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.

  • 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

ICON KEY

+
Expands the details for that drill
−
Collapses the details for that drill
►
Indicates there is a video
 
Indicates there is a diagram
PDF Practice Plan Full Instructions PDF Practice Plan One-Pager
PDF Practice Plan One-Pager: Preview/Download
PDF Practice Plan Full Instructions: Preview/Download
All-Star Practice Plan 9

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Recovery

+ −
  • The right amount of recovery during practices and games is critical. Very few people, maybe nobody at all, can go 100% for a full game. Take advantage of opportunities to moderate and control breathing during timeouts or while on the bench. In practices, players can push hard through drills and conditioning and then recover while shooting free throws. That way, there is no “down time,” players always are working on some aspect of their game, and they also are getting over their exhaustion so they can be prepared when practice picks up pace again. Meanwhile, they are getting the game condition practice of shooting free throws while fatigued.
  • Recovery also refers to extra steps that can be taken off the court as well such as ice, days off, or even physical therapy for injuries.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Partner Running Pass Drill

(8 to 1)
 ► + −
  • Have the players partner up and get 1 ball.
  • The players will line up on the baseline next to their partner.
  • The first partner pair will run very close (inside the lane line extended) and pass the ball back and forth all the way down the court to each other.
  • They will shoot a lay-up when they get to the other end.
  • The next group will go immediately behind them.
  • After all groups have gone, the groups will repeat coming back.
  • This time they will take one step further apart from each other so the passes are a further distance as they run.
  • Continue this process and have the players run and pass further from each other every trip to build on running and passing.

Key Points

Try to not drop any passes! Call each others name and lead the player with the pass.

Building Skills

40%
40%

Ball Handling

2-Ball Same Time Moving – Add Side to Side

(2 x down and back)
 + −
  • All the players will start on the baseline with 2 balls (or share).
  • They will start by dribbling with 2 balls at the same time.
  • After a couple of dribbles, they will begin moving at a natural pace while staying low.
  • They will do this for this distance dictated before turning and coming back.
  • Add dribbling both balls from side to side dribble after the first trip.

2 Ball with Contact

(2 x 20 seconds)
 + −
  • Have the players partner up and get two balls.
  • As the first player dribbles both balls, have the partner give them contact with pressure and fouls to make it more difficult to control the balls.
  • Make sure the partner is controlled in their fouling and contact and is focused on helping the dribbler get better.
  • After the allotted amount of time, the partners will switch and work do the same with the other partner.

3-2-1 In & Out Dribble Drill

(3 x each side)
 ► + −
  • Have the players start at half court and the sideline with a ball.
  • Utilize the other side and other basket if needed.
  • The players will move forward by dribbling 1 time forward and then take an in and out dribble.
  • The player will again raise up and dribble 1 time forward followed by 2 in and out dribbles.
  • The player will again raise up and dribble 1 time forward and then drop to make an in and out crossover and stride into a shot.
  • The player will get their own rebound and go to the back of the line.

Key Points

Work on standing up and dropping down to make the move. Also work on the footwork within each in and out move.

Passing

Pressure Timing Drill

(3 x each side)
 + −
  • Have the players partner up and go with their partner to either the passing line at the top of the key or the cutting line under the basket.
  • The first pair up will start with one player with the ball on offense inside a dictated area at the top of the key.
  • The partner will defend with pressure as the player dribbles in that space.
  • The partner group on the baseline will start under the basket with one offensive and one defensive player
  • The offensive player will choose to cut out towards the wing on either side of choice.
  • The offensive player at the top will have to time the pass and make a good pass to the player going to the wing as the defenders try to get deflections.
  • On the catch the offensive player has 3 dribbles to quickly try to score.
  • The players will change lines and continue this process.
  • Make sure the players are changing from offense to defense as well.

jrnba_allstar_pp8_pressuretimingdrill_diagram1of3 jrnba_allstar_pp8_pressuretimingdrill_diagram2of3 jrnba_allstar_pp8_pressuretimingdrill_diagram3of3

Competitive Drills

Make For a Cone Game

(games of 3 minutes each)
 ► + −
  • Players are separated into 2 even teams and go to 2 designated spots at a basket (the wings, elbows, corners etc).
  • There should be a line of cones equal to the number of players on each team that lines up next to the team.
  • The first player from each line will shoot the basketball get their rebound and pass to the next person on their team.
  • If the player makes the shot, they will take a cone from the other team and put it in their line of cones and move to the back of the line.
  • If the player misses the shot, they will get the rebound and pass to the next person on their team and continue to the back of the line without getting a cone from the other team.
  • After 3 minutes, the team with the most cones wins.

