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How to start basketball practice
How to start basketball practice
Basketball Coaching Tips for Your First Practice
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The first impression you make on your players is critical to your team’s success. To help make sure your year is a slam dunk, start off on the right track with these coaching tips.
The first practice of a basketball season can set the tone for the year to come. New players and new aspirations take to the court, and as a coach, it is your job to guide this current group to a winning season. After all, the skills and lessons taught in youth basketball can stick with these young athletes long after the final buzzer of the season.
No doubt, your first practice can seem stressful and overwhelming. But if you plan ahead, establish the right mentality with your players as well as their parents, and ultimately understand the year’s goals, then it can go as easy as a wide-open lay-up.
SET YOUR GOALS Quite possibly the biggest step in preparing yourself for your first practice is narrowing down your season’s goals and identifying the approach and tone you need to bring to the court.![]()
At the youth level, player development and skill building should be your main points of focus throughout the year. While a victorious season is a long-term goal, the majority of your time should be spent on the players’ growth. You want to make sure they enjoy their experience with the sport.
“The kids, they’re there with the expectation that they just want to have fun with friends,” former basketball coach and DICK’S Sporting Goods Associate Derek Liebert says. “Not many are there to play the highest level of basketball, so being able to manage your expectations with the mindset of, ‘Okay, we’re here to have fun,’ is vital.”
“The younger the age level, the more open-minded you need to be because you’re going to inherit a roster filled with a number of different skill sets,” adds Liebert. “It’s about understanding that you have to start from the beginning, not just walk into the gym and say, ‘Okay, three-point shooting drills for the next hour.’ No, we’re going to learn how to dribble, how to pass, how to communicate, how to execute defensive moves, all of that.
Building that foundation is a good basic mindset to have as a youth basketball coach.”
PRE-PRACTICE COMMUNICATION Prior to hitting the hardwood, you should establish a line of communication with each player, as well as their parents. Let them know where and when to report for the first day, and what they are expected to bring. This pre-practice talk can also be a great time to get any additional contact or medical information for your records.
One way to keep your team organized is by using DICK’S Team Sports HQ. This coach’s resource offers online management software to help with registration, scheduling and communication with parents and players. With TSHQ, you can even design custom uniforms and fan gear.
Take the time to also schedule a group meeting with parents before the season starts. Keeping an open and informative line of communication with parents is key. You’ll be able to explain your expectations for them, like transporting kids to practice, volunteering at concessions and game day procedures and appropriate gametime behavior.
Basketball puts teams and fans in close proximity, so actions such as heckling players, coaching from the stands and confronting referees need to be addressed and heavily discouraged right up front. Keep the forum open, but remain firm to establish your expectations and that you are in charge of the team’s progress.
“The more honest and upfront you can be, the better,” says Liebert of this parent-coach communication. Positive relationships with parents can help during the season and make for a better experience for the kids.
WHAT TO BRING Your first practice will require the basics of coaching equipment, including basketballs, cones, a stopwatch, whistle and first-aid kit to start. You should also provide enough water for your players and bring any forms or papers that need to be distributed. For a complete list of coaching necessities, accessories and other items, check out our Basketball Coach Checklist.
Aside from game equipment, you should arrive at the court with your practice schedule planned.
Especially at the youth level, time in the gym is precious. The last thing you want is to waste valuable minutes trying to decide which drill should be next. Instead, plan your practice out the night before and finalize details an hour or so before blowing the first whistle. This structured time frame will make everything smoother and more secure.
MEETING THE TEAM While you should have already contacted your players and spoken to them, your first practice might be the first time meeting everyone face-to-face and as a team. Take this introduction seriously. You want to give a good first impression and get a good feel for your team’s attitude.
“For youth basketball, especially, you have to realize that you’re not only meeting your players for the first time, but being introduced to each individual’s skill set as well,” says Maureen Lawrence, a DICK’S Sporting Goods Associate and former collegiate coach.
Before diving into stretches and drills, get everyone together for introductions.
