PRACTICE PLANS SKILLS CHECKLIST

Rookie Practice Plans

Welcome to the Rookie Level practice plans. The Rookie level focuses on having fun, being active, and learning the basic fundamental skills of basketball. There are three options for viewing these practice plans.

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Rookie Practice Plan 4

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Sportsmanship

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  • Have players talk about Sportsmanship and provide examples of good and bad sportsmanship.
  • Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) refers to sportsmanship as Honoring the Game. Basketball is bigger than us all. To keep the game as great as it is, all who play it must honor it. And, with our game kept great, the game can continue to give back to all who play.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Skip Tag

(1 game)
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  • Designate boundaries (such as staying inside of half court) and have all players stand inside that area.
  • One player or the coach will be designated as “it”.
  • All players, including the person who is “it,” will skip around the court. Skipping is the only movement players are allowed to do.
  • When a player is tagged, the game is put on pause so that all players can now see that the new player is now also “it” in helping the original person who is “it” in tagging others.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • All players including the tagger must dribble the ball while skipping (or running if coach prefers).

PHYSICAL LOAD

  • Once the tagger tags someone new, they must do 10 jumping jacks (or other activity) before entering the game as a non-tagger.

Key Points

Make sure players do not run and only skip.

Building Skills

70%
70%

Ball Handling

Stationary Dribble Low/Middle

(2x30 seconds each hand)
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  • All players need a basketball (or share) and should find space on the court.
  • The players will start by dribbling the basketball with the right hand low in a good stance with their eyes up and using their left arm to protect the ball.
  • The players will do this for the allotted time and then switch to their left hand and complete the same process.
  • After completing low dribbles, players will then move the ball to medium height and repeat the drill.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Have the players get into pairs and stand a short distance apart facing each other. One partner will be the leader and dribble with either hand low, middle or high. The other partner will try to mirror the leader. The leader will continue to change their dribble hand and level of the dribble in an effort to “lose” the other partner. Switch partners and continue.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

  • Have the players get into pairs and find a line on the court. Both partners have a ball and stand on opposite sides of the line shoulder to shoulder. Both players will start dribbling with their outside hand with the goal of getting two feet on the other side of the line. This will require the players to stay low, be physical, and use their lower body and shoulder to move over the line while dribbling.
  • As the players gain comfort with this competitive load, allow them to knock their opponents ball away as they try to cross the line. Emphasize balance while protecting the ball.

Key Points

Keep the players in a good stance with their chest and eyes up. Remind them to use their fingertips and execute low, quick dribbles to improve coordination and ball control.

Up or Down Game

(2 games )
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  • Divide the players into 2 teams – Team “Up” and Team “Down.”
  • Spread cones around the gym facing up, and the same number of cones around the gym facing down.
  • All players will have a ball and the players on the “Up” team will dribble around the gym and try to put all the cones standing up. The players on the “Down” team will dribble around the gym trying to put all of the cones facing down.
  • Players must continually move around and cannot guard the cones.
  • Players can only use their hands and will adjust as many cones as possible in the allotted time. After the allotted time, count how many cones are up and down to determine the winning team.

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • Before the players are able to turn the cone to up or down, they must complete a designated dribble move. If the player messes up during the dribble move they cannot turn the cone and must go to a new cone and try the dribble move again.
  • Potential Dribble Moves: “5” consecutive crossovers, “2” consecutive behind the back dribbles, “2” consecutive between the legs dribbles etc.”

COMPETITIVE LOAD 

  • Have all the players compete against the coach or coaches!

Key Points

Make sure the players continue to move around and do not guard the cones. Try to use at least as many cones as the total number of players if not more.

Dribble Knockout

(2 games)
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  • All players need a basketball and should start inside of half court or the 3-point line, depending on the number of players.
  • The players must dribble the ball without picking it up, double dribbling or going out of bounds. All players should try to knock the other player’s ball away while dribbling.
  • The goal is to be the last player still dribbling.
  • As the number of players still in gets lower, change the out of bounds area to a smaller area such as inside the 3-point line or lane or the circle at 1/2 court.

COMPETITIVE LOAD 

  • To minimize player down-time after getting eliminated, create a second game in another area of the court that will run simultaneously, or have players practicing dribbling moves on the sideline until the game ends.

