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USING INTENTIONAL FOULING AGAINST A POOR FREE THROW SHOOTER

by
MURRAY ARNOLD  

More and more basketball players (and teams) are shooting free-throws at ever decreasing rates. In fact, most teams have one or two players on the team that make less than 50% of their free throw attempts.

Strategic intentional fouling should be considered against these poor free throw shooters.

The one plus one rule on fouls 7, 8, and 9 each half presents possibly 6 times per game for a coach to “play the percentages” and use intentional fouls to great advantage.

Anytime an opponent has an under 50% free throw shooter in the game, consider making him shoot all three one plus one free throws each half. There are numerous rewards for such a strategy:

• Three “turnovers” if he misses all three front ends.
• By using a “designated fouler” off the bench none of these fouls will be charged to key players.
• No two shot shooting fouls for the opponent during this time.
• No points from field goals or free throws for better shooting players during 7, 8, and 9.
• Maximum pressure on the opponent’s worse free throw shooters.
• Substitution advantage by sending in a designated fouler and preventing the opponent from removing the poor shooting player unless he makes the second free throw.
• Possibly forcing the removal of a key opposing player for valuable minutes to avoid your fouling strategy.

Unless the targeted victim makes four free throws, out of the possible six available each half, the fouling team is at an advantage.

The one negative aspect of this strategy is the accelerated arrival of the double bonus. However, this may help emphasize not fouling better free throw shooters after the 9 th foul.

The designated fouler (one of your lesser talented players) should be taught how to intentionally foul without it appearing intentional. Techniques would include fouling a dribbler by attempting a wrong handed steal (using right hand to steal the right hand dribble), crowding a player and fouling with the lower body, or fouling a post player by showing a pass denial hand while holding the opponent’s waist with the other hand.

Regardless of what technique is to be used you must work with the designated fouler to make certain he knows how to intentionally foul without making it appear intentional.

In considering whether or not to use this strategy, the key question is:

For the first half: Why Not?

For the second half: Why Not based on score, time, and personnel?

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE:

Team A has an under 50% free throw shooter (Jones) in the game.
Team B has six team fouls and wishes to use a designated intentional fouler (Smith).

On any dead ball awarded to team A or any free throw by Team B, Team B should substitute Smith into the game to intentionally foul Jones. Immediately after the foul Team B can sub to get Smith out of the game until the next dead ball or free throw situation.

Percentage-wise this will be to Team B’s advantage. Further, Team B may consider the strategy even into the double-bonus as long as Jones plays (a la NBA Hack-a-Shaq), or until he demonstrates he can and will shoot over 50% at the line.

This strategy is very advisable whether a team is ahead of behind.

How many times is an opposing player impacting the game with rebounding and defense while being a free throw liability? Make them pay for his minutes!

STATISTICAL EVALUATION

A coach can objectively evaluate this concept by carefully analyzing the play-by-play statistics of fouls 7, 8, 9 along with late game free throw shooting by opponents. Many games are decided by missed free throws. This very important intentional fouling strategy should be considered for every game plan. As the season progresses opponents’ statistics
provide an ever increasing valuable resource for making late-game fouling strategies.

MURRAY ARNOLD was head coach at UT-Chattanooga, Western Kentucky, Stetson and Perth (Australia). He also served as assistant coach of the Chicago Bulls. He now lives in Deland, Florida.