Tell the team about your background in basketball, as well as a fun fact or two. After you’ve given your brief biography, it’s time to have your players introduce themselves. Not only is it their first meeting you, but some of their teammates may be fresh faces as well. Keep a fun atmosphere and embrace the conversation. A comfortable communication environment is going to be a huge positive for your team.
STRUCTURE AND PROGRESSION After introductions, move into your basketball practice plan. Start with some stretching and warm up routines, like some light jogging, backpedaling and shuffling. This warm up will get everyone on their feet and moving. Stretching and warming up can also serve as practice in itself. These motions help players understand their body control and can lead to better balance and coordination. Warming up can also help with change-of-direction and change-of-speed abilities, too.
Once everyone is warmed up, you can begin your instruction.
At the youth level, the main focus is player development. The majority of your practice time should be spent on individual skill work. These drills are vital to building a player’s foundation and can allow them to be more fluid on the court. Focus on these skill areas:
- Dribbling
- Passing
- Shooting
- Defensive Coverage
- Rebounding
It’s also beneficial to mix in drills that not only teach the skill and motion, but showcase when and how to use the skill. You can go up for countless rebounds and practice boxing out with perfect form again and again, but beating an opposing player is a lot harder than beating an opposing stopwatch. It is important as a coach to instill training routines that not only teach the technical side of basketball, but also allow players to gain experience in competition. A great way to keep kids entertained and in training mode is to include small scrimmages or small sided (1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3) slots in your regimen.
“Anytime that you’re able to break it down in a smaller setting,” says Lawrence, “it helps improve those individual skills and allows you to focus on those individual players more. That, in turn, allows you to build toward that larger strategy.”
But what about offensive strategy? How about putting in defense? While you can institute any offensive or defensive strategy that you please, it is best for youth players to understand the core skills first so that they can progress through the sport.
“There are significant gaps in player development,” says Liebert. “If you really care about the sport of basketball and want to coach at the youth level, your first and only priority needs to be developing the skills, teaching the kids to understand the game and how to play the game the right way.”
Instituting an offense or defense on the first day can throw too much too soon at players, especially those who are younger and new to the game.
WRAPPING UP Before packing everything up for the evening, be sure to plan for a cool down period and gather the team for some static stretching.
As they stretch and allow their bodies to cool down, you can make announcements and address any pertinent information. This can include a recap of the day’s practice, dates for the next practices or games, or what can be improved.
Once the equipment is put away – another team exercise – and everything is secured, make sure to stick around for a few minutes to ensure everyone gets home safely. Also, make yourself available for any questions from players or parents.
Take these suggestions and incorporate them into your own coaching style to fit your team’s needs. Remember, though, to make your practices fun for all.
“The kids, especially at that youth level, are probably in their beginning stages of organized sports,” Lawrence adds, “so the more fun and engaging you can make your practices, the better atmosphere it will be for everyone.”
Related Articles
Drills to Start Practice - FastModel Sports
Coaches are always looking for effective drills to start practice.
Drills at the beginning of practice should get the players loose and prepare them for the mental and physical grind of a typical practice. The start of practice is also a great time to work on fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, footwork, and shooting.
I have been lucky enough to work for some great coaches that have made the most out of the early part of practice to drill the fundamentals that he wanted to focus on for the day, week, month, season, etc.
NOTE: Click on any drill to open FastModel Sports Playbank and add the drill to your FastDraw now!
3 Line Lay-Ups
This drill was used at Texas Lutheran when I was there and was a great drill to encourage focus, timing, and teamwork. The goal was to make as many shots as possible and to move the ball quickly and efficiently. To start out the season, the goal for makes was 50 in 3 minutes on the right side and 50 in 3 minutes on the left. This would increase as the season went on.
3 Man Weave Scoring Drill
This drill was used at the NBA combine over the summer. It incorporates the classic 3 man weave drill with additional scoring options. Two coaches are needed to pass to shooters.
4 Corner Shooting
This is a drill we used at Texas Lutheran and is similar to a drill we do now at Colorado College. The drill gets the players used to calling out cuts and making game-speed cuts for a shot. We had the players practice curling, popping, and flaring on the screen.
