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 9

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Respect: Teammates

+ −
  • Have players discuss what it means to respect our teammates.
  • Encourage the players to lead by example.
  • Basketball brings people together like nothing else can. It’s a team game, and often teammates become and remain friends for life, on the court and off. That’s why it’s critical to respect teammates. You must be able to communicate well to play well as a team, and you must care about each other enough to sacrifice for the good of the team.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Over/Under Relay

(1 game)
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  • The players will be divided into even groups and line up on the baseline.
  • The player in front of each line will have a basketball.
  • The player in the front of each line will dribble three times with their right hand.
  • After the three dribbles, the player will hand the ball either over their head or under their legs to the player behind them.
  • The next player will dribble three times with their right hand and then will hand the ball to the next person by doing the opposite (over the head, or under the legs) of how they received the ball.
  • The team will repeat this process until the ball reaches the last player.
  • Once the last player has the ball, they will run to the front of the line and start the process again now dribbling with their left hand.
  • When the ball reaches the last player this time, the game is over

Building Skills

70%
70%

Ball Handling

Dribble Balance Push

(2 x down and back)
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  • Line the players up on the sideline in even groups and each player with a ball.
  • The first player will stand only on their right leg with the knee slightly bent and dribble the ball with their right hand until the coach says go.
  • The players will then push forward while changing the ball to dribble with their left hand to the foul line area.
  • When the players get to the foul line area they will all stop on their left foot and dribble with their left hand again until the coach says go.
  • Now the players will push forward and dribble with their right hand and continue this pattern.
  • As the first group gets to the foul line the next group will begin on the baseline.
  • Each group will go to the foul line, half court, the opposite foul line and the opposite baseline.

Key Points

Work on ball-handling while maintaining good balance and stability. Then work on pushing off that outside foot to move forward slightly to the opposite side.

diagram

Tic-Tac-Toe Dribbling Game

(2-3 games)
 + −
  • Divide the group into two teams and have them line up on opposite sides of the court. One team is Team X and the other is Team O. In the middle of the court, make a Tic-Tac-Toe board out of cones, hula hoops, or tape.
  • When coach says “Go” the first player in each team line dribbles out to the board and stands in any of the spots on the Tic-Tac-Toe board. Once they get into a spot, they pass the ball back to their original line.
  • If the player is on team X, they will hold their arms up to make an X. If the player is on Team O, they make the shape of an O with their arms.
  • The next player on each team will then dribble the ball out to the board and repeat the process. Each team tries to be the first to get 3 players in a row straight across, up and down, or diagonally. Once either team wins or the game ends in a tie, restart and play again!

Passing

Who Is Ready Drill

(2 minutes)
 ► + −
  • Have the player get in groups of 3 standing in a triangle with one basketball.
  • 1 player will have the ball facing away from the other two.
  • The two players without the ball will determine 1 player to make eye contact with the player with the ball.
  • The player with the ball will then jump and turn around to face the two players and locate which player is looking at them and has their hands up for the pass and make a quick step and pass.
  • Repeat this action with the new player with the ball.

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • Add a 4th player as a defender. When the player pivots and turns around they pass to the player that is not being defended.
  • Add an additional defender on the player that is passing so they are making the open pass through a defender. Encourage the passer to use pass fakes.

Key Points

The player with the ball must quickly read and recognize when a player is ready to receive a pass. The other 2 players must quickly decide who will make eye contact.

Keep Away Game

(30 seconds each)
 + −
  • Divide the players into groups of five. Four of the players will be active in the drill while one of the players will be in the rest station.
  • Set up 4 cones in a square with the 5th cone off to the side (rest station). Three players will stand at cones and be offense while the 4th player plays defense in the middle. One cone will be open.
  • The player with the ball can only pass left or right and cannot pass the ball across to the opposite side. The players who do not have the ball must either receive the pass or “fill in” the open spot.
  • The defensive will try their best to steal the ball within 30 seconds before rotating positions. The player that was playing defense will rotate to the rest station.

jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram1of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram2of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram3of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram4of4

Pass It Down the Line Game

(1 minute per group)
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  • Divide the players into 2 even groups with 1 group on both sidelines without a basketball.
  • Have the other group start with a basketball on the baseline.
  • The player with the basketball will pass the ball and receive the ball back from each of the players lined up on the sideline.
  • After they have made and received a pass from the last player, the player will dribble the ball to the basket for a lay-up.
  • After the lay-up, the player will get their rebound and continue by coming up the other side of the court.
  • This process will continue for 3 minutes.
  • Count how many lay-ups that team makes in 3 minutes before switching the groups.

jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram1of6 jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram2of6 jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram3of6 jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram4of6 jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram5of6 jrnba_rookie_pp9_passitdownthelinegame_diagram6of6

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Add a second or third basketball to have more players passing. Switch the type of scoring to a shot or a specific layup. Add a coach defender at the basket to score over the defender.

PHYSICAL LOAD 

  • Players on the sideline after they pass do a burpee or another activity (10 single leg line jumps, 10 air squats)
  • Players passing on the sideline balance and pass on one leg, switching legs every time they make a pass.

