Starter Practice Plans

• All players need a basketball or pretend to have a ball and should stand in an open space on the court.
• Have the players face forward in a triple threat position.
• When the coach says “tuck back!” have the players say “strong!” while dropping their right foot and putting the ball on their right hip.
• When the coach says “over!” have the players step forward with their right foot while turning 90 degrees.
• When the coach says “triple threat!” the players will return back to the triple threat stance until the coach says relax.

• Have the players dribble around the court working on their ball-handling.
• When the coach blows the whistle, all the players will jump stop and sit in a good stance.
• Repeat this process working on ball-handling and a good jump stop.

• 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.

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.

• All players need a basketball (or share) and should find some open space.
• Remind the players about good shooting form (knees bent, elbow under the ball and shoot up and follow through).
• To complete a “perfect shot” to self, the player must shoot the ball up in the air and then bounce on the floor in front of them, and bounce back up to hit their hand without moving it from where they completed their follow through.
• The first player to complete two “perfect shots” wins the game.
• Competing will make the players want to go faster which is fine. Just make sure the players maintain integrity in not moving their hand for the “perfect shot.

TECHNICAL LOADS

• Have the players complete a dribble (or dribble move) before shooting.
• Ensure the players still shoot stationary.

PHYSICAL LOADS

• Have the players do a squat, or push-up, or run from sideline to sideline, and then shoot for the “perfect shot.”
• This will add fatigue and require a higher level of focus during their shooting.

• 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

• Have 2 lines on the baseline with two players standing on the elbows.
• The coach will have the ball at the top of the key and pass the ball to one of the 2 players.
• That player will have a maximum of 2 dribble to take a shot in the paint.
• The player who did not receive the pass will become defense and try to stop the player with the ball.
• The offense and defense must keep playing until the defense secures the ball or the offense scores.

• 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.