Practice 1 of 12 ROOKIE LEVEL

P E R C E N TAG E
O F TOTA L
THEME AC T I V I T Y D E TA I L S P R AC T I C E T I M E

Values HAVE FUN! The game of basketball is fun! Encourage the players to enjoy the

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game and their teammates!

Warm-Up THE ESCAPE GAME The players will partner up and “escape” from each other in this fun

5%
(3 x each partner) warm-up game.

Building TEACH: Ball-Handling

Skills
HOT BALL (TAPS) (2 x 30 seconds) Gain familiarity with the ball and warm-up the fingers and hands.

AROUND THE WORLD WRAPS Challenge the players to wrap the ball quickly around their body.
(1x10 reps/way)

TEACH: Passing

STATIONARY WALL PASS (3 x 10) Find a target on the wall and practice hitting it with the perfect pass!

70%
TEACH: Shooting

PARTNER SHOOTING GAME Focus on perfect form and visualization.

(2 x 5 each)

PICK YOUR SHOT GAME (1 game) Have some fun shooting just like practiced!

TEACH: Footwork & Conditioning

JUMP-STOP GAME Use this game to work on the fundamentals of the jump stop; balance
No ball (2 x down & back) and body control.

Team Concepts TEAMWORK CARRY DRILL This is a great drill to encourage teamwork!

10%
(1 - 2 games)

Competing WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER GAME Have fun with this game that incorporates all that you’ve worked on!

10%
(1 game)

Compliment COMPLIMENT SESSION In small groups have the players debreif and share about the positive
Session actions in practice.

Please limit standing time for players by spreading out and using The percentages listed serve as
as many baskets, basketballs, and parents/helpers as possible. approximate recommendations on
how to allocate practice time.
Be sure to take regular water breaks to help your players stay hydrated.

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VALUES  H AV E F U N !

• Share with the players the importance of having fun and remind
5% everybody that the Jr. NBA is all about enjoying the game of
basketball!

• Remember, coaches should model this value by smiling, giving

high-fives, and running practice with positive energy.

 The Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) reminds us that keeping

basketball fun for players is key to their success as players and as
people. After all, if the sport is not fun players may stop playing,
miss fully developing their athletic potential, and ultimately miss
out on learning life lessons through basketball. However, as long as
we keep the game fun, their love of the game will grow and they will
develop as players and people.

WARM-UP  WARM-UP GAME

 The Escape Game (3x each partner)

5%

• Have the players partner up and designate a partner “1” and a

partner “2.”

• All 1’s will go to the center of the gym, face the center, and cover
their eyes. Have all 2’s stand next to their partner (1).

• The coach calls out “ Partner 2’s Skip!” and partner 2’s skip away.
Note: coaches can substitute skip with various actions such as
hopping on 1 foot, hopping on 2 feet, lateral slide, running, running
sideways, running backwards. To keep it fun include movements
like crab walk, frog hops and lion leaps.

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WARM-UP • When coach says “Tag your partner!” partner 1 looks for partner
CONTINUED
2 and skips to tag them as partner 2 tries to skip away. Note: To
keep the flow of the game, you may need to start a countdown. If
the players haven’t been tagged at the end of the countdown, they
should find each other.

• Once tagged or the countdown expires, pairs start to return to

center court. Partner 1 asks partner 2 questions to get to know their
teammate until the coach has them switch roles and play again.
Here are a few suggested questions: “What is your name?” “What
is your favorite color?” “What is your favorite basketball team?”
“What is your middle name?” “When is your birthday?”

 Key Points: This is a great game to get the players actively

warmed-up. Remember the players should only move with action
the coach commands and should not run to tag their partner even
when the get close.

BUILDING  BALL-HANDLING

SKILLS  Ball-Handling Fundamental Skill: The act of moving and

controlling the ball. Ball-handling includes ball control, dribbling,
70% and dribble moves. The better the ball-handler, the easier
it becomes for the player to move with the ball and create
opportunities for their team.

 Hot Ball (Taps) (2 x 30 seconds)

• All players need a basketball (or share) and should stand in a

designated area.

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BUILDING SKILLS • The players will start with their arms extended in front of their
CONTINUED
waste and tap the ball quickly from hand to hand using their
fingertips. Players pretend that the ball is too hot to hold and need
70% to tap it quickly.

• The players move the ‘hot ball’ above their head, in front of their
face and back to their waist with the tapping action.

 Key Points: Get comfortable with the ball, warm-up the fingers and
hands, and develop the ability to control the ball.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Social Load
• Designate a leader that the players follow as they move the
‘hot ball’ through different levels. Change the leader.

 Around The World Wraps (1 x 10 reps each way)

• All players need a basketball (or share) and should stand in a

designated area.

• The Players start with the ball in front of their waist and
wrap it quickly in circles around waist. Switch directions after
10 repititions.

• Next, players will wrap the ball around their head and then their
knees in both directions.

