Starter Practice Plans

• Walk around the court with the players and identify spaces on the
  court (half court, 3-point line, sideline, and more).
•  Have the players repeat the names of each area you identify.
• Coach calls out a movement and a line or space on the court for
  the players. Example: “High Knees to the baseline!”
• Movements: Forward/Backward/Lateral March, Forward/
  Backward/Lateral Skip, High Knees, Quick Feet. Incorporate
  movements from other sports: swimming arms, skating action,
  long jump, cricket or baseball swing or soccer ball dribble.

TECHNICAL LOAD

• Let players decide their own movements.

SOCIAL LOAD

• Players partner up and move in different ways while forming a chain and holding hands.

•  Using a half-court, divide the group into pairs. All players get a basketball, if possible.
• Players face their partners about 5 feet across from each other. Designate a leader within each set of pairs.
• On the coach’s command, the leader starts dribbling in place, while their partner follows their moves. The leader can be creative with their dribbling.
• After thirty seconds, switch leaders and add in side-to-side movement. Change leaders every thirty seconds after that.

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.

• Three players start in a line across the key. One player starts on each block and one player starts in the middle standing under the basket with a basketball. Add a defender behind the player with the basketball.
• When the coach says go, the player with the ball will dribble up to the free throw line, jump-stop, and pivot to face the basket.
• The defender will pick one of the other two players on either block to guard. The player that dribbled to the free throw line will have to make a quick decision to pass to the open player for a shot.
• After a shot, the passer will take the place of the shooter. The shooter will take the place of the defender and the defender will go to the back of the line.
• Keep a tally of how many made baskets the team scores in 3 minutes so you can compete against this number in later practices.

TECHNICAL LOAD

• Add another defender that follows the dribbler to the free throw line and defends once the dribbler pivots around to see the open player. Once the pass is made, the passer and the two players on the blocks are playing 3v2.

COMPETITIVE LOAD

• If two defenders get a defensive stop, they get a point and stay on defense. The first pair to get a designated number of stops wins.

PHYSICAL LOAD

• If the players make the right decision and the offensive team scores, the coach(es) have to do a designated number of jumping jacks, squats, or push-ups.

• Have the players partner up with a basketball at a basket.
• The players should stand within a few feet of the basket and put the ball in their dominant hand in front of them.
• Have the players hold the ball with their elbow underneath it, and their palm facing the sky.
• The player will then add their off hand as support.
• When the player is ready, they should extend their knees and arm at the same time to shoot for the basket.
• Have the players hold their follow-through until the shot goes through the basket or misses.
• Have more than 1 partner per at a basket to maximize reps, space and time.

• Have 1 player stand inside the 3 point line facing the basket in a good stance ready to catch the ball.
• Have the 2nd player standing under the basket with the ball.
• The player under the basket will pass the ball to their partner.
• On the catch, the shooter will take a 1-2 step into the shot and shoot the ball.
• The passer will grab the rebound and pass again until the shooter has made 10 shots.
• After 10 makes, the players will change positions and repeat the process.

• Have players partner up and get one ball for the two.
• The first player will start with the ball on the right wing at the 3-point line and the other player will start about 2 strides behind them designated by a cone.
• When the coach indicates, the player with the ball will dribble in for a lay-up while the other player will try to run from behind to contest the lay-up.
• The next pair will start immediately behind them and each group will switch positions each time.
• Change spots on the court as the players get more comfortable.