Shooting Free Throws When You're Exhausted
Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2009
by James Manguba
It's the 4th quarter and you haven't sat on the bench yet. You get fouled going up for a layup and have to shoot two free throws, but in your mind you just want to sit on the bench and gulp a bottle of water. The ref throws you the ball and you have to shoot those free throws but you're out of focus and can barely bring the ball up to shoot. You miss both and it turns out that those two free throws could have won you the game. After the game, you think to yourself, "How do I shoot free throws when I'm exhausted and fatigued?" Many players have trouble shooting these "fatigue free throws". I've seen games lost because players are too tired to hit those easy free throws. I'm sure you don't want to be the player who loses the game for your team, so I've thought up a couple of tips that can help many players hit those "fatigue free throws".
Many players might not do enough cardio training. Cardio training is just training that will help your body to breathe in oxygen easier. Running a couple of times a week will definitely help your cardio. And it won't just help your general fitness, it will make you lose weight and excess fat that drags you down when you're playing. If you start running maybe 2 or 3 times a week, you will definitely see a difference. You can play 100% longer until you get tired, so that fatigue won't kick in until later on in the game.
2. Breathe
When you step up to the free throw line, take a couple of deep breaths through your nose and out of your mouth. With oxygen in your body, you can think better and focus. Many players can't stay in focus and focus is the most important thing when taking free throws.
3. Practice is Key
If you have the time, run a few laps, and then shoot 10 free throws. Keep on repeating this until you are as tired as you would be in a real game. This will fatigue you and then you have this opportunity to practice those "fatigue free throws" after you run those laps.
4. Don't Throw It Up
When you don't have any strength to shoot a free throw, you'll have a tendency to "push" the ball instead of actually using proper shooting form. Stay in focus and go through your free throw routine. If you're so tired to even lift up your arms, the best thing you can do is to be relaxed and muster up the last of your strength to lift up those arms. Always keep a smooth free throw stroke, and never "push" or throw the ball at the net.
The best thing to keep in mind when shooting "fatigue free throws" is to be relaxed and stay focused. You'll start to increase your free throw percentage and your teammates won't blame you for losing the game!
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