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