PRACTICE PLANS SKILLS CHECKLIST

All-Star Practice Plans

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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All-Star Practice Plan 2

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Advanced Rules

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Explain the rules of the game to the players which should include the basic rules but also more advanced rules such as:

  • What is the bonus and how does it work.
  • What is 3 seconds.
  • How does the possession arrow work.
  • How many timeouts the team gets.
  • What are intentional/flagrant/technical fouls and how do they work.
  • Continue teaching other appropriate rules as well.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Dynamic Warm-Up Part 5

(1 x each)
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  • The Bear Hold
  • Ankling
  • Carioca
  • Pogo Jumps
  • Leg Swings
  • Calf Raises

Building Skills

40%
40%

Ball Handling

1 on 1 Half-court

(5 minutes)
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  • Players partner up, with one partner on offense and another on defense. Both the offense and defense start at or near half-court. Have up to 4 groups on one half-court.
  • The offense must try to dribble from half-court to the baseline in 8 seconds against live defense.
  • The offense goes up and back 3 times:
    • 1st round: The defense starts in front of the offense.
    • 2nd round: The defense starts shoulder to shoulder with the offense.
    • 3rd round: The defense starts slightly behind the offense and a few steps to the side.
  • After 3 rounds, switch offense to defense. The offense gets one point each time they successfully make it across the court in 8 seconds.

Pivot 1 on 1

(6 minutes)
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  • Group the team into partners, with one offensive player and one defensive player. Each partner group will find space on the court, inside the three-point line. The defender will start a few steps away from the offensive player.
  • The defender passes the ball to the offensive player to start the game. The offensive player is limited to no dribbles and must pivot to create space for a shot.
  • The defender applies pressure to the offensive player. The offensive player attempts to finish with a layup or shot.
  • Switch roles once a shot is taken or the ball is stolen.
  • After a few rounds of this, the offense now gets 1 dribble before pivoting.

TACTICAL LOAD

Change the starting location of the 1-on-1 to simulate different game scenarios.

COMPETITIVE LOAD
Set a time limit for the offensive player to score.

TECHNICAL LOAD
Focus on specific pivot techniques, such as front pivots, reverse pivots, or step-through pivots.

Passing

3 on 1 Transition

(5 minutes)
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  • 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.

Shooting

Progression Shooting Competition

(1 x 8 makes each)
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  • Divide the players into teams and spread them out at a basket.
  • Each team should have 1 ball.
  • The first player in line will take the designated shot, get the rebound, pass it to the next person in line and go to the back of the line.
  • Every made shot will go towards the team’s total makes at a spot.
  • The first team to make all the shots from all spots will win.
  • For the first 8 makes, have the players make lay-ups.
  • For the next 8 makes, have the players make floaters.
  • For the next 8 makes, have the players catch and shoot at midrange.
  • For the next 8 makes, have the players start at the 3 point line and take 1 dribble pull-ups.
  • For the last 8 makes, have the players catch and shoot and make 3’s.

Team Concepts

25%
25%

3-Second Deny 1 on 1

(5-7 minutes)
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  • Start with an offensive player and defensive player on each wing. The coach or another player starts with the ball at the top of the key.
  • The defensive player will deny the offensive player the ball for 3 seconds as the offensive player cuts to the block and back to the wing.
  • After 3 seconds, the passer will try to pass to the offensive player. The game is live 1 on 1 from there.
  • Rotate offense to defense and defense to the end of the end of the line.
  • Use as many parts of the court as possible. Two groups can run this activity on one half court.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Upon the catch, the offense only has 5 seconds to score.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

  • Give out points for deflections (1 points) or steals (3 points) and have each player keep their own score.

Key Points

Make sure the players see the ball and the man. If the offensive player receives a pass, the defensive player must repeat. If the offensive player cuts back door, the defender must snap their head and hand in the other direction quickly.

Jump to the Ball Drill

(4 x each side)
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  • Have the players start in one line on the baseline.
  • There will be 1 player on each wing and the coach at the top with the ball.
  • The first player in line on the baseline will sprint to close out on coach.
  • Coach will pass the ball to either wing.
  • On the pass, the defensive player will “jump to the ball” in a good defensive stance.
  • The player who receives the pass will take 1-2 dribbles to the middle of the floor and upon seeing the player who jumped to the ball, they will retreat dribble and then drive to the baseline side for a lay-up.
  • The defensive player who jumped to the ball will now fill the open space on the wing.
  • The wing player will go to the back of the line on the baseline after their lay-up and a new player from under the basket will pass the ball to coach and close out to repeat the process.

Fundamentals of Defending the Ball Screen

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  • There are a variety of ways to defend the ball screen. There are different options for the guard defenders, different options for the post defenders, and different philosophies about where to push the ball. In any of these scenarios, it is important for the players to understand their responsibilities. Teach the players your philosophy and their responsibilities.

Competing

25%
25%

3 on 3 Dictated – Pass & Cut or Pass & Ball Screen

(games to 3 makes)
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  • Divide the players into teams of 3.
  • Utilize both baskets if there are four or more teams.
  • The players must start with a pass and cut, or pass and ball screen.
  • After that, the ball is live and the players can move and play
    as they choose.
  • Every change of possession, the ball must get back to the top of the key in order to start the next possession.
  • If the offense scores, they get the ball back.
  • Keep the game moving quickly but not requiring a “check,” and allowing players to get to the top of the key and start their possession.

5 on 5 Dictated – Minimum 4 Passes

(games to 4 makes)
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  • Divide the players into teams and play full court games to 4 made baskets.
  • No shot can be taken until the team with the ball makes 4 passes.

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.

Skills Checklist

PDF Skills Checklist: Preview/Download
PDF Full Skills Checklist

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.

Ball Handling

    Passing

      Shooting

        Footwork & Conditioning

          Rebounding

            Offense

              Defense

                Other