Furthermore, the shooter must release the ball within five seconds (ten seconds in the United States) and must not walk on or over the free throw line until the ball is in the basket. Players may, however, hop while attempting the free throw as long as they do not leave the allotted area at any time. This rule was adopted to encourage players to take high-quality shots rather than waiting for a lesser one if they miss the first attempt. In fact, research has shown that jumping can improve your shot by as much as 10%! This advantage can be seen when comparing the percentage of shots taken by players who did vs. didn't jump. The results were clear: those who jumped took significantly more accurate shots than those who didn't. The best place to stand to shoot a free throw is with your legs shoulder width apart and your arms by your side. Keep in mind that most people tend to lean forward a little when shooting free throws so standing up straight should help you get closer to the hoop. It is important to remember not to look down at the floor or anywhere else but the basket during a free throw attempt. If you make eye contact with the referee, you will receive a warning flag. Once you have received this warning, you have 1 minute to prepare for the next game period. If you continue to look down before making your shot, you will be called for a foul.