Mosquito Shooting 1-on-1

Setup, constraints and explanation

Setup

This activity promotes repetition without repetition in shooting. One offensive player will continuously shoot from different locations and ranges, with one defender attempting to be as annoying as possible by distracting the shooter. Several different versions of mosquito can be played, with the base version being that the defender (aka mosquito) can say and do whatever they like without touching the shooter or the basketball. This can change subject to how constraints are manipulated. The defender will rebound and then only pass to the shooter when at a close enough distance to contest the shot. Mosquito shooting can be performed as a burst or with players alternating in between each rep.

Constraints

• Constrain the space the shooter can use.
• Add a +1 who passes or acts as a picker for the shooter.
• Constrain shots out of specific movements, for example, drifts, lifts, ghost screens, floppy, and so on.
• Manipulate the scoring system; for example, instead of bursts, players alternate each rep acting as the shooter and mosquito, having to score one BRAD (back rim and down) followed by one contest that forces a miss in order to win.
• Simulate pressure with time and score; for example, the game is over if the shooter misses twice or three times in a row.
• Constrain the number of dribbles that can be used, for example, one dribble, if wanting to emphasize catch and shoots.

Explanation

The job of the defender is to be like a mosquito, be as annoying as possible for the shooter! The defender can do whatever they want to get the shooter to miss, without touching the shooter or basketball. The shooter must constantly change location and range, while the mosquito rebounds and gives different passes from varied angles to the shooter.

From Transforming Basketball (2024) by Alex Sarama, chapter 8, pp. 257 to 258.