Coaches Manual
(last revised: 11/06)
Copyright 2006
Table of Contents
Coaches Manual........................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4
Before the First Practice............................................................................................. 5
Equipment ....................................................................................................................... 5
Contacting Parents and Players ....................................................................................... 6
3. Practice ....................................................................................................................... 6
Planning .......................................................................................................................... 6
Courtesy .......................................................................................................................... 7
While Players Arrive....................................................................................................... 7
Start of Practice ............................................................................................................... 7
Maximize Touches .......................................................................................................... 7
Minimize Scrimmage ...................................................................................................... 8
Keep It Moving, Keep It Fun .......................................................................................... 8
Example Practice Plan .................................................................................................... 8
4. Game Day .................................................................................................................. 9
Early In the Week ........................................................................................................... 9
Creating a Rotation ......................................................................................................... 9
What to Bring .................................................................................................................. 9
What to Wear .................................................................................................................. 9
Before the Game ........................................................................................................... 10
During the Game ........................................................................................................... 10
After the Game .............................................................................................................. 11
5. Skills Ladder ............................................................................................................ 11
Midget ........................................................................................................................... 11
Midget Level Skills ................................................................................................... 11
Bantam .......................................................................................................................... 12
Bantam Level Skills ...................................................................................................... 12
Cadet ............................................................................................................................. 12
Cadet Level Skills ......................................................................................................... 13
6. Defensive Skills ....................................................................................................... 13
Midget ........................................................................................................................... 13
Defensive Stance and Footwork ............................................................................... 13
Defensive Triangle .................................................................................................... 14
Basic Help Defense ................................................................................................... 14
Aggressive Defense .................................................................................................. 14
Stay in Tight .............................................................................................................. 14
Transition Defense .................................................................................................... 14
Bantam .......................................................................................................................... 14
Defense on the Ball ................................................................................................... 15
Defense When One Pass Away................................................................................. 15
Help Defense or When Two Passes Away ............................................................... 15
Closing Out ............................................................................................................... 15
1.
2.
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Defending Against the Screen .................................................................................. 15
Aggressive Defense .................................................................................................. 15
Rebounding ............................................................................................................... 15
Defending the Low Post............................................................................................ 15
Defending the Fast Break.......................................................................................... 16
Man Press .................................................................................................................. 16
Cadet ............................................................................................................................. 16
Weakside Help .......................................................................................................... 16
Zone Press ................................................................................................................. 16
7. Offensive Skills ........................................................................................................ 16
Midget ........................................................................................................................... 16
Face the Basket ......................................................................................................... 16
Movement Without the Ball...................................................................................... 17
Bantam .......................................................................................................................... 17
Pick and Roll ............................................................................................................. 17
Read the Defense ...................................................................................................... 17
Wing Entry ................................................................................................................ 17
Fast Break ................................................................................................................. 17
Inbounding ................................................................................................................ 17
Cadet ............................................................................................................................. 17
Breaking the Press..................................................................................................... 18
Secondary Break ....................................................................................................... 18
Reading the Trap ....................................................................................................... 18
8. Skills and Drills........................................................................................................ 18
Warm Up Exercises and Quickness Drills (ALL levels): ............................................. 18
A. BALL HANDLING .............................................................................................. 19
B. PASSING & CATCHING ................................................................................... 21
C LAY-UPS .............................................................................................................. 22
D SHOOTING .......................................................................................................... 23
E FAST BREAK & TRANSITION .......................................................................... 26
F DEFENSE .............................................................................................................. 27
G FOOTWORK AND MOVING WITHOUT THE BALL ..................................... 28
H PRACTICE ENDING GAMES ............................................................................ 29
9. Additional Drills ...................................................................................................... 30
10. Some Closing Thoughts ........................................................................................... 34
11. Appendix .................................................................................................................. 35
SAMPLE Midget Practice Schedule ............................................................................. 35
SAMPLE Bantam Practice Schedule ............................................................................ 36
SAMPLE Cadet Practice Schedule ............................................................................... 37
SAMPLE Game Player Rotations Template (Midgets) ................................................ 38
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1. Introduction
What You’ll Learn
Sudbury Youth Basketball (SYB) has published this guide to aid those coaching girls and
boys in the In-Town divisions. The guide provides useful information to help a coach
with the logistics of:
 planning for the season,
 communicating with parents,
 planning and running practices, and
 coaching during games.