4 Man Transition Drill
This drill is great for building habits in transition offense. It encourages speed and precision. The 5 and 4’s in your program need to be able to keep up in this drill for your team to run consistently.
5 Minute Full-Court Shooting
This is another great drill to get your players running the length of the floor and shooting a bunch of shots at the beginning of practice.
Post Drop Drill
This drill was used in a USA basketball camp and is great for building chemistry between point guards and bigs.
Team Shooting Drill
This drill is a good drill for getting up a lot of shots and working on scoring moves. This drill can also easily be used in pre-game warm-ups.
Fast Break- Transition Offense Drill
This is a drill used by Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State. The drill develops quick instincts for offensive players to find the open man while in a numbers advantage.
3 Line Pick
This drill is from Coach Don Showalter, head coach of the USA U16 team. This drill puts players in game-like pick & roll situations and gets shots for 3 players on each repetition.
Below you will find the PDF link to download the Drills to Start Practice Playbook. I have also included a description of each drill.
To download the PDF, click here!
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Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men’s basketball under Head Coach Tom Billeter at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Kosel joined the staff at Augustana after serving two seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado College and before that spent time at Texas Lutheran University and Haskell Indian Nations University. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. He has coached summer AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, USA Basketball, University of Colorado, University of New Mexico, Air Force, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
He also founded his own coaching website, HoopsChalkTalk.com, where he shares plays, drills, and coaching notes.
Oct. 15, 2015 – Charlotte, NC, USA – Charlotte head basketball coach Mark Price, middle, talks with his team at half court prior to the Green and White scrimmage on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C. (Credit Image: � Jeff Siner/TNS via ZUMA Wire)
How to learn to play basketball, when to start, what exercises are effective
In each school, children are introduced to different sports, and the most common games are volleyball and basketball. They tell the basics, but few people after these lessons become Michael Jordan. However, it is quite possible to achieve sports success. If you always hit the ball in the basket and decided to learn how to learn how to play basketball, read this article. We'll walk you through the first steps to help beginners start playing well.
At what age do you start playing basketball?
Of course, if you want to build a career as a basketball player, you have to start in childhood.
The most optimal age for the first basketball lessons is 8-9 years old. Some professionals started at the age of 12, but not later. At this age, the body is considered sufficiently strong, and the brain is ready to build complex schemes.
Sometimes a child is too small and is not taken to the section. But his parents may be advised to attend prep basketball for 1-2 years. There, the kid will not be taught the technique of the game, but he will begin to learn how to control the ball. This game will positively affect the health of the child and his development. It helps to develop endurance, develop coordination and agility. Basketball players improve their vision and logical thinking.
Who is banned from basketball practice?
They are not available to people with the following diseases:
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cardiovascular diseases;
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excessive mobility of the cervical vertebrae;
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flat feet;
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gastric ulcer;
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asthma and other respiratory diseases;
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diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Exercises for Beginner Basketball Players
Not a single training session takes place without these basketball exercises, therefore, their implementation must be approached especially responsibly. They are aimed at developing the basic necessary skills:
To speed up the effect of basketball training, start with 5 minutes of running without stress.
After that, you can do the following exercises, which are needed to warm up each muscle group.
Shoulders
Stand up straight and stretch your arms out to the sides. Straight arms should move in a circle: 10 turns back and forth.
Pelvis
Fix the hands on the belt, and spread the legs shoulder-width apart. Perform rotations in the hip joint.
Back
Bend your elbows and press them to your chest. Put your feet shoulder width apart. Turn right and left 5-10 times in each direction.
Knees
Stand up straight, connect your toes and heels.
Bend your knees slightly and put your hands on them. Perform circular movements with your knees, helping yourself with your hands.
Ankle
Keeping the hands on the belt, and placing the right foot on the toe behind the back behind you, you need to make several rotations of the feet. After a while, change legs.
