How to Get out of a Basketball Funk

If you’ve been playing organized basketball for a while, you’ve probably been through periods where you’re not playing so well. It can be for a quarter, a half, an entire game, or a couple of games. These things happen from time to time. We call these periods “funks” or “shooting slumps”, as we’re usually talking about performance on the offensive end. While a slump can be hard to shake off for youth basketball players, here are some things you can do to help.

Get to the Free Throw Line

When your shot is not falling from the outside, and you also seem to be missing finishes you usually makes at the rim, one of the best things you can do is get to the free throw line. This means getting fouled of course. The best way to get to the free line is to drive hard to the basket and brace for contact as you attempt to score at the rim. After you’re fouled, you get to take a moment to relax and shoot a couple of uncontested shots at the line. Shooting free throws is good for getting out of a slump because it’s a chance for you to see the ball go through the rim. Seeing the ball go through the basket is good for your psyche and can restore a little bit of shooting confidence.

Hit the Boards

Players who are struggling to score can look to get some high percentage opportunities off of rebounds. On the offensive end, snagging a board right in the lane might give you an opportunity for a putback at the rim. Seeing that ball go through the net will help you. On the defensive end, you can get a good opportunity as well. When you get a rebound, try pushing the ball up the court aggressively for the coast-to-coast layup opportunity. You can catch defenses off guard a lot of times and get a less-contested shot at the rim. If you don’t make the shot and instead get fouled, there is still the opportunity to see the ball go through the rim at the free throw line.

 Get Out in Transition

The highest percentage shot in the game is the layup. Or for those who are able to do it, the dunk. And the best time to get yourself an uncontested layup or dunk is on the fast break. For this reason getting out in transition is one of the best ways to get an easy score and get yourself going. When you see a teammate grab a defensive rebound, turn and sprint up the floor towards your team’s basket. Even if you don’t have other teammates running with you on the other wing, if you beat the man defending you up the floor you might get a long pass that leads you right into a layup. The transition layup might be just the thing you need to help you break out of your funk.

If you’re in an offensive slump or funk, these are some of the things you can use to get yourself going. If your slump is caused by you playing against a new higher level of competition and you’re having trouble keeping up, you may need some skill development. Either way, contact a local trainer to help you develop some skills and know-how. We can’t wait to see consistently performing on the offensive end.