George Freebersyser
Noah Representative

If there is one coach on this planet who knows how to use the Noah system more effectively than the rest of us, it's George Freebersyser. The former college point guard and college coach has taught with the elite shooting system since 2005 and during that time, Freebersyser has logged well over 1,000 sessions and instructed hundreds of players.

"I can't tell you the exact number of sessions or how many players I've coached with Noah," said Freebersyser, who also is a Noah representative covering the North Carolina area. "But I can tell you that I've coach many successful players who have used Noah for four years."

And as one of the most experienced Noah coaches, Freebersyser offers answers to 10 commonly asked questions about teaching with Noah. Freebersyser's suggestions will help coaches maximize their time and effort with the system.

"I've used Noah with success with all levels of players—elementary, middle school, varsity and college players," Freebersyser said. "Noah objectively gives feedback on a part of shooting that was extremely difficult to teach with precision. Noah does this with an engaging interface. It's fun to use Noah.

"Focus and confidence are difficult to teach when it comes to shooting," Freebersyser added. "Noah's objective feedback in audio and video formats makes players want to focus to get better. From that focus and desire to improve, players go from hoping the ball goes in to controlling the ball going in. That skill jacks up their confidence."

One question asks: "Where do you focus your coaching attention as you watch your shooters during live or during a ‘Record A Shot' session?

Freebersyser answers: "Start at their base, their footwork and then move up. ‘Ready feet' or footwork and balance are the foundation and the start of solid shooting fundamentals. A great way to use the ‘Record A Shot' function is to show shooters what they are doing and what adjustments are needed in their footwork."

Freebersyser also offers this great tip: "Use a muted ‘Feedback Session' after 20-50 sessions to see how a player's muscle memory is sticking. The player won't hear the feedback but you'll capture the arc plot session to see how they are doing."

And this one: "Make sure to use the ‘No Feedback Session' before each new shot you are measuring with the shooter. This session is the baseline for seeing improvement."

Freebersyser suggests that players should be able to evaluate themselves like a coach would. "Ask the shooter to coach," Freebersyser said. "When using ‘Record A Shot' and when evaluating an arc plot and the data after a session, ask the player, ‘what do you see? What were you feeling (balance, shooting motion, rhythm, lock out movement, etc.)? What needs adjusting?'"

Freebersyser added that this teaching tip of turning the player into a coach "really engages their thinking skills and they'll learn more quickly and get into a better habit of absorbing your coaching."

Freebersyser started developing his shooting philosophy when he was a prototypical point guard at Marietta College (1981-85), in Ohio, where he loved to work at the game and try to figure things out.

"I was definitely a student of the game," he said.

Freebersyser went on to become an assistant coach for Charleston Southern University (1985-87) and Campbell University (1987-88) before returning to Marietta as an assistant (1988-89) then head coach (1989-92). From 1993-95, he was the Director of Athletics and Head Men's Basketball Coach at Graceland College (Indiana).

In 1995, Freebersyser became a roving instructor, teaching players and other coaches. Now he owns and operates AssistBasketball that has this as its mission statement: "AssistBasketball is committed to providing world-class, interactive, user-friendly coaches training and player development solutions for you and your organization."

"Whether it's a player or coach at any level, we give them outstanding instruction they can put to use right away," Freebersyser said of AssistBasketball, which is located in Raleigh, N.C. "That's why I integrate Noah with my coaching. Noah really fits with Assist Basketball's mission statement."

He added that he's very excited about the opportunities to be a Noah representative serving the North Carolina area, especially since the company began offering free shooting clinics.

"I'm a basketball coach," Freebersyser said. "Getting in front of people and teaching them appeals to me. One message I share at my shooting clinics is that Noah is an amazing way to speed up the learning process and engage players in their own improvement. As for coaches, it refines their ability to teach shooting. Whatever way they teach shooting, Noah will make them do it much better. A lot of coaches are reticent to do too much teaching when it comes to shooting. There are so many factors, and many are emotional. Coaches fear messing with a player's mechanics. But Noah allows coaches to tinker with mechanics without that fear."