Practice Toolkit and Drill Library

A repeatable 90-minute practice template, ready-to-run quick sessions, and a drill library with setup steps, coaching points, and difficulty levels. Build and save your own practice plans from the template, print them, and use them across your season. Everything stays on your device.

The 90-minute practice template

Same structure every practice. Predictable = calm. Only have 60 minutes? Drop one skill block and shorten the scrimmage.

Ready-to-run quick sessions

The drill library

Pivot Basics

Pivoting · 5 min · All · beginner

Setup: Everyone has a ball. Spread out in half court.

  1. "Show me your pivot foot" - establish anchor foot
  2. Front pivot (90°, 180°) on whistle
  3. Reverse pivot (90°, 180°) on whistle
  4. Alternate: "Front!" "Reverse!" "Front!"

Coaching points: Pivot foot stays planted (no sliding); Stay low, balanced; Ball protected at chest or chin

Make it harder: Add "triple threat!" command - pivot into shot-ready position

Pivot Tag

Pivoting · 8 min · All · beginner

Setup: Half court. Everyone has a ball. 2-3 players are taggers (no ball).

  1. Taggers try to tag anyone holding a ball
  2. Ball handlers can ONLY pivot to escape (no dribbling)
  3. If tagged, you become a tagger, they get your ball
  4. Last person with a ball wins

Coaching points: Must pivot, not jump away; Use front and reverse pivots to escape; Keep ball protected

Make it harder: Taggers can move faster

Partner Passing

Passing · 5 min · Pairs · beginner

Setup: Partners face each other, 12-15 feet apart. One ball per pair.

  1. Chest pass: 10 reps each
  2. Bounce pass: 10 reps each
  3. Overhead pass: 10 reps each

Coaching points: Step INTO the pass; Thumbs down on follow-through; Receiver shows target hands; Hit partner in chest

Make it harder: Add movement - pass while shuffling sideways

Pass & Cut Lines

Passing · 10 min · 9+ (three lines) · intermediate

Setup: Three lines at half court - left wing, top, right wing. Ball starts in middle.

  1. Middle passes to right wing
  2. Middle cuts to basket
  3. Wing passes to cutter for layup
  4. Cutter rebounds own shot
  5. Rotate: passer goes to line they passed to

Coaching points: Cut HARD after passing; Passer: hit the cutter in stride; Cutter: eyes on passer, hands ready

Make it harder: Add a token defender on the cutter

3-Man Weave

Passing · 8 min · Groups of 3 · intermediate

Setup: Three players on baseline, one ball.

  1. Middle player starts with ball
  2. Pass to either side, then run BEHIND the person you passed to
  3. Continue weaving down court
  4. Finish with layup
  5. No dribbling allowed

Coaching points: Pass and go BEHIND (not in front); Call teammate's name before passing; Finish with correct footwork on layup

Make it harder: Add 2 defenders at far end

Stationary Dribble Series

Dribbling · 5 min · All · beginner

Setup: Everyone has a ball. Spread out.

  1. Right hand only: 30 seconds
  2. Left hand only: 30 seconds
  3. Crossover: 30 seconds
  4. Between legs: 30 seconds
  5. Behind back: 30 seconds

Coaching points: Eyes UP (not watching ball); Pound the ball hard; Low stance, protect the ball

Make it harder: Add "freeze" command - must stop in athletic stance

Dribble Knockout

Dribbling · 8 min · All · beginner

Setup: Half court. Everyone dribbling.

  1. Everyone dribbles their own ball
  2. Try to knock others' balls out while keeping yours
  3. If ball goes out, you're eliminated
  4. Last one standing wins

Coaching points: Protect your ball; Keep head up to see opponents; Use body to shield

Make it harder: Shrink the playing area as players are eliminated

Form Shooting

Shooting · 5 min · All · beginner

Setup: Close to basket, 3-5 feet.

  1. One hand on ball (shooting hand only)
  2. Elbow under ball, wrist cocked
  3. Extend and flip wrist
  4. 10 makes, then add guide hand

Coaching points: Ball should backspin; Same motion every time; Hold follow-through

Make it harder: Move back one step after 5 makes in a row

5-Spot Shooting

Shooting · 10 min · Pairs · beginner

Setup: 5 spots: both corners, both wings, top of key.

  1. Player 1 shoots from all 5 spots (one shot each)
  2. Player 2 rebounds and passes
  3. Switch roles
  4. Track makes out of 5

Coaching points: Balanced before shot; Same form every time; Call your score

Make it harder: Add a closeout defender

Defensive Stance Hold

Defense · 5 min · All · beginner

Setup: Spread out on baseline.

  1. Get in defensive stance: butt down, hands active, feet wide
  2. Hold for 10 seconds
  3. Rest 5 seconds
  4. Repeat 5 times

Coaching points: Nose over toes; Hands active, not on knees; Weight on balls of feet

Make it harder: Increase hold time to 15, then 20 seconds

Defensive Slides

Defense · 5 min · All · beginner

Setup: Line up on baseline.