Rebounding

Toss & Get It Drill

(2 minutes each side)
 ► + −
  • Have the players in a line in the paint. Throw the ball up off the backboard and have the first player in line grab the rebound chin it and toss it back to you and go to the end of the line.
  • The player will go to the back of the line and the next player will step and continue the same action.

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • After rebounding have the player take one shot attempt to make a basket before continuing to the end of the line.

PHYSICAL LOAD 

  • Before every rebound, have all players squat and jump as high as they can to grab an imaginary rebound. When everyone lands, the coach will toss the ball off the backboard for the first player in line and continue the drill as described.

Key Points

Emphasize the players seeing the ball, timing their jump, and once they have the rebound chin the ball.

Shooting

Chase lay-ups

(3 minutes)
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  • Have players partner up and get one ball. The first player will start with the ball at a designated spot like the right wing. The other player will start about 2 strides behind them at a cone.
  • When the coach says “Go”, the player with the ball will dribble in for a lay-up while the other player will try to run from behind to catchup
    and contest the lay-up.
  • The pair will go to the back of the line and switch positions.
  • Change the spots on the court and vary the distance between the offense and defense based on your players abilities.

Key Points

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

Wrap Battle

(1 x 3 minutes )
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  • Divide the group into two teams and have them line up next to eachother on the free throw line. Use as many baskets as possible. The first player in each line starts with a basketball.
  • The first two players tap their basketballs together to start and then must wrap the ball around their waist three times before taking a shot. The first player to make a shot or a put back gets a point for their team.
  • The players then pass the ball to the next two players in line and the game continues. The game goes on for three minutes and the team with the most points at the end wins.

PHYSICAL LOAD

  • Players wrap the ball around different body parts before shooting (head, one leg, ankles).

DELOAD

  • After wrapping the ball, players dribble in for a layup instead of a jump shot.

Team Concepts

10%
10%

Reverse the Ball Drill

(games to 8)
 ► + −
  • Start with a player on the wing. Place another player at the top of the key and another player on the opposite wing, and the remaining players in a line under the basket as rebounders.
  • The coach will stand as a defender on the player at the opposite wing.
  • The player at the front of the line on the wing will start with the ball in a triple threat stance and when the coach says “Reverse the ball!” the player will pass the ball to the top of the key.
  • The player at the top of the key will quickly catch and pass the ball to the other wing so that the ball has been “reversed” to the other side.
  • When the player on the opposite wing catches the ball, they will read the defense of the coach and make a decision: If the coach is close to them and contesting a shot, they will drive to the basket for a layup. If the coach is giving them space and keeping their hands down, they will shoot the ball. After shooting, the offensive player goes to the rebounding line.
  • The player that gets the rebound will make an outlet pass to the wing where the ball started and then go to the end of that line.
  • The player who passed from wing will move to the top, the player from the top will move to the shooting wing, and the wing that started the drill will move to the top.
  • Have a group at another basket doing the same thing and compete to 8 makes and then change directions and then change to a 1 dribble pull up for 2 games.

jrnba_rookie_pp7_reversetheballdrill_diagram1of4 jrnba_rookie_pp7_reversetheballdrill_diagram2of4 jrnba_rookie_pp7_reversetheballdrill_diagram3of4 jrnba_rookie_pp7_reversetheballdrill_diagram4of4

diagram

Key Points

To ensure balance, have the players land in the jump stop position and count to 3 before jogging to the next spot.

Coach Says

(1-2 games)
 ► + −
  • 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,” they player is out.
  • When the coach states “Coach says defense!” the players will slap the ground and yell “Defense!” as they assume the defensive stance.
  • When the coach states “Coach says this way” and points in a direction, all players will quickly hop and twist there body to face that direction and immediately hop back facing the coach.
  • When coach states “Coach says foot fire!” the players will quickly tap their feet against the floor as fast as they can while yelling.
  • When the coach states “Coach says up!” the players will jump as high as they can to grab an imaginary ball with their arms and yell “Rebound!”
  • Coaches can add other elements but remember this is a listening game and the player is out if the player does something that the coach didn’t preface with “Coach Says”.
  • The game finishes when there is just one player remaining.

Key Points

If the players do a great job listening be creative with what you ask them to do in an effort to trick the players.

Competing

10%
10%

Scramble Game

(game to 5)
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  • Divide the group into two even teams. Three offensive players start outside the three-point line at either wing and the top of the key. Three defenders match-up with each offensive player and stand about 6 feet away from the player they are guarding.
  • The coach will throw the ball to one of the three offensive players. Once the offensive player catches the pass, the game is live and the offense tries to score. The defender that is matched up with the offensive player that catches the pass must run and touch the half-court line before running back to play defense.
  • Teams alternate offensive and defensive possessions, with the offensive players becoming defenders and three new offensive teams rotating into the game. The first team to score 5 baskets wins.

TECHNICAL LOAD 

  • Add a 3 dribble maximum each time a player gets the ball.

Key Points

This small-sided game gives the offense a 3 on 2 advantage so instruct players to make quick decisions and find the open player.

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