Negatives outweigh positives for use of 3-point shot in high school

The 3-point shot has changed the game of basketball more than any other rule change in the game’s history, but has it helped or hurt the high school  game?.
It was first tried and used in 1945 in a game between Fordham and Columbia and the distance was 22 feet.
It was used in the old American Basketball Association in the late 1960s. It then moved into the NBA in 1979-80.
The distance in the pro game is 23 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket to the 3-point line.
The 3-point shot was used on a trial basis during the 1979-80 season at the college level in the Southern Conference.
It became a permanent rule at the college level in 1986-87 and the distance was 19-9. In 1987-88, the 3-point shot was introduced into high school basketball as the same distance as college.
In 2007, the college 3-point line was moved a foot farther out to 20-9.
We need to remember that pro and Division I college basketball are for entertainment and are major money makers.
If you walk into a gym or watch a bunch of kids shooting around on the playground they will be taking far more 3-point attempts than anything else. Everyone seems to have fallen in love with the 3-point shot.
It certainly has changed the strategy of the game. There are some positives, but the negatives far outweigh them.
Let’s look at the positives.
— It takes just 7 of 21 3-point attempts to get 21 points, but takes 10 of 30 shots and a foul shot to equal 21 points.
— The 3-point shot allows teams that are trailing to get back into the game more quickly.
— The shot is exciting as crowd reaction is greater for the 3-pointer than anything other than a great slam dunk.
Now let’s look at the negatives.
— Most players think that they are a 3-point shooter, even some post players.
— Missed 3-pointers start many fast breaks for the opponents as the rebounds have a tendency to bounce farther away from the basket.
— The 3-pointer has all but eliminated the post game. Post players get very discouraged running rim to rim and not seeing the ball on the offensive end of the court.
— Players practice the 3-pointer so much it takes away from the time needed to practice other basic fundamental skills.
— Many teams take too many 3-point attempts and many high school and college coaches live and die by the three.
–The 3-pointer eliminated the highest percentage perimeter shot prior to the 3-point line, the one- hand set shot, as players were afraid that when taking their stride step they would step on the 3- point line.
The percentages show that if the ball is passed to the post player at the low block and then the post player hits the open man who’s man has doubled down on the post player, the percentage for good shooting 3-point shooters is 45.
When 3-point shots are derived from dribble penetration into the paint and kickouts to the open player caused by help defense from the defender guarding a player without the ball, the percentage is 40.
Taking 3-pointers off the dribble or off a screen, the percentages are 25 because many times the shooter is not squared to the hoop,rushes the shot or forces it.
The following can increase 3-point shooting percentages:
— Don’t take a 3-pointer unless the shooter is wide open and has enough time to get the needed leg depth.
— Make sure the post player touches the ball before you attempt a 3-pointer.
—  If you don’t have the space or time to land properly after attempting a 3-pointer, you should ball fake the three and then penetrate by the defender rushing at you to close you out.
— The 3-point attempt should be taken like a foul shot. You have the time and space to shoot the shot and complete the shot properly.
— Teach the post players that missed 3-point attempts taken from the foul line extended to the corners usually go to the other side of the rim. They should immediately move to the other side of the basket as soon as a teammate launches a 3-pointer to get better position for an offensive rebound.If the ball is shot between the foul line extended to the other foul line extended, then the post player should roll to the middle of the lane as the rebound could go to either side.
— Teams should not take more than 20 percent of their field goal attempts as 3-point attempts.
Note: Many thanks to Bob Beatham for researching the history of the 3-point shot.
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