Youth Basketball

Practice Structure

Basketball practices for children under the age of 12 should emphasize development of a strong athletic base (a good athlete can move in all directions, quickly, smoothly, and on balance). Agility, balance, coordination, and speed are most receptive to training – the ABC’S.

At the U8 and U10 levels (ages 6 to 9), fundamental drills should be supplemented by small-sided/modified games such as 3 on 3. U11 and U12 players can be introduced to 4 on 4 and 5 on 5.

A generic practice plan should try to cover

• warm-up
• motor skills & footwork
• ball-handling
• dribbling
• passing
• layups
• shooting
• advantage situations (e.g. 2 on 1, 3 on 2)
• other small-sided games (1 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 3)

Progressions

• defending on the ball (then off the ball)
• offensive concepts, e.g. give and go, spacing
• transition situations

For skills curricula and progressions, see Skills Checklists for Youth Players.

For small-sided games, see Jr. NBA MOJO App.

Modified rules can be used, e.g., defence can't grab the ball from an attacker, but can steal passes in the air. See WABC Mini-Basketball.

For ready-made lesson plans, see

• Mega Hoops
• Steve Nash Youth Basketball
• Jr. NBA Canada
• Jr. NBA Curriculum

For other drill options, see

• Gooroo Youth Basketball Drills
• Steve Nash MVP Basketball
• Favourite Drills for Kids
• Mega Hoops Clinic 2014

For other ideas on youth practice planning, see

• SNYB - Practice planning
• Coach Mac - Youth Practice Plan
• Jerry Petitgoue - Youth-league practice plan
• Brian McCormick - Tips for youth basketball practice
• Brian McCormick - Using games to teach youth
• Dave Smart - Teaching Younger Players

Here are 10 teaching tips:

1. Practice should be FUN.
2. As they say in soccer, avoid the 3 Ls - lines, laps, and lectures. Keep it simple, short and sweet. Players forget what they hear, remember what they see (demonstrations), understand what they do.
3. Demonstrate the correct way, but also show players how they are doing it, they don't see themselves. Cues about how it should feel are helpful, too.
4. Ask questions as you explain, keep them engaged.
5. Drills should be short, e.g., 2 minutes for fullcourt passing, 5 minutes for technical (individual) drills, 10 minutes for team tactical drills. Younger players have shorter attention spans, so transition quickly into shorter drills.
6. Have variety (new drills), but if a drill is going badly, move on. It may not be a dud, but they may not be ready for it yet based on current skill levels.
7. Follow a progression that naturally sequences skill progression. Build on a skill within a practice or keep building over many practices.
8. Whole-part-whole - show the whole concept, break it down (e.g., footwork), put it back together.
9. Use "TLC" drills - Teaching-Learning-Competing.
   • Teaching
     • low(er) intensity
     • stop at any time to correct
   • Learning
     • higher intensity
     • application of a skill, when to use it
     • players get multiple reps
     • there may be guided defence or offence to work on decision-making (e.g., an on-ball defender who may or may not jump to the ball on a pass)
     • coach on the fly, stop a drill only if a majority of players are struggling, if an individual is having problems pull them aside to give corrections
   • Competing
     • like a game, play through mistakes
   • Players need to know whether a drill is T, L or C and when a drill changes ("let's add a defender")
10. Positive and constructive feedback.