Squats
Squat 5 times. The exercise must be performed carefully, do not lift your heels off the floor, and stretch your arms in front of you.
How to learn how to throw a ball correctly?
The ability to throw the ball correctly is practically the most important thing in basketball, so pay more attention to throwing exercises.
- Stand 2-3 meters from the ring. Take two slow steps. Standing on one leg, throw the ball into the ring;
- get behind the line. Hit the ball on the floor a couple of times. Take two steps towards the ring. Throw the ball into the basket;
- standing on the three-point line, throw the ball at the wall and catch it.
Take two steps and throw the ball around the ring; - to get the ball into the basket, you need to throw it into the corner of the rectangle drawn on the shield.
Leg development
If you take an extra step, you can lose points and let the team down, so you need to have trained legs. Practice the jump stop.
- Do not change position while performing the exercise;
- throw the ball against the wall, catch it with both hands and at the same time jump with both feet;
- choose one foot as a point of support and turn forward and backward on it;
- imagine that you are catching the ball with your hands while in a jump, land and make turns on the supporting leg. Please note that you need to land on 2 legs.
Practicing the pass
Basketball is a team game. Even if you accurately hit the ring, you still cannot pass the ball to others, you will be of little use to the team.
- Stand 2-3 m from the wall.
Throw the ball at her twice and catch it; - hold the ball with both hands. Make a movement with brushes, directing it to the wall;
- Gradually increase the distance between the player and the wall. During long passes, you need to take a step forward.
Learning to dribble
Do you remember how pathetically Adriano Celentano dribbled the ball in the film "The Taming of the Shrew"? You can do the same if you practice these exercises;
- quickly toss the ball with the fingers, keeping it off the floor;
- transfer the ball from one hand to the other by wrapping it around the body, head or leg.
Basketball is a very versatile sport, so many skills will have to be developed. A basketball player must accelerate, practice shuttle running, be able to run backwards and move on half-bent knees, work out the speed of hand movement (which is very important when intercepting).
Basketball for children - what is useful, at what age to play
Basketball is one of the most popular sports games.
Basketball for children is considered one of the early sports, because kids can be enrolled in the first lessons from the age of 3. But the most important advantage of basketball is its accessibility.
Sections for children are available in schools and neighborhood clubs, and classes are often free. And if you are not ready to give the child to the section, just buy him a ring and a ball and hang it on your site and the kid will already be busy in sports, which means he will get the maximum benefit for development.
Benefits of basketball for children, what qualities it develops
Before sending a child to a section, parents should know how basketball is useful for children and what qualities it develops.
First of all, like any team sport, basketball develops social skills. Working in a team, children learn to help each other, care about common interests and work for the good of the team.
Moreover, this basketball is an excellent emotional release.
It helps the guys throw out negative energy and get positive emotions. Along with this, character is tempered during classes, and the child learns to go towards the goal, sacrificing his own desires and needs.
Basketball also helps to get rid of complexes. This is especially true for tall girls who are noticeably taller than their peers. In a team where all players are taller than average, the girls no longer feel like a black sheep, but gain self-confidence and begin to be proud of their height.
The influence of playing basketball on the physical development of a child
The influence of playing basketball on the physical development of a child is also strong. First of all, the guys involved in this sport develop endurance, and all muscle groups are strengthened. Basketball practice - these are jumping, running, swinging arms, tilts and squats, which allow you to develop all muscle groups and strengthen the heart and blood vessels.
In addition to the general health benefits, basketball will also help prevent the development of certain diseases that result from an inactive lifestyle.
What's more, basketball develops:
- Overview of vision. Due to the fact that the player must constantly keep an eye on the ball and other players, the field of view is improved. Children learn to manage peripheral vision and train their eyes;
- Reaction speed. Often during a match, an athlete must make lightning-fast decisions on which the outcome of the game depends. This helps children learn to respond quickly to emergency situations;
- Mindfulness. Through intense play, attention and memory develop, which not only has a beneficial effect on the playground, but also in studies and everyday life.
Given these facts, the question of what basketball gives a child can be answered that classes will strengthen physical, mental and mental health. That is why basketball is often recommended to children suffering from reduced attention and weak immunity. But not all children can benefit from basketball, you can find out what kind of sport is suitable for a child here.
Does playing basketball make children grow
It is often said that basketball makes children grow, but is it really so? Recent studies have shown that yes, indeed, he can help the baby grow up, but is not able to grow a giant out of him.
The increase in height is due to the straightening of the spine, which is stretched during jumps. Also, a slight increase in growth contributes to the strengthening of the muscles of the back and legs.
But to say that basketball can significantly affect the growth of an athlete is wrong, there is no scientific justification for this.
The fact that in the sections all children are really tall is explained simply - short children simply leave this sport, because they cannot compete with tall athletes, as a result they move on to other sports, for example, volleyball, where they need both tall and undersized athletes.
At what age can a child play basketball
For preschool children, basketball is available from 3 years of age.
Often this game is played in physical education classes in kindergarten. Of course, such a crumb will not be taken to the section, but at this age the child can already be introduced to the ball and the net.
Professional basketball training for children starts at the age of 5-6 years. At this age, you can enroll in a section at the sports palace, both boys and girls are accepted. The first 4-5 years the guys work out together, and only at the age of 10 the coach forms the men's and women's teams.
Basketball for beginners is more about general physical training and familiarity with the ball. In the first years of training, the coach pays special attention to the development of endurance, so most of the training takes place in the fresh air.
In the gym, the guys learn different techniques and combinations, and also learn how to hit the basket. According to statistics, it is in their youth that children are more likely to encounter injuries in basketball. This is due to not yet developed coordination and lack of skills in programming movements.
That is why sports insurance for basketball at this age is a necessity, because it will reimburse the costs of treatment and provide the young athlete with high-quality rehabilitation, which will prevent the occurrence of fatigue injuries and chronic injuries in the future.
Age characteristics of children in basketball
Age characteristics of children in basketball are a fundamental factor in drawing up a schedule and training plan.
Consider how the load of basketball players changes with age:
- 3-5 years. At this age, kids still do not know how to memorize the rules of the game and listen to the coach. All classes are held in a playful way and are aimed at developing coordination of movements and mindfulness;
- 5-7 years old. During this period, special attention is paid to the physical development and increasing the flexibility of the child. The goal of the trainer is to maximize endurance and strengthen all muscle groups. Also at this stage, children begin to learn the rules of basketball and learn various tactical and dynamic techniques;
- 7-9 years old.
This is the age at which real training starts. At the age of 8, children can already participate in competitions. Now all their work is aimed at the result of the whole team. During these years, the main task of the coach is to teach the guys to interact with each other; - 10-12 years old. At this age, men's and women's teams are formed. Now the team is becoming a real family with common goals and objectives. Most often, it is at this age that the first victories occur;
- 12-14 years old. At this age, children learn to program their movements. This is a very important stage for every basketball player, because the final result of the maneuver depends on it. At this time, the main task of the coach is to hone the movements of each player to the ideal;
- 14-16 years old. This is the time to master tactical thinking. The brain of a teenager is already ready to solve tactical problems and make quick decisions. At this moment, the coach already sees which of the guys can become a real champion;
- 16-18 years old.
This is the age when a teenager must show all the acquired skills. Strong players are formed into teams to participate in important competitions. At this time, the start in a sports career begins, because the guys already have sports categories and can participate in adult competitions.
If you want to grow a real champion out of a child, a section at a school or a sports palace is a good place to start. Later, by the age of 7, the basketball section for children should be focused specifically on professional activities. Such a section can be found in any city, because this sport is very popular. You can choose a section closer to home in our catalog of sports schools and sections.
Basketball is one of the sports for children, which has a minimum of contraindications and a maximum of benefits. Classes on the playground and in the gym can be the best hobby for a child, because during the game the guys learn true friendship. Moreover, basketball for children will also help parents in raising a teenager, because the child will grow up in a healthy company and he simply will not have time for nonsense.