Key Points

Work on ball-handling in a fun game setting. Instruct players to keep their heads up while dribbling.

Footwork and Conditioning

Fundamentals of Pivoting

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  • Teach the players that a pivot requires the player to have one pivot foot that stays on the ground at all times. The other foot can move in any direction and as far as wanted but the pivot foot can never change in the same sequence or it is a travel.

Forward Pivot Basic

(4 x each foot)
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  • Have the players hold a ball and stand in a good stance on the baseline.
  • Teach them to pivot by keeping their left foot on the floor and pivot around using forward quarter steps on your command “Pivot!”
  • After 4 pivots they should be facing forward again.
  • Have them relax and then repeat the drill using the other foot as their pivot foot.

Key Points

Help the players understand the basics of pivoting while gaining comfort, confidence, and balance while pivoting. Ensure players stay in a good stance while pivoting.

Coach Says Pivot Game

(1-2 games)
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  • Coach says is similar to Simon says. The objective is to do everything the coach instructs, but the coach must first say “Coach Says” before every request. If the player does the action that a coach says without the coach first saying, “Coach Says,” the player is out.
  • When the coach states, “Coach says Pivot Right!” the players will pivot on their right foot. When the coach states “Pivot Left!” all players will pivot on their left foot.
  • When coach states “Coach says Dribble!” the players will start freestyle dribbling around the court.
  • When coach states “Triple Threat!” the players will stop in a triple threat position.

Shooting

Fundamentals of Lay-Ups

► + −
  • A lay-up is a shot taken close to the basket, generally off the backboard. There are a variety of ways to shoot lay-ups and they should be worked on every day by players of all ages and skill level.

Lay-Up High Five Drill

(3 minutes each side)
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  • All players should be in one line with no ball as the coach demonstrates how to take one step with their right foot, a second step and jump off their left foot and extend their right hand to simulate a right handed lay-up.
  • The coach will stand with his/her hand in the air as each player comes by and does this 1, 2 step while saying “1, 2” and gives the coach a high five with their right hand.
  • The line should move quick and if there is another coach, utilize 2 or more lines.
  • Players should repeat this going left with the opposite footwork (jumping off the right) and opposite hand (left) giving the high five.

jrnba_rookie_pp4_layuphighfivedrill_diagram1of2 jrnba_rookie_pp4_layuphighfivedrill_diagram2of2

Key Points

Emphasize the correct hand and foot until the movement becomes natural for the players.

diagram

Lay-Up Skips Drill

(2 x down and back)
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  • All players should line up on the baseline and follow the coaches command of “1, 2 jump.”
  • The coach should designate which foot to step with first.
  • As the players jump off of a foot, they should simultaneously extend the opposite hand up (jump off the left, extend the right hand).
  • All players should move together on coaches command.
  • After going down the court one way, come back the opposite and repeat.

Key Points

Don’t let players move ahead of the coach’s command. Emphasize the correct hand and foot until the movement becomes natural for the players.

diagram

1-2 Step Lay-Ups

(3 x 1 minute each)
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  • All players should have a partner and 1 ball per group.
  • There can be at least 3 partner groups per basket (side, middle, side).
  • One player will line up 3 to 6 feet away from the basket and the other partner will stand just behind the basket.
  • When coach says “1. 2.” The player will take 1-2 steps and perform a lay-up shooting for the square on the backboard.
  • The players will not dribble the ball.
  • The partner will grab the rebound and give it back to the shooter to repeat.
  • That player will work for 1-minute before switching with the partner.

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • Have players perform a “2 foot power layup” by jump stopping close to the hoop and shooting off two feet.

COMPETITIVE LOAD 

  • Make this drill into a game by challenging each group to be the first to make 10 layups.

Key Points

Emphasize the correct hand and foot until the movement becomes natural for the players.

Team Concepts

10%
10%

Cutting Fundamental Skill

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A cut is moving without the ball to get open. There are many types of cuts that can help a player get open, such as a back-cut, v-cut, out-cut and more.

