Session 1

Use the warmup to get players moving from the start. No need for formal introductions, gathering as a group, standing in straight lines, etc. Just start. Give the players the next instructions as they dribble. For instance, if your cue to stop is to yell “Stop!” or to blow a whistle, prepare them for the cue. Once they stop, introduce your expectations. Also introduce a jump stop, and set the next expectation for when you yell “Stop!” or blow the whistle: Jump stop into Hard2Guard position. Get the players moving again and move through a few progressions. You do not have to hit all the progressions. Judge the enthusiasm and skill level: That’s the art of coaching.

Objective: To explore different dribbling movements.

Pre-Requisites: Dribbling.

Execution: Every player has a ball and dribbles freely. No need to gather the group together or put players in line. Allow players to run around and dribble. Begin by telling players to jump stop and pick up the ball when the coach says “Stop!”. Continue dribbling.

Progression 1: Change the movements while players dribble. Demonstrate and ask players to mimic the demonstration. Incorporate skipping, shuffling, backpedaling, and more.

Progression 2: When players stop, ask them to dribble in place and perform different movements. One knee to the ground. Other knee to the ground. Sit down and stand up. Sit down and lay flat on one’s back. Touch your toe with non-dribbling hand. Reach as high as possible.

Progression 3: As players dribble, when they near another player, they give each other a high five and continue their dribbling.

Progression 4: As players dribble, when they near another player, they give each other a high five. After giving the high five, players speed dribble to a basket for a layup, then return to dribbling.

Progression 5: As players dribble, whenever they near another player, they pass to each other: Make eye contact and use one-handed bounce passes from close range.

Progression 6: Next, while dribbling, players form lines of 4-5 players as quickly as possible without stopping their dribble; one player per group leads and the others follow the leader.

Progression 7: Next, turn the line into a “Train Run”: The caboose accelerates to sprint to the front of the line and become the leader; once the first caboose gets to the front, the new caboose sprints.

Progression 8: Give a second ball to some players. Whenever a player dribbling 2 balls nears a player with one ball, the player with 2 balls passes to the other player: Make eye contact and use one-handed bounce passes from close range.

Teaching Points: Explore. Dribble the ball out in front. Eyes up to see other players. Move around. Change speeds.

LINK TO Video

Tic-Tac-Toe Races is a quick fun movement game.

Objective: To think quickly in a fun, competitive game.

Pre-Requisites: None.

Execution: Divide the group into teams of 3-5 players, depending on numbers. Set out several Tic-Tac Toe grids using cones. Give each team 3 pennies or cones of the same color. Two teams play each other on each grid. When the coach says “Go!”, Player 1 on each team sprints to the grid, puts down a cone, and sprints back to tag a teammate. The teammate sprints and puts down the second cone. Repeat until one team wins by lining up their cones three in a row. After all 3 cones are on the grid, players move one cone on each turn.

Progression 1: Every player dribbles a basketball.

Progression 2: Players dribble and score a layup before placing their cones on the grid.

Teaching Points: Look ahead and scan the grid to decide on move before reaching the grid. Control the ball.

LINK TO VIDEO

We devised the Court Awareness Game to teach the names of different locations or symbols on the court because players often are unaware of the correct terminology. Encourage players to use all the baskets, not just the main court.

Objective: To teach the names of the positions on the court.

Pre-Requisites: Jump stop; Hard2Guard position.

Execution: Each player has a ball and spreads out. The coach calls out a place or position on the court, and the players dribble to the spot. Once there, players jump stop into the Hard2Guard position. Important terminology to use: Sideline, baseline, key/paint, top of the key, elbow, block/box, short corner, corner, wing, and slot. Try each term a few times.

Teaching Points: Stay consistent — if you call the key “the key,” do not change to “the paint” next week. Once players learn the terms, use questions rather than names? i.e. “Where is the bench?” “Where are you allowed to be for only 3 seconds when on offense?” “Where do you inbound after a made basket?”

The Maravich Drills develop coordination and familiarity with the basketball.

Pick 5-10 and do them in a circuit, one after the other, for 15-30 seconds per exercise.

Lead by demonstration, and use brief instructions when players need help. Try not to instruct too much.

Link to Video

Use Fox & Chickens to evaluate basic ball control skills. To change the game, mix up the movements:

Play with all players shuffling (and ruffling) or skipping.

Objective: To dribble while protecting the ball from defensive players.

Pre-Requisites: Ball control; protect dribble; speed dribble.

Execution: Choose 1-2 players to start as the “Foxes”. They do not have balls. Everyone else has a ball.

The Foxes chase the Chickens and attempt to steal their balls. When they steal a ball, that Chicken becomes a Fox.

Play until there are no chickens remaining.

Teaching Points: Eyes up – see the floor to avoid the Foxes; control the dribble close to the body rather than pushing and chasing the ball; move North-South – make a quick fake and then go forward, not sideways.

Link to Video

Spanish Layups is a fun layup drill that begins to teach reading defenders and incorporates passing.

Objective: Reading a defender to make a move and create a layup.

Pre-Requisites: Speed dribble; layups.

Execution: Players pair up and each player has a ball. Offensive players dribble in place outside the 3-point line and their partners stand roughly 6 feet away with their balls.
The defenders throw their balls at the offensive players’ balls, attempting to knock away the offensive players’ dribble.
The offensive players protect the ball and make a move to avoid their balls being hit, then attack the basket and finish a layup. Both players retrieve their balls and switch roles.

Progression 1: Start in the same positions, but the defenders start with the dribble and must throw their balls off the dribble with one-hand passes.

