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 6

Cultivating Values & Developing Wellness

5%
5%

Respect: Teammates

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  • 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%

Line Hops

(2 x 20 seconds)
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1. Balance on one leg while dribbling. Hop in as may different directions as possible for 20 seconds, then switch legs.

2. The same activity as #1 but on both feet.

3. Players pair up. One partner calls out a letter while the other tries to spell it out by hopping on one leg!

4. In pairs, players stand on one leg while dribbling and try to push their partner off balance!

Building Skills

60%
60%

Ball Handling

Spin Dribble Drill

(3 minutes)
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  • The players will all have a ball and start on the sideline.
  • They will take 2 dribbles with their right hand and spin to their left.
  • The players will repeat now taking 2 dribbles with their left hand and spinning back to their right.
  • The players will do this all the way down the court and back.

Key Points

Make sure the 2nd dribble is a hard dribble and the players can think about having their feet almost come to a jump stop at the same time as their 2nd dribble as they prepare to spin.

Dribble Freeze Tag Game

(3 minutes)
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  • All players should have a basketball and spread out on the court in a designated area.
  • The coach will designate a few players to be “it.”
  • When the person designated as “it” tags another player, they are “frozen” and must stand in place without moving.
  • A player can be unfrozen if another unfrozen player comes and touches them.
  • Designate boundaries based on numbers (i.e., stay inside of half court).
  • Complete the game when all players are frozen.
  • If needed, add multiple players who are “it”.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

  • Divide into two teams: One team is “it” and must attempt to freeze the entire other team as fast as they can. After one round, switch roles and the team with the fastest time wins.

Key Points

Work on controlling the ball and executing good jump stops. Remind the players to keep their head up so they don’t run into each other and can avoid being tagged.

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

Pass Under Pressure Game

(6 x 30 seconds)
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  • Players start in groups of three with one basketball per group. For each group, create a small area marked with cones or lines on the court.
  • One offensive player starts with the ball within the small area and will dribble continuously for 30 seconds. One defensive player guards the dribbler and tries to steal the ball.
  • The third player is on offense and starts outside of the small area. This player can move around and whenever they put their hands up, the dribbler must make a pass to them within two seconds. The third player then passes back to the dribbler and continues the game until the 30 seconds elapses.
  • The defense gets one point for each steal or deflection, and the passer and receiver get one point for each completed pass.
  • Switch roles after 30 second intervals.

Shooting

1-Step Form Drill

(1 x 2 minutes)
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  • The players will line up in 2 lines, one on each side of the lane with both lines facing each other.
  • The first player in line will alternate pushing off the foot closest to half court trying to move as far across the lane as possible.
  • The players will land on the leg closest to the basket and quickly swing their outside leg around to put them in a nice shooting stance with there arms simulating holding a ball.
  • The player will then go to the opposite line and the player from the opposite line will do the same.
  • This process will continually repeat for a minute.
  • After a minute, the players will do the same push and square up but will now finish by jumping to simulate taking a shot and land the same spot they jumped from with their follow through up.
  • Add a ball tossed from 1 line to the line pushing across the lane to make it more realistic and add the shot if appropriate.

Key Points

Players should cover a lot of ground on the push out and work on landing on the inside foot and turning to square up and on balance.

Footwork and Conditioning

Jab Attack Drill

(3 x each side)
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  • The player should start by facing the basket where ½ court and the sideline meet.
  • The player will jab the foot closest to the sideline.
  • Immediately following the jab, the player will step across their body with the jab foot and take a big step and a big dribble in the opposite forward/angle direction.
  • The player will pick up the ball as if they are shooting after the jab one stride 1-2 stop.
  • From that point, the player will stay there, reset, and repeat the process jabbing again and attacking the middle of the court.
  • The goal is for the player to get inside the 3-point line after 3 of these jabs and take a jump shot after the 3rd jab.
  • The player must take a big stride and cover a lot of ground and be able to explode up into their shot.
  • It is important to do this drill from both directions.

Key Points

Some players may need to start with more than 3 dribbles Don’t allow players to hop onto 2 feet after the dribble. Always have them 1-2 step.

Jab Step Wrap Battle

(3 minutes)
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  • Divide the group into two teams and have them line up next to each other 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 and then take a jab step with their inside foot, before taking one dribble and shooting a jump 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.

Blind 1 on 1

(4 games)
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  • Players partner up and line up at any spot on the three point line. Use as many hoops as possible with up to three groups at each hoop.
  • One offensive player starts with a ball standing behind their partner, the defender. The offensive player holds the ball on the defenders back. As soon as the offensive player moves to take a dribble, the defender can play live defense.
  • The offense has two dribbles to try and score with a layup or jump shot.

TECHNICAL LOAD

  • Players can only attempt layups. If further challenge is needed, players can only attempt layups with their non-dominant hand.

Team Concepts

15%
15%

Scramble Game

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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.

Defending the 2-on-1 Drill

(3-5 minutes)
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  • Have one player start at the top of the key with a ball and another starting in the short corner on the same side.
  • Have 1 defender starting at the block who must guard both players.
  • The player with the ball at the top can either shoot a lay-up or pass the ball. If they pass the ball, the player in the short corner must then catch and shoot.
  • If the player in the short corner gets the ball, the defensive player is working on their contest.

Key Points

Work on the offensive players making good decisions and the defensive player defending both and contesting shots with a hand up.

Competing

15%
15%

Knockout

(1 game)
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  • Put the players in one line starting at the free throw line with the first 2 players having a ball.
  • The first player will shoot, if they make it, they will pass the ball to the next person and go to the back of the line.
  • If they miss, they will rebound and shoot from anywhere until they make a shot and then give the ball to the next person and go to the back of the line.
  • If the player shooting behind any player makes their shot before you, you’re out.

Key Points

This teaches the players that every shot is important and the consequence of missing a shot is potentially getting knocked out of the game. Players will shoot under pressure and compete to win.

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.

Skills Checklist

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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