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 values humility. It is one of the greatest traits a person can exhibit, and it is especially helpful in team sports, such as basketball. The best teams are the ones where even the most talented and accomplished players are humble enough to accept a less prominent role for the good of the team. For example, a player who can score more easily than many teammates can show humility by passing more and giving others the chance to score. That humility helps the other players improve and gain confidence, which contributes to the team’s overall success. Ultimately, the leading scorer’s short-term sacrifice in prominence may lead to greater long-term prominence as team success increases, opponents’ must spread their defensive focus, and the player who sacrificed has an even easier time returning to a high-scoring role.
Warm Up
5%
5%
Team Tag
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Divide the group into two teams: One group is the taggers, and they hold bibs, shirts, cones, or some other object. The game can be played on a full or half court.
The taggers will attempt to tag the other team. If a tagger tags a player on the other team, they then give the bib or other object to the player they just tagged, and now there is a new tagger.
The game continues until the coach blows the whistle or calls time. The 6 players who do not have bibs are the winners.
PHYSICAL LOAD
All players must have a partner and hold hands throughout the game as they either move to avoid the taggers or attempt to tag others.
TECHNICAL LOAD
All players have basketballs and now must dribble while they play. All other rules still apply.
Building Skills
40%
40%
Ball Handling
The Chase Game
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Create teams of four players each. Everyone needs a basketball. Player 1 starts on the baseline. Player 2 starts at the free throw line and is the “chaser”. Player 3 starts at mid-court. Player 4 starts on the opposite baseline from Player 1.
When coach says go, Player 2 (chaser) tries to tag Player 3 before Player 3 makes it to the baseline where Player 4 is waiting.
If Player 3 makes it to the baseline, Player 4 becomes the new chaser and chases Player 2. Player 2 now reverses course and tries to get to baseline where Player 1 is.
If any chaser tags the player they are chasing before they cross the baseline, their roles immediately switch (the player being chased becomes the chaser).
DELOAD
Remove basketballs or shorten the court distance.
COMPETITIVE LOAD
Each player keeps track of how many times they have caught and tagged another player in a game. The top four “catchers” form a new team for the next game.
TECHNICAL LOAD
Players must only dribble with their off-hand. This can also be used as an individual load to challenge advanced players.
Shadow Dribbling Game
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Using a half-court, divide the group into pairs. All players get a basketball, if possible.
Players face their partners about 5 feet across from each other. Designate a leader within each set of pairs.
On the coach’s command, the leader starts dribbling in place, while their partner follows their moves. The leader can be creative with their dribbling.
After thirty seconds, switch leaders and add in side-to-side movement. Change leaders every thirty seconds after that.
Key Points
Emphasize the importance of keeping your head up while you dribble.
Passing
2 on 1 Bunch Spacing Game
(4-5 minutes)
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Start in groups of three, with two offensive players and one defender. Eventually, this can scale to 3 on 2 or more.
All players begin bunched together in a tight group, emphasizing poor spacing.
All players start with one hand on the basketball. Play becomes live when an offensive player grabs the ball from the group.
Once the ball is live, offensive players must immediately create space to avoid being aligned “3 in a row” (i.e., poor spacing).
Offensive players work together to pass, move, and find scoring opportunities while maintaining proper spacing.
Have the offense play for 3 or 4 straight possessions or “bursts” and then change roles.
COMPETITIVE LOADS
Scoring Incentives: Award points for successful baskets or for maintaining spacing for a set duration.
Turnover Penalty: If players bunch up again or commit a turnover, possession switches immediately.
TECHNICAL LOADS
No Dribble: Offense must rely entirely on passing and movement.
Dribble Limit: Allow only one or two dribbles per possession to encourage quick decisions.
Restricted Spacing: Confine play to one side of the court to simulate tight offensive situations.
Vary Defensive Pressure: Add a second defender to simulate 3-on-2 or rotate defenders to increase challenge.
Spacing Challenges: Require offensive players to relocate to specific zones before receiving a pass.
Key Points
This drill teaches players how to recognize and correct poor spacing, move effectively without the ball, and make quick, smart decisions under pressure.
Shooting
Variation Shooting
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This shooting activity is designed to get players shooting from different locations after catching the ball in game-like conditions.
Players partner up and find a hoop to shoot at. Use all available hoops and up to 4 partner groups can shoot at one hoop.
One player will be the shooter and their partner is the passer.
Round 1: The shooter shoots 6 shots, all from different locations and ranges around the hoop. The passer must make each pass from a different angle.
Round 2: The shooter must now repeat part 1, but with a different shooting stance (legs narrow, legs wide, off of one leg, off of a staggered stance).
Round 3: After making a pass, the passer will close out towards the shooter. The shooter now must shot fake and take one or two dribbles before a shot. Make sure the shooter changes locations each time they catch the ball.
Have players switch roles after each round.
1 on 1 Create Space
(3-4 minutes)
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Groups should divide evenly amongst all the baskets available. The offense will begin with the ball anywhere outside the arc or inside the midrange.
The defender pressures the offensive player within an arm’s distance.
The offense has a maximum of two dribbles to create space and shoot a pullup jump shot, but they cannot enter the paint.
The defender cannot steal the ball, but can distract the shooter however they want!
Change roles after three repetitions. As many as three groups can play at the same time on each basket.
TECHNICAL LOADS
The defense can only use one hand to steal the ball or block the offense’s shot.
The defense cannot move until the offense dribbles. If the offense tricks the defense with a false start, they gain a bonus point.
The defense is allowed to steal the ball.
TACTICAL LOADS
Stay for two repetitions: the offense must attempt one rim finish and one pull-up jump shot in any sequence across both repetitions.