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BUILDING SKILLS  Key Points: Get comfortable with the ball, warm-up the fingers and
CONTINUED
hands, and develop the ability to control the ball. Help the players gain
confidence moving the ball as if it is an extension of their body. Push
70% the players to wrap the ball fast in order to challenge their control.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Competitive Load
• Pair players up and challenge them to see who can complete
10 wraps first. Adjust the location, direction and number of
wraps based on player skill level.

Physical Load
• Allow players to creatively wrap the ball as quickly as they can
around different parts of their body and in various directions.

 Knee Tag

• Pair the players in partners and one player has a basketball. Pairs
spread out in the space.

• The player without the basketball tags their partner’s knees as

many times as they can in the given time.

• The player with the basketball dribbles the ball and avoids their
partner’s tags by moving their feet and body. As players dribble the
ball they can only move up to 3 steps in all directions.

• Switch roles. The partner with the most number of tags wins.

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BUILDING SKILLS +/- OPTIONAL LOAD

CONTINUED

Technical Load
70%
• Non-tagging player dribbles using their non-dominant hand.
• Both players dribbling a ball.
• Tagging player must do a cross over after each knee tag.

Physical Load
• Tagging player completes a physical activity after each
tag. Ex. A jump, a burpee, sprint to a line or others.

 PA S S I N G

 Passing Fundamental Skill: Passing is the act of throwing the

ball to a teammate. A basic pass happens by holding the ball with
two hands, stepping towards a target, and throwing the ball to a
teammate. Passing the ball to teammates moves the ball quicker
than dribbling and also forces the defensive players to move and
react. Just like ball-handling and shooting, passing is a skill that
must be practiced.

 Stationary Wall Passing (3 x 10 passes)

• The players should get a basketball (or share) and stand a short
distance from a wall and find a target on the wall.

• Teach the players to step with a lead foot toward the target as they
snap their thumbs down and extend their arms to pass the ball to
the target.

• After the ball hits the wall, the players should let the ball bounce
catch it and repeat.
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BUILDING SKILLS  Key Points: Make sure the players have good balance, look at the
CONTINUED
target, step towards the target, extend their arms, and snap their
thumbs down as they pass the ball. The ball should have backspin
70% as it is in the air.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Technical Load
• Add a dribble(s) before passing to the wall.
• Adjust the distance from the wall while still hitting a target.
• Create multiple targets by using existing wall markings, using
tape or drawing with chalk. Coach calls out the designated
target.

Social Load
• In partners have the passer pass to the targets announced by
their partner.

 S H O OT I N G

 Shooting Fundamental Skill: Shooting is the act of throwing the

ball with the intent of it going through the basket.

• When shooting, players start in a balanced stance with their ankles,

knees, and hips bent. They should hold the ball in their shooting
hand. If a player is right handed, they should hold the ball on the
right side of their body and if they are left-handed, they should hold
it on their left side. Their shooting elbow should be bent under the
ball and facing the basket. The player’s other hand should be lightly
supporting the ball on the side.

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BUILDING SKILLS • Starting with their lower body, players should extend upward and
CONTINUED
shoot the ball up towards the basket. As the ball releases, players
snap their wrist towards the basket and hold their follow-through.
70%

• To shoot with good form, it is important to bend the knees for both
balance and strength. The players should have their feet a little
wider than shoulder width apart, and often, shooters will have the
foot on the side of their shooting hand slightly ahead of their other
foot. The player’s feet, knees, hips, shoulders and head should all
be facing the basket. The shooting hand elbow should be under the
ball while the other hand should support the ball on the side. The
ball should be in the fingertips of the shooting hand with a small
gap between the palm and the ball. Then in one motion the player
should extend their legs while extending their shooting hand. The
hand and elbow should come to full extension up high with the ball
primarily coming off the fingertips of the index and middle fingers.
The player should flip their wrist forward creating backspin on the
ball which allows it to land softly on the rim. The opposite hand
should come off the ball just before the player releases the ball
from the shooting hand. The player should land in the same place
they jumped from on both feet nice and balanced and hold their
follow-through until they see if the shot goes in.

 Partner Shooting Game (2 x 5 each)

• Assign partners and use 1 ball per group. The group can find a spot
anywhere on the court.

• Players shoot the ball back and forth to each other while working
on proper shooting technique.

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BUILDING SKILLS  Key Points: Have the players emulate the perfect shot and perfect
CONTINUED
form as they go through the drill.

70%
+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Technical Load
• Instead of shooting to the partner, players should stand on a
line, shoot the ball up, and try to have the ball land straight in
front of them on the same line. The partner will catch the ball
and shoot back on the same line.

Physical Load
• After shooting to their partner, the shooter will run in place
with high knees (or other movement) until their partner shoots
the ball back.

 Pick Your Shot Game (2 rounds)

• Place several cones or objects around the court randomly, with

some close to the basket and a few farther away.

