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.
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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)
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The Bear Hold
Ankling
Carioca
Pogo Jumps
Leg Swings
Walking Kicks
Building Skills
40%
40%
Ball Handling
Full Court Cone Dribbling
(5 minutes)
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Line 10 cones up down the court just inside one sideline and spread out 5 cones just inside the other sideline.
Have all the players start on the baseline on the side with 10 cones with a ball.
Dictate the dribble move that you want the players to work on through the 10 cones.
The first player will dribble through the cones and when they are through the first 3-4 cones the next player will start.
When the players get through the 10th cone, have the attack the basket and finish how you have asked them to finish.
Then they will return up the other side of the court dribbling through the 5 cones.
As they dribble through the 5 cones, let them be creative and dribble as they wish and finish a shot at the other basket as they wish.
To ensure the players are dribbling through the 10 cones with their eyes up, have them keep their eyes on the basket in front of them and as any player in front of them shoots, they should call out “make” or “miss” according to the shot going in or not.
Stationary 1-2 Behind the Back Drill
(2 x 30 seconds)
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Have the players find a space on the court with a ball (or share).
The players will start in a good stance and will dribble the ball 2 times in the same hand and then dribble behind their back.
Then they will dribble with the other hand 2 times, and repeat behind their back.
The players will continue this sequence for the allotted amount of time.
Key Points
This dribble should not be a wrap behind the back. The behind the back dribble should be more like a slide behind the back dribble that functions like a crossover does in front of the body meaning that the ball stays behind the back the entire dribble and should not come forward. Work on 2 strong dribbles and throwing it behind the back hard.
Behind the Back Challenge
(2-3 minutes)
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Have the players find a space on the court with a ball (or share).
The players will start in a good stance and will dribble the ball behind their back consecutively as many times in a row as possible.
The players should count their consecutive dribbles so they have a score that they can continually try to beat.
After any mistake, the players should reset and try again.
Key Points
This dribble should not be a wrap behind the back. The behind the back dribble should be more like a slide behind the back dribble that functions like a crossover does in front of the body meaning that the ball stays behind the back the entire dribble and should not come forward.
Reaction Dribble
(2 x 1 minute)
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Have the players find a space on the court with a ball (or share).
The players will start in a good stance and will dribble the ball how ever they would like.
When coach blows the whistle (or says “Change!”) the players will change their dribble move quickly.
This drill should be fast and active and allows the players to dribble creatively.
Shooting
1-Step Form Drill
(1 x 2 minutes)
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The players will line up in 2 lines, one on each side of the lane with both lines facing each other.
The first player in line will alternate pushing off the foot closest to half court trying to move as far across the lane as possible.
The players will land on the leg closest to the basket and quickly swing their outside leg around to put them in a nice shooting stance with there arms simulating holding a ball.
The player will then go to the opposite line and the player from the opposite line will do the same.
This process will continually repeat for a minute.
After a minute, the players will do the same push and square up but will now finish by jumping to simulate taking a shot and land the same spot they jumped from with their follow through up.
Add a ball tossed from 1 line to the line pushing across the lane to make it more realistic and add the shot if appropriate.
Key Points
Players should cover a lot of ground on the push out and work on landing on the inside foot and turning to square up and on balance.
V-Cut Layup Drill
(1 x 3 minutes)
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Have the players line up in 2 lines, 1 on each wing.
The first player in each line will start by making a V-Cut.
Once the player is back to the wing they will jump stop and land on two feet facing the basket while catching the ball.
The player will then make the commanded dribble move into their shot.
As a team make as many shots as possible in the allotted time.
Be sure to change sides and try to beat the previous score.
Pass & Up & Under Drill
(1 x 3 reps each way)
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One player will start on each block and there will a line on the wing in front of each of them.
The first few players in each line will have a ball.
The first player with the ball will make a good post entry pass to the player making a good post up on the block.
The player will catch the ball and execute an up and under, get their rebound and go to the back of the line.
The player who made the pass will then run to the block and post up and prepare to receive the pass from the next person in line.
This process will continue for the allotted amount of time and then the players will switch sides.
Key Points
Make sure the players are executing good post entry passes, the players are posting up and making good up and under moves.
Offense
Backdoor Pass Lay-Up Drill
(1 x 15 makes each side)
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Have the players get into 2 lines, 1 at the top and one on the wing or corner.
Have the balls start in the line at the top and have the player with the ball dribble towards the wing.
The player on the wing must time the cut and step up and then back cut.
The player with the ball will snap a bounce pass to the cutting player who will take a lay-up.
After the pass and the lay-up, the players will get the rebound and switch lines and continue.
Based on numbers, you can utilize 2 groups or 4 lines at each basket.
Passing
Post Entry Pass
(1 x 5 reps each)
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Have the players get in lines on each wing (utilize more baskets if needed).
The first 2 players in each line should have a ball.
There will also be a defender guarding the ball and a player on the block.
The offensive player will work to make a good post entry pass against the defender.
Once the player on the block catches the pass, they will make a move to score, get their rebound, and go to the back of the line.
The defender will then become the post player and the passer will become the defender.
This drill will continue for the allotted amount of reps.
Key Points
Encourage the defense to make this a difficult pass for the offensive player.
Team Concepts
25%
25%
Defensive Mirror Drill
(2 x 20 seconds each)
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Have the players partner up and get 1 ball to share.
Both players will hold the ball in front of them so that 1 player is the leader with their hand on top and bottom of the ball, and the other player is their mirror with their hands on the sides of the ball.
When you say go, the leader will take slow push steps in either direction.
The player that is the mirror, will mirror the movement, focusing on staying balanced with the ball at a healthy distance from their chest and not wasting any steps in either direction.
After the allotted time switch roles and repeat.
Defense to Shooting Drill
(games to 2)
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Have two lines of players on the elbow facing the basket.
The first two players up will defensive slide at angles down the court and will from time to time simulate they got beat and have to turn spring and get back in front and keep sliding (the coach can also add a charge if wanted).
On the coaches whistle, the players will sprint back towards where they started to catch a pass from their teammate and shoot.
They will repeat the process and shoot again until one of the two players has made two shots.
Once a player has made two, the next two players will begin the same process until the entire team has gone.
Dive-Contest-Charge
(2 x each player)
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The players will start on the block in a stance chopping their feet with a line of players behind them on the baseline.
Coach will roll the first ball out so the player must run and dive on it as a lose ball.
The player will quickly get up and close out on the coach at the 3 point line.
The coach will then pass to a player on the opposite wing and the defender will jump into help.
The player will drive to the basket and the defensive player must step over and take a charge completing the dive, contest and charge.
The player who to the charge will move to the wing where they will be the driver.
The driver will go to the back of the line on the baseline and the next player in line will step on the court and get in a stance to start the process of dive, contest, and charge.
Key Points
Bring a lot of energy to this drill!
Competing
25%
25%
3 on 3 Continuous
(games to 3 makes)
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Divide the players into teams of 3 and have 1 team start at half court with the ball.
Have to other teams start at each side of the court to start as defense on both ends.
If there are extra teams, have them line up on the baseline on one end.
The offensive team will go to score at a basket.
If they score, they will get a point, and get ball back to go the other way towards the other basket.
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 do the same thing at the other end of the court and if they score or don’t score dictates which team gets the ball to go the other direction.
Anytime a defensive team gets a stop, they get the ball and go in the other direction.
This version of the game will require the players to start every possession with a pass from the top to the wing and a screen away to start the possession.
4 on 4 No Dribbles
(games to 3)
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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)
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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
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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.
