Form Shooting (B.E.E.F.)

Skill drill

Build a repeatable shooting form up close before backing up.

8 min pairs Half court
ShootingU8U10U12U14U16

Technique guide

pairs · 1 ball per pair

Get everyone ready

Pair up · one ballStart 4–5 feet apart. Set your balance and eyes on your partner’s raised target. 12

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Pairs, one ball, standing 4–5 feet apart (or close to the hoop).

Look for: Shooting elbow in an 'L', under the ball.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Pairs, one ball, standing 4–5 feet apart (or close to the hoop).

  1. Review B.E.E.F: Balance, Eyes (on target), Elbow (under the ball), Follow-through.
  2. Shoot 10 one-handed form shots to your partner, focusing on a high, held follow-through ('wave goodbye to the ball').
  3. Add the guide hand, 10 more.
  4. Move to the hoop, close range, 10 makes each.

Suggested reset

Partners catch and return the same ball for the ten one-hand shots, then ten with the guide hand; swap shooter and receiver for each set. At the basket, the partner rebounds while the shooter completes ten makes, then swap. Separate pairs into clear lanes.

Coaching cues

  • Shooting elbow in an 'L', under the ball.
  • Hold the follow-through until the ball lands.
  • Same routine every shot.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Take one step back after every 3 makes — how far can the pair get?

Easier: Shoot lying on your back straight up to yourself — it removes the legs and shows them the wrist snap.

What this drill teaches

A repeatable shooting motion built close to the target, where kids are strong enough to hold form. Range comes later; the wrist snap and held follow-through come first.

In games: A shot that holds up in games — kids who groove form close in don't develop the heave-from-the-hip habit that takes years to unlearn.

What good looks like
  • Follow-through held until the ball lands
  • Elbow under the ball, not winged out
  • The same routine before every shot, unprompted

U8–U10: one-handed, close range only. U12+: step back only while the form holds — the shot breaking down means too far.

Equipment

1 ball per pair

Setup

Pairs, one ball, standing 4–5 feet apart (or close to the hoop).

Steps

  1. 1Review B.E.E.F: Balance, Eyes (on target), Elbow (under the ball), Follow-through.
  2. 2Shoot 10 one-handed form shots to your partner, focusing on a high, held follow-through ('wave goodbye to the ball').
  3. 3Add the guide hand, 10 more.
  4. 4Move to the hoop, close range, 10 makes each.

Coaching points

  • Shooting elbow in an 'L', under the ball.
  • Hold the follow-through until the ball lands.
  • Same routine every shot.

Why kids love it

Give the follow-through a fun name ('gooseneck', 'reach in the cookie jar'). Kids check each other's form — built-in teamwork.

Variations

Harder

Take one step back after every 3 makes — how far can the pair get?

Easier

Shoot lying on your back straight up to yourself — it removes the legs and shows them the wrist snap.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill