Coach’s Clinic Keep It Simple – Move It, Shoot It, Score

Keep it Simple –Move It, Shoot It & Score

Tom Brown Head Coach at West Texas A&M University Runner-up in 2021 NCAA Division II Championship

Scoring the basketball is something that we work on daily in practice at West Texas A&M University . We work on all of the little things that actually go on before the shot and this is what leads to a greater shooting percentage and more efficient scoring . Every year brings on a new challenge . You may not always have the size, quickness and length that you want . You really need to be able to adapt and find ways to score each year with your team . Our staff has been flexible in our teaching and that has empowered our players to play at a very high level . Players (as we all know) are the ones that get it done on the court . The players are the ones that can make a coach look really good or very pedestrian . As a coach you want the best for your young men and you want them to improve and excel throughout the season . How do you help your players get better each day, week, month and year? Work at it . Find a way to really impact your players, to motivate them all season . At times our squad has been able to play big and other times we have been one of the smallest teams in college basketball . However, one thing that has been consistent with our team is that we are going to Move It, Shoot It and Score as often as we can . Simple shooting drills (3man/2ball, 3man/1 ball, Can’t Miss 2, Toss Back Shooting as well as others) have been staples in our practice plans for the past seven seasons . These shooting drills can be done with just the players or adding a coach Jordan Collins (5’10” shooting guard) who never started a game at WT finished his four year career as the winningest player in school history- winning 124 games . He recently finished his degree using the Maurice Cheeks Scholarship! Jordan (ultimate team player) didn’t see much time as a freshman . Jordan found his role as a sophomore and junior . He was primed for his senior season . Jordan’s senior campaign started out a little rough, as he went 3-30 from 3 in his first 8 games- 10%. What would you do as a coach? Our staff’s moto is to- Keep Shooting It, Keep Moving It and Keep Scoring . Jordan finished his senior season 52124 (42%) from 3 . He also made six 3’s in his last home game and went 4-5 from 3pt line in the Lone Star Conference Championship Game (his last collegiate game due to Covid) . Here are a few very simple shooting drills that we do weekly, if not daily . These are very basic fundamental drills- pay attention to detail . Be sharp from start to finish and get after it each and every day .

3-Man 2-Ball Shooting –

A . One shooter- two rebounders B . Timed C . Rebounders have to move it D . Great drill for volume shooting

3-Man 1-Ball Shooting –

A . Two shooters- one rebounder B . Movement and spacing C . Incorporate your style and you have endless potential

Toss Back Shooting –

A . Every shooter has a ball B . Coach picks the spots and cuts- move with a purpose C . This is a good conditioner as well

Can’t Miss Two –

A . Shooter- rebounder B . 5 spots- coaches/players choice C . Miss 2 in a row- move to the next spot D . Great warm-up drill or competition drill

Partner Shooting –

A . Let players create B . No such thing as a bad shot in this drill C . Build comradery

Having just completed his seventh season at West Texas A&M, Tom Brown has built his team into one of the elite programs in NCAA Division II. With an overall record of 181-43 (.808), the Buffs have reached the Division II Sweet Sixteen four times, the Elite Eight three times, the Final Four twice and lost in this year’s national championship game.