• Divide your group into multiple teams and give each team a
basketball. The teams start the game lined up at half court or
another designated area.

• To start the game, the first player in each team line dribbles to any of
the cones or objects on the court and takes a shot from that spot. If
they make the shot, they take the cone and bring it back to their team’s
line and hand off the ball to the next player on their team. If they miss
the shot, they leave the cone where it is and dribble the ball back to
their team and hand off the ball to the next player on their team.
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BUILDING SKILLS • The game continues with players picking the cones they want to
CONTINUED
shoot from. When all the cones have been picked up, the game
ends and the team with the most cones wins. The coach can also
70% end the game within a designated time if needed.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Technical Load
• Players must complete a crossover or other dribble move
before they shoot at a cone.
• Two players from each team go at a time, with one player
passing to the other for a shot at a cone.

Deload
• If players are having trouble making shots, move the cones
closer to the hoop or allow them to take a cone if they just hit
the rim on their shot.

 F O OT W O R K & C O N D I T I O N I N G

 Jump Stop Fundamental Skill: The act of landing on both feet at

the same time when either receiving a pass or after a player’s last
dribble. Landing on both feet at the same time helps the player gain
balance, and allows the player to use either foot as a pivot foot.

• The players should keep their eyes and chest up and stay
balanced by having their knees bent.

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BUILDING SKILLS  Jump Stop Game (2 x down & back)

CONTINUED

• Players spread out across the baseline and start in an athletic

70% stance.

• Coach stands in front of the team and raises their arm to signal
“Go” and players move forward. When coach lowers their arm,
players jump stop in a balanced position.

• If any players are out of position, unbalanced or don’t stop in time,

they take 3 steps backwards. The first player to cross the baseline
on the other side of the court wins the game.

• Once the group in front of the player moves towards the next jump
stop location, the next player begins the same process.

• The players will wait at the opposite baseline until all the players
finish and then do the same process going back.

 Key Points: To ensure balance have the players land in the jump
stop position and wait a few seconds before raising your arm to
allow them to move forward again.

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BUILDING SKILLS +/- OPTIONAL LOAD

CONTINUED

Technical Load
70% • Each player has a basketball (or can share between
players). Players dribble when moving and pick up the ball
on a jump stop.

Social Load
• Wins the first round leads as the “coach” for the next game.
• Break into smaller groups in designated spaces, nominating a
player to lead each game.

Deload
• When players have basketballs, the coach can use vocal cues
instead of hand cues.

TEAM  Teamwork Carry Drill (1-2 games)

CONCEPTS • Pair the players up according to their height and have them start
next to their partner in a few lines.
10%

• The first pair in each line will get a ball and place it between their
hips with their hands in the air.

• The partner pair is responsible for walking/moving with the ball on

their hip to half court and back to the next group in their line.

• They are not allowed to use any other body parts to carry the
basketball, and must always be in the side-to-side position and not
back-to-back or side-to-back.

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TEAM CONCEPTS • If the ball drops, simply pick up the ball and go back to where the
CONTINUED
ball was dropped and continue.

10%  Key Points: This is a fun team building exercise that forces players
to work together. Have all the players encourage each other and
have fun.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Technical Load
• Have the players get into groups of 3 and use 2 balls as they
complete the same challenge.

Social Load
• When partners drop the ball, the partners must give each
other a compliment related to their practice.

COMPETING  GAMES

 What’s Your Number Game (1 game)

10%

• Divide the group into two even teams using a half court. If there
are six players on each team, number players 1 through 6 on both
teams. Each team will line up on opposite sidelines and all players
will have a number.

• Place two basketballs in the middle of the half court and call out
a group of numbers. The players on each team assigned to those
numbers run out, pick up a ball, and attempt to score on their side
of court. The team that makes the first basket earns 1 point.

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COMPETING • If more than one number is called, all players must receive a pass
CONTINUED
before attempting shooting.

10% • Once a shot is made or the coach blows the whistle to end the round,
place the balls back and call out a new group of numbers. The team
with the highest score at the end of a designated time wins.

 Key Points: Ensure players are always ready as they never know
when their number will be called. If there is an odd number of players,
assign two number to one player to make the teams even. Make sure
players are using the dribbling, passing, and jump-stop skills learned
earlier in the practice. Players should cheer on their teammates.

+/- OPTIONAL LOAD

Technical Loads
• Modify the spot on the court to shoot from or number of made
shots each round.
• Incorporate a dribble move before each shot.

Physical Load
• All players not shooting must complete a physical movement
(jumping jacks, line-hops) until a shot is made.

COMPLIMENT • Gather the players together. Players group with 1-2 players next to
them and share answers to the prompted questions.
SESSION
• Ask players to share something they did well, what enjoyed about
today’s practice or something positive about another player’s actions.

• Have players switch groups and ask some players to share their
groups answers. Coach can build onto the player responses.
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