  1. Defensive stance
  2. Slide to free throw line
  3. Slide back to baseline
  4. Repeat 3 times without standing up

Coaching points: Stay low - don't stand up; Don't cross feet; Hands active throughout

Make it harder: Add zigzag pattern - slide, drop step, slide other direction

Shell Drill (4v4)

Defense · 10 min · 8 (4v4) · advanced

Setup: Offense in 4-out formation. Defense matched up.

  1. Offense passes around perimeter (no shots yet)
  2. Defense moves on EVERY pass
  3. Jump to ball when your man passes
  4. Add penetration after 2 minutes

Coaching points: Jump to ball on every pass; See ball and man at all times; Help position when ball is away

Make it harder: Allow offense to shoot or drive

2v2 No Dribble

Small-Sided Games · 10 min · Groups of 4 · intermediate

Setup: Half court. Check ball at top.

  1. Offense can only pass (no dribbling)
  2. Must cut to get open
  3. Play to 3 makes, then rotate

Coaching points: Move without the ball; V-cuts and back cuts to get open; Passers: patience, find the open player

Make it harder: Allow one dribble per catch

3v3 One-Dribble

Small-Sided Games · 10 min · Groups of 6 · intermediate

Setup: Half court. Check ball at top.

  1. Each player gets ONE dribble per catch
  2. Forces passing and cutting
  3. Play to 5 makes, then rotate

Coaching points: Don't waste the dribble; Catch in triple threat, make a decision; Off-ball movement is key

Make it harder: Add transition - losers run back, winners attack

3v3 Transition

Small-Sided Games · 12 min · 6-9 · advanced

Setup: Full court. One team at each basket.

  1. Team A scores or turns over
  2. Team B rebounds/retrieves and attacks other end
  3. Team A has 3 seconds to get back on defense
  4. Play continuously

Coaching points: Sprint back on defense; Outlet quickly on rebounds; Fill lanes on offense

Make it harder: Add a 4th player who stays on offense each possession

5v0 Transition

Team Drills · 8 min · 5 · intermediate

Setup: Start with rebound under basket.

  1. Rebound → outlet to guard
  2. Fill 5 lanes (wide)
  3. Ball in middle lane
  4. Finish with layup
  5. Jog back, repeat other direction

Coaching points: Run WIDE (touch sideline); Ball moves faster than people; Layup on first opportunity

Make it harder: Add 2 defenders at far end

Press Break

Team Drills · 12 min · All · advanced

Setup: Offense under own basket. Defense in press.

  1. Inbound vs. press
  2. Objective: cross half court in 8 seconds without turnover
  3. Start 5v3, progress to 5v5

Coaching points: Get open to the ball (move toward it); Middle is usually open - use it; Stay calm. Don't rush.

Make it harder: Add full trapping press

Basic Layup Lines

Shooting · 10 min · All (two lines) · beginner

Setup: Two lines at half court - one for shooting, one for rebounding.

  1. Shooter dribbles to basket, makes layup
  2. Rebounder catches, outlets to next shooter
  3. Shooter goes to rebound line, rebounder goes to shooting line
  4. Do 5 minutes right side, 5 minutes left side

Coaching points: Right side: right hand, left foot takeoff; Left side: left hand, right foot takeoff; Use backboard; Soft touch

Make it harder: Add a defender at the rim

Mikan Drill

Shooting · 5 min · All (at baskets) · beginner

Setup: Player under basket with ball.

  1. Start right side of rim
  2. Right hand layup
  3. Catch, immediately go left side
  4. Left hand layup
  5. Continue alternating for 60 seconds
  6. Count makes

Coaching points: No dribbling between shots; Quick feet, soft touch; Use backboard each time

Make it harder: Add a jump between each shot

Zig-Zag Slides

Defense · 8 min · All (in waves) · intermediate

Setup: Players start on corner of baseline.

  1. Slide at 45° angle to elbow
  2. Drop step, slide 45° to opposite elbow
  3. Continue zig-zag pattern to far baseline
  4. Jog back, next person goes

Coaching points: Stay in stance whole time; Don't cross feet; Push off inside foot to change direction

Make it harder: Add an offensive player dribbling that you mirror

1v1 Closeout

Defense · 10 min · Pairs · intermediate

Setup: Defender in paint. Offensive player on wing. Coach at top with ball.

  1. Coach passes to wing
  2. Defender sprints to close out (run hard, chop feet last 2 steps)
  3. Offense tries to score (2 dribbles max)
  4. Rotate after each rep

Coaching points: Sprint to closeout, chop at the end; Low stance, hands up; Force to one direction (baseline or middle)

Make it harder: Allow offense unlimited dribbles

Cone Weave

Dribbling · 8 min · All (in waves) · beginner

Setup: 5-6 cones in a line, 6 feet apart. Players line up at start.

  1. First player dribbles through cones with RIGHT hand only (down)
  2. Dribble back with LEFT hand only
  3. Next player goes when first reaches halfway

Coaching points: Outside hand (away from cone = "defender"); Eyes up, not on ball; Controlled speed

Make it harder: Add crossover at each cone

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