The clock’s ticking down…
You have two free throws…
Sinking them would mean a win for your team.
Let’s spice it up and say the free throws will win your team the championship, and you, the MVP. It’s just you and the basket now. Are you ready for glory?
Well, let’s rewind a bit.
To take free throws may seem like an easy prospect, but it also requires concentration and tremendous practice. Great players like Shaquille O’Neal had below-average free throw numbers… so you know it’s not that easy.
One of the most important things to know before you take the free throw is that your breathing technique is vital to your performance.
Best breathing techniques:
- Deep breaths
Just before you take the throw, there’s a lot of commotion as players line up around the basket. During this time, you need to take deep breaths to get your concentration levels up. Take around 3-4 deep breaths so you can focus on the task at hand.
- Breath out before shooting
Just before you shoot, exhale. It should give you a brief moment of total concentration so you can feel the ball and your wrist before shooting.
You could even ask your coach for advanced breathing techniques to help you relieve tension or nervousness during the game too. As long as you’re breathing fine, you will be able to concentrate better and this becomes easier to shoot your free throws when it matters the most! Good luck!