Teaching Points :

Throw the balls low and at the dribble; do not hit your partner.

Sprint after your balls.

Change the rhythm of your dribbles to throw off the defenders.

Eyes up to see the defender and anticipate their throws.

Quick, tight moves to protect the ball and explode to the basket.

Link to Video

The Mirror Drill is a fun way to teach footwork and lateral movement with a reaction to an opponent.

Demonstrate the lateral shuffle and crossover stepping briefly before playing the game.

Objective: To react to an opponent and change directions quickly to stay in front of a player.

Pre-Requisites: Lateral shuffle.

Execution: Divide the group into pairs and spread out over the entire court with players facing each other.
One player leads, and the other follows. When the coach says, “Go!” the players move laterally.

The offensive player tries to create separation from the defensive player, whereas the
defender tries to keep their nose in the center the offensive player’s chest.
If the offense creates separation between the two, the offense is winning.

If the defender keeps their foot between the width of the offensive player’s body, they are winning.

Go for 10 seconds. Switch roles.

Progression 1: Form 2 lines on the baseline, one at each lane-line. Designate one line as the leader, and the other as the follower.

First 2 players step out. They move laterally between the baseline and free-throw line with the follower mirroring the leader. The Coach holds a ball, and after 3-8 seconds, the coach tosses out the ball in any direction.
The players sprint for the ball; the player who gets the ball is the offensive player, the the other player is the defender.
They play 1v1 to the other basket, while the second group starts the mirror drill.

Progression 2: Players pair up and start near half-court, facing the sidelines. The offensive player dribbles a ball, and the defender follows the offensive player, as in the initial execution.
At any moment, the offensive player can turn to sprint toward a basket, initiating the 1v1 game. Switch roles on the next turn.

Teaching Points: Stay on-balance; meet your momentum – foot outside your knee and knee outside your hip when you stop; wide stance; quick, short steps.

Link to Video

Spanish Escape Tag is an agility game that promotes teamwork.

Objective: To practice lateral agility and first-step explosiveness.

Pre-Requisites: None.

Execution: Create circles with cones with 4 players per circle. One player starts inside the cones, and the other 3 start outside the cones. The player inside attempts to escape without being tagged.

Manipulate the size of the circles to create a manageable challenge.

Teaching Points: Keep your feet moving. Outside the cone shuffle. Inside the cones, use fakes to create separation. Encourage those on the outside to talk and work together like a team.

Link to Video

Spots Shooting a quick, competitive shooting drill. If there are too many players, players pair up and take
turns with their partner. Emphasize dribbling to and from the spots and jump stopping. The “how-tos” of
shooting will come later; for now, allow players to shoot freely without too much instruction.

Objective: To practice shooting off the dribble from different locations.

Pre-Requisites: Shooting; dribbling.

Execution: Divide players evenly to the baskets. Set out as many cones or dots as possible, mixed evenly between the baskets.
Give each player a pinnie or ring to denote their home base.
Each cone or dot is a shot location.
Players start at half-court, dribble to the basket, and shoot from a cone.
When the player makes the shot, they pick up the cone, rebound the ball, dribble back to their home base to drop off the cone, and returns to shoot from another cone.
When the player misses, he/she leaves the cone, rebounds the ball, dribbles to half-court, and returns to shoot from a different cone.

Play until there are no cones left at a basket. Winner is the one who collected the most cones.

Teaching Points: Stop and shoot. Small to tall; finish high. Reach shooting hand toward the rim.

Link to Video

Start Red-Light/Green-Light without balls. Depending on skill level, teach a transition from a sprint to a back pedal first.

Objective: To practice basic ball control, acceleration, and deceleration.

Pre-Requisites: Ball control; speed dribble.

Execution: Players line up on one baseline. Objective is to be the first to touch the other baseline, change directions, and return to the starting point.

In the first progression, play without basketballs.

On a green light, players sprint; on a yellow light, players back pedal; on a red light, players must stop.

Emphasize the jump stop to stop forward momentum.

Progression 1: Incorporate the dribble and use only the green and red lights.
Sprint forward while dribbling on a green light, and jump stop and pick up the dribble on a red light.

Use a right-hand dribble in one direction, and a left-hand dribble in the other direction.

Progression 2: Incorporate the dribble and add the yellow light.
Sprint forward while dribbling on a green light, back-pedal while dribbling on a yellow light
(if the transition with the basketball is too hard, use a shuffle dribble on a yellow light), and jump stop and pick up the dribble on a red light.
Use a right-hand dribble in one direction, and a left-hand dribble in the other direction.

Teaching Points:
Ball control — fingers and calluses
push the ball out in front
maintain control and stop quickly.
Use the Hard2Guard position when stopping.

Link to Video

Objective: To gain possession of the ball and score.

Pre-Requisites: Dribbling; layups.

Execution: Form two teams and line up one team on each sideline. Number off each player on each team, so Team 1 (T1) has a Player 1 (P1) and Team 2 (T2) has a Player 1 (P1).

If there is an odd number of players, one player on the short-handed team has two numbers.
Each team attacks the basket to their right. Coach tosses out the ball and calls out a number — #10.
P10 on T1 and P10 on T2 sprint after the ball.
Whichever player gets the ball becomes the offensive player attacking his or her offensive basket, and the other player defends.
The two players play until a basket is scored.
The coach can call out multiple numbers at one time to create a 2v2 or 3v3 or 4v4 game, and to make sure that every player participates.

Teaching Points:
Pick up the loose ball — do not try to dribble it; attack the basket; defensively, stay between the ball and the basket.

Link to Video