GENERAL TRAINING PLAN

Here is a sample structure of a practice schedule for a youth team. Of course, this is
just a sample and things would be different every day, but this is a basic structure of
how a practice may look.

Pre-Practice - Stretching

Team Offense Warm-

Up Time

Team Defense
Skills Drills
Shooting Drills
Dribbling Drills Team Scrimmage / Post-
Practice Comments

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE DURING PRACTICE

1. Warm-Up and Stretching: Set up a routine. (Let players do this). Change

leaders every practice.
2. Skills Drills: This can change each practice. Advance in relationship to the
ability of each player.
3. Shooting Drills: Work on accuracy. Contests are fun. Free throw
shooting is a must. Work on self-improvement.
4. Dribbling Drills : Work on ball handling.
5. Team Offense: Teach team offense .Break it down (2 on 2, 3 on 3, etc.).
6. Team Defense: Teach team defense . Break it down (2 on 2, 3 on 3, etc.).

WARM-UP TIME
Body balance and control drills:
Change pace/direction, Two-foot jump stop (With or Without Ball),
Two-foot and reverse pivot, Defensive stance, Defensive slides,
Silent run - high knees etc.
SKILLS DRILLS WITH BALL
For Example:
1. Equal amount of players in each line:
A. Dribble(normal dribble, power dribble, dribble to middle…), two-foot
jump stop, reverse pivot, crossover, pull back, change of pace, and
behind the back.
B. Pass, receive, jump stop; full court/half court/part of court.
C. Dribble down the court - crossover, pull back, change of pace.
D. Passing , full court - pass and go behind the player.
OFFENSE

Basic Principles for offense:

A. Every time you receive the ball, do the following: Triple Threat
1. Look to shoot.
2. Drive (get by the defender who guards you).
3. Pass and move to a new spot.
B. Fake a pass, Fake of throwing, body fake , fakeing movement…
C. Offensive Rebounding. Anticipate the missed shot.
D. Passing game. Pass and move with or without ball.
E. Shooting Drills (many variations).
F. Dribbling Drills.
G. Base- game (1 on 0, 1 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 3, 3 on 2, 2 on 1,…)

DEFENSE :

Basketball stance; sliding (feet apart and moving sideways); aggressive

defense; close guarding; close man to man; boxers stance (one foot forward
stance); reacting for the ball on defense…