Shooting

Fundamentals of the Post Up

► + −
  • Posting up is something an offensive player does to try to get the ball close to the basket. When posting up, the offensive player will have their back facing the basket and chest facing their teammate with the ball. The player will get in a good stance with a low wide base and make contact with the defensive player. Then they will keep their chest up and show a hand as a target to show their teammate where to pass the ball. Posting up requires the player to be physical and make contact with the defensive player in order to catch the ball where they would like.

Offense

Pass & Drop Step Drill

(2 minutes each side)
 ► + −
  • 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 a drop step, 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 drop step moves.

Footwork and Conditioning

Explosion Leaps

(1 x each way)
 ► + −
  • All players will start on the sideline in a low squatting position with their knees bent, butt down, and hands on the floor in front of them.
  • On the coach’s command, the players will then explode by jumping up and out as high and as far as they can.
  • The players will land balanced on two feet and repeat this movement until they reach the opposite sideline.

Key Points

Emphasize leaping as high and as far as possible while controlling their body. This exercise will help players work on coordination, jumping and landing, as well as endurance.

Team Concepts

25%
25%

2 on 0 Post Entry or Drive

(5 minutes)
 + −
  • Have the players get 4 lines, 1 on each wing, and 1 on each block.
  • The players on the wing will start with the ball and has the option of passing it into the post player or driving the ball.
  • If the player passes to the post, they can cut, screen in, or relocate to receive a pass back and a shot.
  • If the player drives the ball, they can drive middle or baseline and the post player will react accordingly and get a shot.
  • After the shot, the players will switch lines and the next group up will continue with the same process.
  • Help the players to react off of each other and play together.

2-Person Closeout Drill Part 2

(2 minutes)
 + −
  • There will be 2 offensive players on opposite wings with 1 ball.
  • There will be a line of players under the basket.
  • When the ball is skipped from one player to the other player, the defensive player on the baseline will close out to the ball.
  • When the coach says “Pass” the offensive player will skip the ball to the other offensive player on the opposite wing.
  • On that pass the next player on the baseline will close out to defend.
  • The player who was guarding the ball will jump into help side defense and call out “help, help, help”.
  • When the coach says pass, the offensive player will skip the ball back to the opposite wing.
  • On that pass a new defensive player from the baseline will sprint to close out, the player in help will step off and go to the back of the line and the player that was guarding the ball will jump to help.
  • On the pass, a new player will close out, the player in help will step off, and the on ball defender will jump to help.
  • This process will continue.

jrnba_allstar_pp7_2personcloseout-drill_diagram1of4 jrnba_allstar_pp7_2personcloseout-drill_diagram2of4 jrnba_allstar_pp7_2personcloseout-drill_diagram3of4 jrnba_allstar_pp7_2personcloseout-drill_diagram4of4

Key Points

Keep high energy with a lot of communication.

3 on 3 from Help the Helper

(games to 3)
 + −
  • Divide the players into teams of 3.
  • Utilize both baskets if there are four or more teams.
  • The game must start with a baseline drive, a help player stopping the ball and the 3rd player “helping the helper”.
  • The offensive player must kick the ball out and then the game 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.

jrnba_allstar_pp3_3on3fromhelpthehelper_diagram1of4 jrnba_allstar_pp3_3on3fromhelpthehelper_diagram2of4 jrnba_allstar_pp3_3on3fromhelpthehelper_diagram3of4 jrnba_allstar_pp3_3on3fromhelpthehelper_diagram4of4

Competing

25%
25%

Full Court Man to Man

(3 x each)
 + −
  • Have the players partner up based on skill level and position and get a ball.
  • Have half the groups start on one baseline and the other half on the other baseline.
  • Pretend the court is split in half down the whole court on the lane line so the players cannot cross over the middle.
  • The defensive player will try to make the offensive player change directions as much as possible and will stay in front by sliding or running to get back in front if beat.
  • The offensive player is trying to score at the opposite basket.
  • Once players get to half court the next group in that line can go.
  • After a group finishes, they will go to the end of the line at the end they shot at and switch offense to defense.

Key Points

This is not an easy defensive drill but it is important that the work hard to make it difficult for the offense.

2 on 2 – Cones

(games to 4)
 ► + −
  • Have two lines at both sides of the top of the key with one line closer to the wing.
  • All lines will have a cone on the baseline directly in front of them.
  • The coach will also be at the top with a basketball.
  • The first player in each line will have to sprint to the baseline and touch the cone in front of them and then sprint to the wing.
  • The players that were closest to the wing will be on offense and the other players will be defense.
  • The coach can pass to either side and the players will play 2 on 2 with a maximum of 3 dribbles for each possession.
  • After the possession, the next 4 players in line will begin the same process.
  • All the players have to run around the cones before the game is live.

3 on 3 Dictated

(games to 3)
 + −
  • Divide the players into teams of 3.
  • Utilize both baskets if there are four or more teams.
  • The players must start the play how the coach dictates any time the coach decides to dictate a first action.
  • 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.

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.

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