Welcome to the Starter Level practice plans. At the Starter Level, the fundamental skills will be honed and expanded upon while the players develop an understanding of what it means to be a part of a team.
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Confidence comes mostly from hard work. If players know they have put all they can into preparing, they will feel much more confident come game time. Even in practice, going as hard as they can on every drill and in every scrimmage lets them feel their improvement and have a sense that they are earning their success. The more they see hard work paying off – even in small advances – the more confidence they gain and thus the more willing they are to put in even more toward the next level of advancement.
Warm Up
5%
5%
Bib Tag
(3 games)
+−
Give each player a bib (jersey) or other object that they can tuck into their shorts. Within a half or full-court area, players have two minutes to pull as many other player’s bibs as possible.
Once a bib is pulled, the puller returns it back to the owner. Players keep track of every bib they pull. At the end of two minutes, see who has pulled the most bibs.
After playing the first game without a basketball, give all players a ball and they must now dribble during the second game.
TECHNICAL LOAD
During the dribbling game, players may only dribble with their non-dominant hand.
COMPETITIVE LOAD
Create two teams. The first team to pull all the other team’s bibs wins the game!
Building Skills
60%
60%
Ball Handling
1 on 1 Dribble Battle
(3 games)
+−
All players will have a basketball and get with a partner.
The players will dribble the basketball and try to touch their partner’s knees.
The player will receive a point each time they are able to touch their partner’s knees.
Blow the whistle to change pairs every minute.
TECHNICAL LOAD
Require players to only dribble with their weaker hand. OR Require players to complete a change of direction move (crossover, between the legs, or behind the back) before trying to tag their partner’s knee.
TACTICAL LOAD
Now compete in groups of three. One player is the shield and can protect their teammate from getting their knee tagged! Change roles every 30 seconds.
Jail Break
(2 games)
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+−
Divide the group into two teams: Dribblers and defenders. The dribblers will all start inside the key. The defenders start along the three point line.
The dribblers all try to dribble past the defenders and over the three point line. Defenders cannot steal the ball, but can slide their feet to make the dribblers change directions.
Once a dribbler makes it past the defense, they become a defender. Go until there is only one dribbler left, then start a new game and switch roles.
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.
Dribble & Pass to Target Drill
(2 minutes each side)
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+−
Have half of the players start on the baseline on the right side of the court, each with a ball.
The other half of the players will stand well behind a cone on the left wing on the opposite side of half court, each with a ball.
The player on the baseline will take two running or jogging dribbles forward up the court and make a running pass ahead trying to hit the cone (if the cones are small you can use a group of multiple cones).
If the passer hits the cone, they will receive a pass from the player in line behind the cone. The passer who hit the cone will catch the pass while making a banana cut back towards the basket they started near.
The player will continue for a layup while the player who passed the ball to them from the cone will chase them to make the lay-up challenging.
The players will switch lines and continue.
If the original passer who starts on the right baseline does not hit the cone with their pass, the player behind the cone will not pass their ball to them. Instead the passer who missed the cone will become defense as the player at the cone will dribble towards them playing 1 on 1 at the basket nearest the baseline passing line.
Players will get a point for hitting the cone, making a lay-up, and for defensive stops.
Play to a specific score and change sides of the court.
Key Points
Have fun while emphasizing a good long pass and being detailed and precise in hitting a target.
Shooting
Jump Stop Shooting Game
(games to 5)
►
+−
Have the players divide into as many as 4 groups at shooting spots (wings & slots) and the first player in each line will have a ball. The player at the front of each line should have a ball.
The players will dribble in to the cone setup a few feet from the basket, jump stop and shoot, get their rebound and give it to the next player in line.
The first team to 6 made baskets wins.
Key Points
Work on a good jump stop, being balanced and making shots moving at game speed.
Competitive Drills
Make For a Cone Game
(games of 3 minutes each)
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+−
Divide the group into 2-4 teams, with a maximum of five players on each team. Each team starts at a designated spot (wing, elbow, corner).
Each team has a line of cones equal to the number players on the team next to them.
The first player in each line shoots and gets their own rebound. Ifthey make the shot, they can take a cone from any of the other 3 teams. Make or miss, they get the rebound and pass to the next person in line on their team.
Play for 1 minute each game. The team with the most cones at the end wins.
TECHNICAL LOADS
Move all players back to the three point line!
Play the same game, but start with a drive and kick to the shooter.
Team Concepts
15%
15%
2-on-1 Fast Break Game
(3 minutes)
+−
Start with 2 lines at half court and one line with a ball.
Have a defender starting at the top of the key.
Have the 2 offensive players attack to try to score in a 2 on 1 fast break setting.
The player who takes the shot or turns the ball over will then become the defensive player at the top of the key.
The other players will go to the back of the lines at half court
Key Points
Work on good fast break decision making while also working on good 2 on 1 defense.
Competing
15%
15%
2 on 2 Numbers Game
(games to 3)
►
+−
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.
3 On 3 Numbers Game
(games to 5)
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Assign 3 players to each number and have everybody stand on the baseline. The three players with the same number our teammates and will be playing together.
Throw the ball on the court and call out 2 numbers.
The 3 players with those numbers will go for the ball and whoever gets the ball will be on offense and the other 3 on defense for 1 possession and 1 shot of 3 on 3.
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
(games to 3)
+−
Divide the players into teams (have substitutes if needed).
Play 5 on 5 until a team makes 3 shots.
Encourage the players to cut, move the ball and work on all the basketball concepts they have learned.
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 Starter Level, Jr. NBA players should be proficient at each of the following skills. Judging proficiency at this level is the responsibility of the coach.
