Floaters Shooting Drills

Originally Published in: Basketball Essentials

Provided by: Human Kinetics

FLOATER CHOREOGRAPHY DRILL

Setup

• Use one player and one basketball.

• The player stands on the baseline with the ball.

Execution

1. The player gets into a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the ground.

2. The player takes two steps forward without a dribble. The first step (with the right foot) is long and the second step (with the left foot) is short.

3. The player then explodes off the ground and shoots a right-hand floater straight up in the air and returns to the ground in the same Figure 3.20 Floater choreography spot (figure 3.20).

4. The apex of the shot should reach the height of the top of the backboard.

5. The player then catches the ball and returns to a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the ground.

6. The player again takes two steps without a dribble. The first step (with the left foot) is long and the second step (with the right foot) is short.

7. The player then explodes off the ground and shoots a left-hand floater straight up in air and returns to the ground in the same spot.

8. The apex of the shot should reach the height of the top of the backboard.

9. The player repeats these steps in a straight-line motion and stops on the opposite baseline.

FLOATER CONE DRILL

Setup

• Use one player, one basketball, and five cones.

• The player starts with the ball at half-court.

Execution

1. The player gets into a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the floor.

2. The player takes two steps forward toward the cone. The first step (right foot) is long and the second step (left foot) is short.

3. The player then jumps high and shoots a right-hand floater straight up in the air and returns to the ground in the same spot (figure 3.21).

4. The apex of the shot should reach the height of the top of the backboard.

5. The player then repeats the drill at each of the remaining cones.

6. At the last cone, the player shoots the floater at the basket.

7. The player repeats the drill with the left hand and the opposite footwork.

8. The player completes five repetitions with each hand.

GAME-READY FLOATER DRILL

Setup

• Use one player, one ball, and two cones.

• The player stands under the rim with the ball.

Execution

1. The player dribbles around cone 1 at the top of the key.

2. The player then attacks toward cone 2 in the lane.

3. At cone 2, the player shoots a floater (figure 3.22).

4. The player completes five floaters with each hand.

Coaching Point

To ensure that the player is jumping up and not out, stick a piece of tape to the inside of the lane. Instruct the player to jump and land on the tape. This simple teaching point will help prevent an errant charging violation during game play.