Basketball involves five positions on the court and shooting guard is one of those positions. This position is one of the more enjoyable positions on the basketball court, but does involve a variety of skills.
Basketball is a sport that requires most positions to have a variety of skills, at least enough to accomplish most tasks. Shooting guard does have a high requirement of skills in order to be successful.
How to Play Shooting Guard
Shooting guards require a lot of skills. The ability to dribble, shoot, pass, and play defense of some of the skills required to be a great shooting guard.
Below we will look at the following topics related to playing shooting guard effectively:
- Skills Required
- Shooting Ability
- Ball Handling
- Defensive Skills
- Drills to Improve as a Shooting Guard
How to Play Shooting Guard: Skills Required
The shooting guard has slightly less responsibility than the point guard of a basketball team, but the output required as far as scoring can be greater. The skills required are pretty similar however.
Speed – Being a shooting guard requires a great deal of speed. Shooting guards are typically shorter in stature than let’s say a center, so the speed requirement is a bit more demanding. Shooting guards are required to run on fast break, and also cover pretty quick players on the other team.
Court Vision – Although not as important for the shooting guard as this is for the point guard, having court awareness is a major requirement. The shooting guard does not handle the ball as much as the point guard, but he or she does handle it enough that court awareness and vision are extremely important.
Scoring Ability – The opportunity to score is vast, so shooting guards must be able to get to the basket by taking their defender off the dribble, or be able to shoot the basketball at a high level. The point guard handles the ball more than the shooting guard and his or her demand for scoring isn’t as great. The shooting guard has to create opportunities to score.
How to Play Shooting Guard: Shooting Ability
Typically the shooting guard is the best shooter on the team. Of the five players on the court, the shooting guard is there to create points.
- The 3-point shot has become extremely popular in the NBA, a shot that teams must be able to convert when given an open look at the basket. Typically the shooting guard needs to be able to shoot the 3-point shot and even mid range jump shots
- Driving to the basket is another skill that is required of the shooting guard. If a shooting guard can only shoot from the outside, he or she will be defended very closely. Teams will play close and try to take away a direct pass to this player. The ability to drive to the basket and create shots at the rim are important. This also opens up the jump shot more.
- Shooting guards that can shoot from long range can really put pressure on the defense. The long range 3-point shot has become popular as well, as many players are stepping back well beyond the 3-point line to take shots. This ability spreads the court and defense and extends where the defense must defend.
- Shooting guards can be the most dangerous players on the court for defenses to defend, but having the ability to shoot is a crucial skill.
How to Play Shooting Guard: Ball Handling
Although not as important of a skill for a shooting as for a point guard, the shooting guard does need to be able to handle the basketball in many cases.
- Dribbling to Break a Press – This is mostly common in the lower levels of basketball, even up through the college level. In the NBA, pressing full court is not as common.
When teams press full court, depending on the style of press, the shooting guard must be able to help break the full court press. The shooting guard must be skilled enough to bring the ball up or to create a solid passing lane to be effective.
- Ball Handling to Get to the Basket – Shooting guards must be able to take their defender off the dribble. We talked about shooting ability to become a major threat for the defense. Having the ability to take the defender off the dribble is crucial, so ball handling skills are a must.
- Create Passing Lanes – The shooting guard does handle the ball quite a bit in a basketball game, whether they are on a fast break, or breaking a press. Part of ball handling is having the ability to create a passing lane when being pressured by the defense.
How to Play Shooting Guard: Defensive Skills
Most shooting guards are of similar size, comparative to the level and age of the basketball competition.
- Playing on Ball Defense – This happens when a player is guarding the opposing player with the ball. Considering that most shooting guards can handle the ball effectively, want to shoot, but also can get to the basket, on-ball defense is a crucial skill for shooting guards.
- Blocking Out – This is a skill necessary for playing defense. Blocking out is the act of shielding the opposing player off, in order to grab a rebound. Shooting guards are required to do this, so they must be physical and aggressive.
- Off the Ball Defense – Helpside defense is a huge part of playing defense. Some of this is knowledge of the game and preparation for what the opposing offense is doing. Anticipation and quickness help players to be effective in helpside defense.
How to Play Shooting Guard: Drills to Improve as a Shooting Guard
Ball Handling – Dribble two basketballs up and down the court. Dribbling with the less dominant hand is also helpful. Using cones, to make crossover moves, between the legs, behind the back, or in front of your body, but low.
Shooting – Shoot the basketball as much as you can. Having a rebound partner is helpful, or a shooting gun is even better. The shooting gun rebounds the basketball for you and makes a pass when you spot up to shoot.
Speed – Cone work, agility ladders, and small hurdles, will all help as you try to improve speed and quickness.
Strength – This is a skill that is vital for success. Basketball requires a great deal of skills that need to be performed. Defensively, whether you are covering the ball, or blockin out, strength is a key component for success.
Passing – Get a tire or find a target, work on passing on the move. Always move when you are practicing passing, since you are always moving in the game as you pass.
Final Thoughts
Playing shooting guard might be the most enjoyable and rewarding position on the basketball court.
The position of shooting guard is demanding, but the opportunities to score and have fun are great.
Aggressiveness is a key factor when playing any sport, but a shooting guard must have the aggressive mindset on offense and defense.
There are a lot of skills required to play shooting guard, as this position handles the ball quite a bit. Developing a wide range of skills is essential for success.