Defense can start at different angles (e.g. straight up, shading to a side, etc.).
Screening Reaction Bursts
(4-5 bursts)
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Use a half-court setup with at least three offensive players: a passer, a screener, and a cutter.
Match with defenders (e.g., 3v3) or create an advantage (e.g., 3v2 or 4v3) to emphasize offensive decision-making.
The drill begins with a pass from either the screener or cutter to the passer. The screener then sets a screen on the cutters defender.
The cutter must use the screen to get open for a shot.
Set a timer (e.g., 2 minutes) or a target number of successful screen-and-read actions (e.g., 3–5) per burst.
After each shot or defensive stop, the offense quickly resets and continues the sequence, maintaining a high tempo.
Rotate offensive and defensive players after each burst of 3-5 possessions.
TECHNICAL LOADS
Screen Type: Have the screener set different types of screens such as down screens or back screens.
Screen Count: Mandate a minimum number of screens (e.g., 2) before a shot can be taken.
COMPETITIVE LOADS
Scoring Incentive: Award points for successful screen-and score actions or for creating wide-open shots.
Defensive Challenge: Add a trailing defender or have the defense switch to simulate game-like decisions.
Key Points
This drill builds players’ ability to execute and read screens in high-tempo, game-like conditions. It reinforces timing,
spacing, and communication while maximizing repetitions in a short period. Players develop better off-ball movement, decision making, and coordination in screening situations.
Get Open 1 on 1 + 1
(3-4 games)
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Create groups of three players, with one on offense with a ball, one on defense guarding the ball, and the third player on offense.
The offensive player with the ball and their defender start on the wing, with the third player starting at the top of the key.
Playing on either a quarter or half-court, the offensive player passes to the the non-guarded offensive player (who cannot dribble) and then reacts to the defense.
If the defender looks to deny a return pass, the offensive player cuts backdoor for a layup
If the defender does not deny the return pass, the offensive player will run towards the ball and receive a hand-off from the third player and then plays live 1 on 1.
Have the offensive players go through bursts of 3-4 possessions at a time and then switch roles.
TACTICAL LOADS
Change the starting place of the offense to various places on the floor: corner, wing, top of the key, etc.
Add a defender on the second offensive player to then play live 2 on 2.
Allow the second offensive player to initiate the dribble hand-off by dribbling towards the offensive player.
Rebounding
Tag & Pursue Drill
(1 x 3 minutes)
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Have the players get in groups of three and find space at a basket.
Utilize as many baskets as possible and have at least 2 groups per basket.
1 player will be a defensive player.
The other 2 players will be on offense not too far from each other with one ball.
The defensive player will guard the player without the ball and start by being in “help” defense and saying “help, help, help”.
The offensive player will pass the ball to their partner.
The defensive player will now close out and say “ball, ball ball.”
The offensive player will then pass the ball back to the other offensive player.
The defensive player will jump into the help position and say “help, help, help”.
The offensive player will then shoot.
The defensive player will locate their offensive player, tag and pursue the ball.
Team Concepts
25%
25%
3 on 1 Drive and Kick Reaction
(5 minutes)
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Start the game with three offensive players and one defender. Offensive players are spaced around the three-point line with one at the top and one on each wing, and the defender is positioned in the middle and starts with a ball.
The defender passes the ball to one of the offensive players. The offensive players pass the ball around until one of the two wings attacks the basket with a drive.
The two offensive players without the ball react to the drive by spacing appropriately. The defender must choose to take away one of the two offensive players. The player driving from the wing then decides who to pass to depending on the defender’s position.
For the first few repetitions, do not prescribe where the two off-ball players should space out – let the players find open space and play live after the pass.
Repeat the game with a new designated player driving from a different location.
The driving player must pass to an open teammate, who must make a decision based on the defender’s positioning.
Change up the designated number of passes so that the drive is coming from a different location each time.
TACTICAL LOADS
Adjust the spacing of the offensive players around the three-point line.
Add extra defenders to create a 3-on-2 or 3-on-3 situation.
TECHNICAL LOAD
Limit or encourage specific passing options such as one-hand passes or no-look passes.
Shell Drill – 4 on 4
(6 minutes)
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Divide the players into groups of 4 and start with 1 team on defense and one team on offense.
The offense should only have players on the perimeter and no post players.
After 5 passes, the ball will become live and the offensive team can try to score.
Switch teams every possession.
TACTICAL LOADS
The offense can only score off a screening action.
The offense can only score from a drive and kick out.
Competing
25%
25%
2 on 2 Numbers Game
(games to 3)
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Assign 2 players to each number and have everybody stand on the baseline. The two players with the same number our teammates and will be playing together.
Throw the ball on the court and call out 2 numbers.
The 2 players with those numbers will go for the ball and whoever gets the ball will be on offense and the other 2 on defense for 1 possession and 1 shot of 2 on 2.
Evenly mix up the numbers you call and the game is over when any team gets to 5 points playing by 1’s.
Key Points
Encourage the players to hustle to the ball and make good team plays to score. Also encourage the defensive team to move their feet, play active defense and contest all shots.
5 on 5 Half Court
(5 possessions at a time)
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Divide the players into groups of 5 (more if there are subs and not enough for 3 teams).
Have 1 team start on defense and another team on offense.
That team will play half-court defense for 5 possessions.
If there is a third team, the offensive team will change every possession.
A possession ends with a made shot, rebound, or a turnover.
A deflection out of bounds does not end a possession.
Each team will get a chance to play 5 possessions of defense and the team with the most defensive stops wins.
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.
