Show notes
https://teachhoops.com/
Teaching "Shot Selection" is the most difficult tactical challenge a coach faces because it requires balancing a player's confidence with their competence. A "good shot" is not just about where the ball is on the floor; it is about the "Three C's": Context, Clock, and Capability. A wide-open three in the first quarter might be a great shot for your lead guard, but a terrible shot for your backup center. To fix a "shot selection" problem, you must first define it. Use the "Green-Yellow-Red" lighting system. Every player on your roster needs to know their "Green Light" zones (where they are statistically elite), their "Yellow Light" zones (only when open or late in the clock), and their "Red Light" zones (never). When you provide this clarity, you remove the "guessing" and the "coaching by eyebrow" that leads to player hesitation.
To bridge the gap between "knowing" and "doing," you must implement "Shot Quality Analytics" into your practice. Instead of just charting "Makes and Misses," start charting "Expected Points per Possession" ($xPPP$). Show your players the data: a contested mid-range "long two" typically yields around 0.6 points per shot, while an open corner three or a rim finish yields 1.1 or higher. Use film study to show the "Shot-Quality Ripple Effect"—how a "bad shot" (a quick, contested jumper) acts as the first pass of the opponent's fast break. In the mid-season January grind, the teams that "level up" are the ones that learn to "pass up a good shot for a great shot." This "Offensive Maturity" is what separates the high-scoring teams from the high-efficiency teams.
Finally, utilize "Constraint-Based Scrimmaging" to force better decisions. Run 5-on-5 sessions where "rim touches" or "ball reversals" are mandatory before a shot can be taken. If a player takes a "Red Light" shot, the other team gets the ball and a point. This makes the "cost" of a bad shot immediate and visible. Use your TeachHoops member calls to "audit" your "Offensive Freedom"—are you being too restrictive, or are you not providing enough structure? By treating shot selection as a "Team Skill" rather than an individual choice, you build a culture of "High-IQ" basketball where the players police each other's shots, leading to a massive spike in your team's overall shooting percentage and offensive flow.
Basketball shot selection, offensive efficiency, basketball IQ, coaching philosophy, eFG%, shot quality, high school basketball, youth basketball, basketball analytics, player development, Green Light shooting, basketball strategy, team culture, coach development, offensive spacing, basketball decision making, coach unplugged, teach hoops, basketball success, athletic leadership, "extra pass" basketball, shot charting.
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