Pass & Cut Drill

(3 minutes each way)
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  • Players line up at the top of the key with a few balls at the front of the line, and another line on the wing. The coach will play defense on the player at the front of the line at the top of the key.
  • The players pass the ball to the player on the wing and then cut by running to the basket. The player on the wing will catch the pass and look to pass it back to the cutting player.
  • The coach will either defend the cutter as they cut to the basket or let them cut freely. The player on the wing must make a decision to either pass to cutter if open, or drive and shoot a layup if the cutter is defended.

    jrnba_rookie_pp4_passandcutdrill_diagram1of3 jrnba_rookie_pp4_passandcutdrill_diagram2of3 jrnba_rookie_pp4_passandcutdrill_diagram3of3

diagram

Key Points

Emphasize a good pass and a quick cut looking for the ball.

Defensive Stance

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The defensive stance is the position used by defenders in which they have their knees bent, feet a little more than shoulder width apart with their toes and knees facing forward, their eyes up and their hands outstretched and active. From this position they can easily move in any direction to prevent the offensive player from scoring.

Guarding Another Player

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Guarding another player, sometimes referred to as “man to man defense,” means that the player is responsible for guarding a specific player, knowing where they are on the court, and staying between them and the basket. Though guarding a player, the defensive player must always see the ball and be able to help their teammate if needed.

Windows Defensive Slide Drill

(4 minutes)
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  • The players will partner up with one basketball with each group. Players setup cones or other objects about 6-8 feet apart, making a “window.”
  • One partner will stand in between the two cones in a defensive stance. The other partner will attempt to roll the ball through the “window.” The defender must slide their feet laterally to stop the ball from getting through the window.
  • Switch positions after 1-2 minutes and see who can get the most deflections!

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • Instead of rolling the ball through the “window” offensive players try to dribble through it. Defensive players must slide their feet to cut off the offensive player.

Key Points

Make sure the players stay in a good stance with their chest and eyes up. Have them work on changing directions quickly and pushing off their back foot.

Competing

10%
10%

Advantage Numbers Game

(1 game)
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  • Divide the group into two even teams and assign each player on both teams to a number. For example, if there are six players on each team, players will be numbered 1 through 6 on both teams. Each team will line up on opposite sidelines. Pick a team to start on offense.
  • The coach should stand at the free throw line facing the offensive team with both arms extended fully at your sides. Balance one basketball in the hand farthest from the hoop. Call out any group of numbers up to 3 total. For example: 1, 3, and 5.
  • The players assigned to those numbers on the offensive team will run out and grab the basketball from your hand and try to score. The players assigned to those numbers on the defensive team each must give a high five to the coach on the hand without the basketball BEFORE they can play defense. This gives the offensive team a slight advantage to score.
  • Play continues until the offensive team scores or the defensive team secures a defensive rebound or a steal. Once a possession ends, the offensive and defensive teams switch. The game can continue to a set number of offensive possessions for each team or a set time limit.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Every player on offense must touch the basketball before a shot is attempted.

PHYSICAL LOAD 

  • All players whose numbers are not called must complete a physical movement like jumping jacks, high knees, or skips until the possession ends.

Key Points

Ensure players are always ready as they never know when their number will be called. If there is an odd number of players, assign two number to one player to make the teams even. This small-sided game is designed to give the offensive team a slight advantage, so instruct the offensive team to make quick decisions and try to get a good shot before the defensive team is set.

Coach, What Time Is It?

(1-2 games)
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  • All players will start on the baseline. The coach will start near the opposite baseline facing away from the players.
  • The players will all together say “Coach, Coach, what time is it?”
  • The coach will then respond by yelling out any number 1-12 (e.g. “10 o’clock!”).
  • The players will then take that number (ten) big steps (and dribbles if using a ball) forward.
  • After completing the steps, the players will ask again, “Coach, Coach, what time is it?” the coach will continue with another number or yell out “Game time!”
  • At any point, if the coach yells “Game Time!” the coach is allowed to turn around to tag the player(s).
  • The players will run back to the baseline that they started on to be “safe.”
  • If a player is caught, they will then join “Coach.”

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Players all have basketballs and take dribbles towards coach. If coach ever says “Layup time!” then all players must dribble to a hoop and attempt a layup before they are tagged.

Key Points

If needed, add the ball and have all the players dribble the number of steps they take, as well as dribble when the coach yells “Game Time!” to get away from the coach.

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 Rookie 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

        Rebounding

          Footwork & Conditioning

            Offense

              Defense

                Other