PRACTICE PLANS SKILLS CHECKLIST

Starter Practice Plans

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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Starter Practice Plan 2

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Balanced Lifestyle

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  • As much as we may love basketball, there is simply more to life. Practicing and playing too much can lead to overuse injuries and burnout. So, even if it feels like you never want to take a break, you should, at least to make sure you stay fit and rested enough to continue playing after taking some time off.
  • Another benefit of a little time away from the game is that you can develop other athletic skills, including different forms of leadership and teamwork that will contribute to your basketball success when you return the court. Also, taking time away from sports altogether leaves time for activities that are ultimately more important, such as family, friends, academics, and experiencing other parts of the world and other forms of fun that make you a more well-rounded person.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Team Tag

(6 minutes)
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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

60%
60%

Offense

1.2.3. Triple Threat

(1 x 90 seconds)
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  • All players dribble around in a half court. When the coach says “1,2,3!” all of the players respond and say “Triple Threat!” as they drop into a good triple threat stance. When coach says “Go!” players move out of triple threat and continue dribbling.

TECHNICAL LOADS

  • Players dribble with their off-hand or execute crossover dribbles as they move around the court.
  • Players “rip” the ball from left to right when they are in the triple threat position. Players can rip the ball low below their knees or above their head to simulate working against defensive reaching.

Key Points

Make sure the players are in a good stance and understand the reason why.

Ball Handling

Retreat Dribble Drill

(3 x 15 seconds)
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  • All players need a basketball (or share) and should stand on the baseline.
  • The players will dribble with their right hand to the free throw line extended in front of them and take two retreat dribbles back while keeping their shoulder between the imaginary defender and the ball and pushing back.
  • After 2 dribbles back, the player will square up and dribble forward and do the same process at half court, the opposite foul line extended and the opposite baseline.
  • Do the same thing with the other hand.
  • As your players progress add in different moves after the retreat (i.e. retreat 2 dribbles and crossover or go between the legs for one dribble to attack the next spot)

jrnba_starter_pp2_retreatdribbledrill_diagram1of3 jrnba_starter_pp2_retreatdribbledrill_diagram2of3 jrnba_starter_pp2_retreatdribbledrill_diagram3of3

diagram

Shield Steal Game

(4 minutes)
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  • Divide the group into pairs.
  • In a half court size space, use cones or other items to create squares for each group of two. The squares should be just big enough for both players to fit inside.
  • One player has a ball and is on offense, the other is on defense.
  • When the coach says “Go” the offensive player will try to dribble for as long as they can while the defender tries to steal the ball. The offensive player should count how long they can keep control of the ball.
  • When the defense steals the ball or the coach blows the whistle, switch offense to defense.

Passing

2 on 2 Full Court Transition Game

(8 minutes)
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  • Have the players get in two lines, one at each elbow. The coach will stand in the middle with a ball.
  • Two players will play defense to start: one in the backcourt near the three-point line and one in the frontcourt near the three-point line.
  • The game starts when the coach tosses the ball off the backboard. The player closest to the ball will jump and rebound the ball — the other player will space out and call for the outlet pass.
  • The defender can attempt to steal a pass or a dribble as soon as the ball is rebounded.
  • The two offensive players will have a 2 on 1 advantage on both sides of the court. As soon as they pass halfcourt, the second defensive player can attempt to steal a pass or a dribble.
  • After a shot or a turnover, the two offensive players then become defenders for the next round.

Shooting

Drop Step Lay-Up Breakdown Drill

(1 x 2 minutes each way)
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  • Have the players partner up and face each other at half court with each of their backs facing the opposite baseline.
  • One player will have a ball and the other will get into a good post up stance.
  • The player will roll the ball to their partner.
  • The partner will sit in a good stance and grab the ball then drop step by dropping their left foot at the same time as they turn and dribble.
  • The player will pick up the ball after the one dribble and pretend they will jump and shoot as they are now facing the basket.
  • The player will land, turn back around and roll the ball to their partner.
  • That player will do the same action by grabbing the ball, taking a drop step with their left foot while they turn and dribble and simulate shooting at the basket they are now facing.
  • This player will complete 5 drop step lay-ups alternating sides so that on their last lay-up, the 3rd player will start from the opposite side.
  • The players will continue this activity and then switch their drop step foot.

3-Line Layups Add Variations

(1 x 90 seconds each line)
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  • Group the players into three lines facing the basket around the 3-point line (1 line on each wing and 1 line at the top of the key).
  • The first person in each line should have a ball and dribble in for a lay-up.
  • After the lay-up, the player will get their own rebound, pass it to the next person in line and go to the back of the same line.
  • The players in each line will have different finishes (right hand and left hand from the wing and a lay-up with no backboard in the middle).
  • Mix in different finishes such as the euro step. After 90 seconds the players will rotate lines.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • The middle line becomes a defender and one side line becomes an offensive player (no ball). Now, one player has a basketball and it becomes a 2 on 1 live game.
  • Set a time limit of 10 seconds for each possession and players can only score with a layup.

Key Points

Note that there will be multiple players shooting at the same time. Remind the players that in a game there will be other players close to them as the try to score and it’s ok. Work on finishing lay-up in a variety of ways.

2 on 1 Shooting Game

(6-7 minutes)
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  • Two offensive players stand outside the three point line on the corner and wing. If players cannot shoot three pointers comfortably, move the starting spots closer to the basket so they shoot a mid-range shot instead.
  • One defender stands in the middle of both players on the block. The defender starts with a ball and will pass the ball to any offensive player.
  • Once the offense receives the pass, it become a live 2-on-1. The offense can only shoot and pass (no cuts or dribbles), and they have only three passes to get an open shot.
  • Whoever shoots the ball or turns it over becomes the next defender and two new offensive players start the next round.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Offense is now allowed to dribble twice only. •
  • Offense is now allowed to cut, but not to the hoop. The cut must only be for a jump shot.

TACTICAL LOAD

  • Add one more offensive player and one more defense to make the game 3 on 2.

Team Concepts

15%
15%

Pass & Cut Drill

(90 seconds 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.

Circle Reads

(3-5 minutes)
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Setup two lines — one near half-court above the left wing and one near half-court above the right wing. Setup two cones a few feet apart at the three-point line in front of the left wing. Setup another cone at the three-point line in front of the right wing.

The first player in the left line has a basketball and will dribble towards the two cones in front of them. This player will choose to go either left (for a baseline drive) or right (a middle drive) at the cone.

The first player in the right line will simultaneously run to the cone in front of them and will react to the direction of the ball-handler’s drive.

If the ball-handler drives left towards the baseline, the other player will slide down to the corner for a jump-shot off a pass.

If the ball-handler drives middle, the other player will make a basket cut and receive a pass for a layup.

After either a layup or a jump shot, players switch lines.

Competing

15%
15%

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.

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.

Skills Checklist

PDF Skills Checklist: Preview/Download
PDF Full Skills Checklist

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.

Ball Handling

    Passing

      Shooting

        Footwork & Conditioning

          Rebounding

            Offense

              Defense

                Other