At the All-Star Level, players will begin to gain strength, quickness and the ability to better react to game situations. Practices will shift towards team concepts and competition, while still heavily emphasizing skill development.
Download a full practice plan to review and study
Download a one-page practice plan to fit your clipboard
Review the interactive plan below complete with videos
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) shares that teamwork is all about trust, and trust is a key component to any team. Whether it’s your family, your friends, your co-workers later in life or your basketball teammates at any level, trust is critical.
You want to be able to trust your teammates (especially to call out screens!), and you want your teammates to trust you. As you work to build a team that trusts each other, remember you have to give trust to get trust, and once you have trust, teamwork is second nature.
Warm Up
5%
5%
Dynamic Warm-Up Part 9
(1 x each)
►
+−
The Bear Hold
Ankling
Carioca
Pogo Jumps
Leg Swings
Walking Kicks
Building Skills
40%
40%
Ball Handling
1 on 1 Dribble Duel
(5 minutes)
+−
Pair up players, each with a basketball, facing each other at the elbows or top of the key.
Both players complete a dribbling constraint (e.g., 5 between-the legs, 2 crossovers + 2 behind-the-back)
On the coach’s “Go” call or after completing the dribble sequence, both players race to finish at the rim.
The first player to score wins the duel.
TACTICAL LOADS
Require players to finish on the opposite side of the rim from where they started.
Add a cone or marker players must go around before finishing to simulate changing angles.
TECHNICAL LOADS
Limit players to one dribble after the release before finishing.
Require specific finishes such as weak-hand only, floater, reverse, or land outside the paint.
Add contact or allow bumping before release to simulate physicality.
Shooting
Contested Shooting Game
(4 minutes)
+−
Using as many hoops as possible, start with an offensive player on both elbows and a line under the hoop.
One of the players at the elbow is a shooter and the other will contest the shot. The first player under the hoop passes to the shooter, who catches and shoots.
As soon as the pass leaves the passers hand, the defender is released to sprint and contest the shot.
Players should rotate through each role quickly. After a few rounds, add a new rule:
The shooter must take one stationary dribble before shooting, and the defender can only release once the shooter catches the ball.
Next, change the angle of the contest to come from the baseline, or change the location of the shot.
Players should count their made shots, and the group can compete individually or as a team for a set amount of time or until a set number of makes.
Animal Layups
(5 minutes)
+−
Divide the group into multiple players at each basket. Half of the players at each basket start with a basketball. Players without basketballs start positioned around the paint or in predetermined
spots.
The offensive players (with basketballs) attempt to score quickly.
Defensive players (without basketballs) try to steal, block, or rebound the ball.
Defensive players aim to gain possession of a basketball, transitioning to offense once they do.
Each minute, change the starting position of the offense.
TECHNICAL LOADS
Require specific dribble moves (e.g., crossover, behind-the back, spin) before a shot.
Specify finishing techniques, such as shooting off two feet, one foot, or using a stop-and-pivot.
Key Points
Players must make quick decisions and adapt to changing situations. The chaotic nature of the drill creates a fun
and competitive atmosphere.
1 on 1 Finishing Game
+−
Two players, both with basketballs, start on either side of the hoop dribbling the ball with a designated hand.
On the whistle, both players attempt to finish at the front of the rim or on the other side of the rim first.
Phase 1: Players can only take 1 dribble
Phase 2: Players must finish on the opposite side of the rim
Phase 3: Players may not use the backboard
Rotate quickly, with two new players jumping on after a few rounds.
Passing
3 on 3 Deny
(3-5 minutes)
►
+−
Divide the group into multiple teams of 3. One team starts on offense and one on defense, aligned anywhere on the half-court outside of the three-point line.
Offensive players can only dribble laterally around the three-point line – no driving to the basket allowed. The defense must try to deny every pass by overplaying the passing lanes.
Offensive teams can only score by back-door passes, and teams only have 5-7 seconds per offensive possession. Once a pass is made to a backdoor cutter, the possession is live.
Give each team 3-5 possessions in a row before rotating in new teams.
Scoring:
Defensive steal = 1 point
Layup made off a backdoor cut = 2 points
Any other score = 1 point
Team Concepts
25%
25%
Line Battles
(4 minutes)
►
+−
Divide your group into partners or groups of three. Use the inside of the free-throw lane as the playing space. The offensive player starts on the baseline defended by their partner.
The offensive player’s objective is to get from the baseline to the free-throw line as many times as possible within a set time or number of attempts.
The offensive player must stay within the lane lines. If they are forced out of bounds or lose possession, they must return to the baseline and restart. If they get to the free-throw line, they get one point and return to the baseline to start again.
The defensive player works to stay in front of the defender, cutting off angles, and limiting space.
The offensive player should use a variety of dribble moves (e.g., crossover, spin, behind-the-back) to keep the defender off balance.
TECHNICAL LOADS
Limit the offensive player to using their non-dominant hand only or have them switch hands after each successful trip.
Start the defender at different spots (e.g., a step ahead, shoulder-to-shoulder, or trailing).
COMPETITIVE LOADS
Award points only if the offensive player can transition into a scoring move (e.g., floater, pull-up jumper, or layup) after making it to the free throw line.
Add a time limit for the offensive player to reach the free-throw line. If they don’t make it in the allotted time, it’s a turnover and they start again.
3 on 1 Transition
(5 minutes)
+−
Divide players into groups of four. Have each team line up in the four corners of the court.
To start the game, pick one player from each team to start. Three of the players start on offense with the ball at half court, and one of the players starts on defense, defending the hoop.
The offensive must try to score as quickly as possible. After a shot, the player who rebounds the ball remains on offense, joined by a player from each of the lines on that side of the court. Those three
players then are on offense going the other way. The shooter gets back on defense.
After a score or turnover, the drill resets, with players from the corners joining the offense.
COMPETITIVE LOAD
Create a scoring system for each individual player. One point for each steal or rebound. The highest scorer after a set period of time wins.
Competing
25%
25%
3 on 3 Continuous
(games to 3 makes)
+−
Divide the players into teams of 3 and have 1 team start at half court with the ball.
Have two other teams start on defense on each side of the court.
If there are extra teams, have them line up on the baseline on both sides of the court.
The team at half court on offense offensive team will try to go score on one of the baskets.
If they score, they get a point, and get the ball back to go the other way.
If there is a team waiting on the baseline, they will take the place of the defensive team that got scored on, if there is not team on the baseline, the defensive team will remain there.
The offensive team will now try to score on the other end of the court. If they score, they continue on offense.
Anytime a defensive team gets a stop, they get the ball and go in the other direction
4 on 4 No Dribbles
(games to 3)
+−
Divide the players into teams of 4 and play 4 on 4 with no dribbling.
Encourage the players to cut and move without the ball.
5 on 5
(games to 5)
+−
Divide the players into teams (have substitutes if needed).
Play 5 on 5 until a team makes 3 shots.
Encourage the players to cut, move the ball and work on all the basketball concepts they have learned.
Compliment Session
►
+−
Gather the players together. Players group with 1-2 players next to them and share answers to the prompted questions.
Ask players to share something they did well, what enjoyed about today’s practice or something positive about another player’s actions.
Have players switch groups and ask some players to share their groups answers. Coach can build onto the player responses.
Key Points
All compliments should be natural. Not every player has to give or receive a compliment.
At the conclusion of the All-Star Level, Jr. NBA players should be proficient at each of the following skills. Judging proficiency at this level is the responsibility of the coach.
