Practice Plan

Practice Plans

Having a plan for your practice is crucial for ensuring a fun, efficient and instructive session with your team.

There are 4 basic principles that should be used in every practice:

1. Always include three phases
1. warm-up  (for preparedness and safety)
2. drills (for skill development)
3. scrimmage (for team development)
2. Keep practices moving quickly with
1. A well prepared practice plan
2. Short drills – kids get bored quickly
3. Quick breaks – don’t deny water but make it quick
3. Positive and instructive criticism works better then negative feedback.
1. “Nice try, keep your head up next time” is better than
2. “Stop throwing the ball out of bounds”
4. Make it fun.
1. Use games, contests, competition during drills.
2. Be firm, earn respect but also be light-hearted and funny
3. Reserve 1 or 2 practices as a “fun” practice

Here is a 1 hour sample practice plan.  There are an infinite number of drills and options to substitute for each phase.   Research drills on the internet, watch DVDs, ask other coaches, watch another practice are many of the ways to learn.

Warmups

6:00 Warm ups

-         slow jog around court

-         full court walking and ball handling

Drills

6:10 Dribbling

-         1 ball  LH/RH

-         2 balls

-         Zig/zag w/ defense

6:20 Layups

-         2 dribble layup

-         Jump stop layup

Break

            6:30 - Off/Def instructions

-         Man-to-Man Defense

o       Position

o       Screening

o       Drill - slide

Scrimmage

6:45 Scrimmage

-         full court or half court

-         5X5 or 3X3