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 4

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Active Lifestyle

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  • One of the toughest issues facing youth sports today is pressure on players and their parents to have children specialize in a single sport before they are ready and to play that sport year-round. Ironically, while many youth programs pursue early specialization, telling parents it is necessary so that their children do not fall behind in chasing any scholarship opportunities, most coaches who do the actual recruiting prefer multi-sport athletes. Athletes who play multiple sports tend to be more well-rounded as players and people due to their variety of experiences and less susceptible to overuse injuries.

Warm Up

5%
5%

Bib Tag

(3 games)
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  • 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

Pac-Man Dribbling

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  • Identify 1-2 players as taggers. These players will try to tag all of the other players while only running on court lines.
  • All other players will have a ball and are “Pac-Man.” These players will have to dribble around the court lines to avoid the taggers.
  • When Pac-Man players are tagged, they leave their ball and become taggers as well until there are no remaining Pac-Man players.
  • Remember players must stay on the court lines (sideline, baseline, lane line, free throw line, 3-point line) throughout the game!

Passing

Keep Away Game

(30 seconds each)
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  • 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.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Players must take one dribble and pass off the dribble.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

  • Make it a live 2-on-2 keep away competition. The two offensive players can use any of the four cones., and two defenders attempt to steal the ball. The offense gets two dribbles to use if needed. Possession changes on any steal or tipped pass, with the first team to complete 20 passes winning.

jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram1of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram2of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram3of4 jrnba_rookie_pp9_keepawaygame_diagram4of4

Shooting

Spin Step-In Drill

(1 x 2 minutes each way)
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  • Have each player get a ball and start in 1 line on the baseline (be sure to utilize multiple baskets).
  • Place 3 cones around the paint, 1 just above the block, 1 in the middle of the lane and 1 just above the opposite block.
  • Have the players spin the ball out in front of the first cone, move forward and step into the ball with their inside foot.
  • Once square and balance repeat the process moving to the cone in the middle of the paint.
  • Again once square and balance repeat the process moving to the 3rd cone where the player will plant their inside foot and this time shoot the ball.
  • The player will get their rebound and go to the back of the line.
  • The players are allowed to start once the player in front of them is at the middle cone.

Key Points

Work on balance and good footwork. Be sure to go both directions.

Triangle Decision Shooting

(4 minutes)
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  •  Using cones, setup three triangles: one at the free throw line, and two at each wing. The tip of the triangle should be closer to the hoop.
  • Players line up in groups of 2, 3, or 4 at the top each triangle. One player starts at the tip of each triangle as a defender. An offensive player starts with the ball facing the hoop at the other side of the triangle.
  • The defensive player can close out to either side of the triangle, going either left or right. The offensive player must read which direction the defense goes, and take one or two dribbles towards the hoop in the opposite direction for a jump shot.
  • The shooter then rotates to defense and the defender joins the end of the line on a different triangle.
  • Players should count how many shots they make after a designated time. The player who makes the most shots wins.

Shooting Ladders

(2 games)
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  • Players partner up, with one basketball for each pair.
  • Setup “ladders” at each hoop:
    • A short distance shot (near the block)
    • A medium range shot (near the free throw line)
    • A long range shot (near the three point line)
  • Taking turns shooting, teams try to make a shot at each section of the ladder and see how many times they can complete the ladder in 3 minutes.
  • Multiple teams can shoot on the same hoop at the same time.

TECHNICAL LOADS

  • Every shot must be off the dribble as a pull-up, side step or step-back.
  • Players have to score a swish in order to move back to the next shot.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

  • Waiting players or coaches contest the shots so shooters have to shoot over them.

Key Points

Ensure that players get their own rebound and pass to their partner for the next shot. Move the shooting locations closer or farther away depending on the players ability to make shots.

Team Concepts

15%
15%

Pass, Cut & Replace Drill

(2 minutes)
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  • Start with a line on each wing and 1 player at the top of the key with the ball.
  • The player at the top will pass to either wing and cut to the basket looking for the ball.
  • The player on the wing without the ball will “replace” the cutter and fill to the top of the key.
  • The cutter is now out of the drill and will go to the back of the line on the wing that replaced them.
  • The wing with the ball will pass to the top where the player replaced.
  • That player will reverse the ball to the other wing and cut to the basket and the series repeats.
  • Cutters only cut from the top.

jrnba_starter_pp4_passcutandreplacedrill_diagram1of4 jrnba_starter_pp4_passcutandreplacedrill_diagram2of4 jrnba_starter_pp4_passcutandreplacedrill_diagram3of4 jrnba_starter_pp4_passcutandreplacedrill_diagram4of4

diagram

Key Points

Make sure the players show their hands to catch the ball and stand in the triple threat position before making strong passes. Also emphasize that the cutter cuts hard to the basket looking for the ball with a hand up.

Criss Cross Game

(games to 3)
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  • Using a half court, create multiple teams of 3 players each. Pick one team to start on defense, lined up on the baseline. One team on offense starts outside of the three-point line, with players at each wing and at the top of the key.
  • The defender on the far left of the baseline passes to their teammate next to them, who passes it to their teammate on the far right of the baseline, who then passes it out to the offensive wing closest to them.
  • After passing, the defensive team runs out to guard the player diagonal from them. The defender in the middle defends the offensive player at the top of the key.
  • Once the offense receives the pass, they quickly reverse the ball from right to left as the defense closes out. Once the ball reaches the opposite side, the offense can attack and the game is live.
  • If the offense scores, they stay on offense and a new defensive team rotates in on defense. If the defense gets a stop, they get to be one offense and a new defensive team rotates in.
  • Teams keep track of their scores and the team that scores three points first wins.

DELOAD

  • Remove the middle defender from game, so the offense now has a 3 on 2 advantage to score after reversing the ball.

SOCIAL LOAD

  • Give each team a chance to huddle up and strategize for 30 seconds before starting their offensive turn.

Competing

15%
15%

Closeout 1 on 1 Drill

(4 minutes)
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  • Start with a player at the top of the key and an offensive player on the wing. One defender starts at the free throw line.
  • The player at the top of the key passes to the wing and the defender at the free throw line will run out to guard them.
  • Once the offense catches the ball, the game is live and they have only three dribbles to score.
  • After a score or a stop, the defender moves to the passing position, the passer moves to the wing, and the wing rotates off. A new defender rotates in. Have multiple games going at each hoop if possible to maximize playing time.

Scoring system: Offense scores two or three points if they score, defense gets one point for each defensive stop (steal or rebound).

Key Points

Make sure the players chop their feet down, and put their hand up on the close out before working hard to stop the offensive player. Make sure the offensive players use good, quick, efficient moves.

5 on 5 With Constraints

(3 minute games)
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  • Divide the players into teams and have them play games of 5 on 5, but only two dribbles allowed each time a player catches the ball. If a player dribbles more than twice, it is a turnover.
  • Play one or two games with this rule, and then change the rule to NO dribbles at all.
  • Play 3-4 games of 3 minutes each.

Key Points

Encourage the players to keep moving and cutting to get opportunities to score. Remind the defense that with limited dribbles, they can pressure the ball and deny passes!

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