How the League is Set Up
The SYB league consists of “In-Town” divisions for boys & girls in 3rd through 8th grade
where the focus is on skill development and recreation. SYB also has more competitive
travel teams at the 5th through 8th grade levels. Our focus in this manual is for those
coaching an In-Town team. There are 3 “In-Town” divisions for boys and girls:
 Midget: grades 3 and 4
 Bantam: grades 5 and 6
 Cadet: grades 7 and 8
SYB Emphasis: Developing Skills
The In-Town program is designed for the development and enjoyment of the children.
SYB purposely balances the In-Town teams (spreading out the talent across all teams) so
that all players will have a chance to participate fully in the team, regardless of their
individual skill level. Coaches should encourage both parents and players to focus on
four key objectives:
(1) to foster an environment where the players can have fun and learn to be good
sports;
(2) to help players learn something new each week and develop their basketball
skills over the course of the season;
(3) to encourage all players to do their best and play as a team, regardless of their
skill levels;
(4) after the first 3 objectives are met, then winning will come naturally.
In the In-Town division and especially at the Midget & Bantam levels, it is important to
place the proper emphasis on learning the game and developing skills rather than
winning. Some beginning coaches mistakenly believe that winning is the primary
objective, and teach their players how to play to win at the expense of teaching their
players the fundamental skills of basketball. This is short-sighted and detrimental for the
kids because while they may have a trophy at the end of the year, they will lack the basic
basketball skills needed to build on in future years.
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All coaches must focus on the bigger picture and strike the proper balance between fun,
learning and competition. Your mission is to make the kids love the game while they
learn the game.
Who Contributed to This Guide
The information compiled in this guide comes from SYB coaches with experience with
boys and girls, and who have coached in all three levels of the In-Town division as well
as several travel teams. Although focused on coaching an In-Town team, much of the
information in this guide may be applied to coaching a travel team, including practice
preparation, skills ladder, drills and strategy.
Where to Go for Additional Resources
Additional coaching resources can be found at the SYB web site,
http://www.sudburybasketball.com under the tab called “Hey Coach.” There is a list of
coaching web sites that have been pre-screened and recommended by SYB coaches as the
best web sites for coaches of youth basketball.
2. Before the First Practice
Equipment
After player assessments are done and the teams have been set, it is time to start getting
ready for the season. SYB coordinators for each division will work with the Equipment
Manager to ensue equipment for each team is available. In most cases, equipment will be
distributed to head coaches at the Team Selection meeting. This typically includes 5
basketballs, 5 pinnies, a scorebook, and a first aid kit.
Medical release forms (also called “Player Information Forms”) for each player
identifying emergency contacts are also typically handed out at the Team Selection
meeting. It is important to have a parent sign these forms at the first practice if they have
not already done so. Coaches must keep these forms, and bring them to all practices and
games, in case a player is injured and medical care is required.
Additional equipment that most coaches find useful includes such items as:
 whistle (try not to use this too much!)
 a small hand pump to blow up balls at practices
 dry erase clipboard with basketball court outline and markers
 small cones for marking out drills
 pens or pencils for scoring during the games
 girls’ coaches should have extra hair elastics & barrettes
 print-out of the GAME RULES for your division (located on the SYB web
site)
Ask players to bring the following to each practice:
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their own basketball with their name & phone number printed on it (to
ensure enough to do ball-handling drills)
their reversible jersey (for scrimmaging, without using pinnies)
It’s a good idea to get a medium sized gym bag to put all of these items in, then just grab
it when you run out to a practice or game.
Contacting Parents and Players
If you are the Head Coach, your first call should be to your assistant coach. Make sure
that they are committed to helping out, and understand your coaching philosophy. SYB
is founded on the principles of respect, skills development, and team play and these
should be reflected by your coaching focus.
It is important to call or email the parents of each player. Full contact information for
each player’s family is contained on the Player Information Forms as well as your Team
Page on the SYB web site. The SYB Administrator will email you the Team Password
for your Team Page after teams have been formed. The conversation or email should
cover topics such as:
 your contact information (phone & email address)
 names of your assistant coaches (if identified)
 names of the other players on the team
 your coaching experience
 your coaching style & team objectives for the season
 what you know of practice and game schedules
 where to go (www.sudburybasketball.com) for more information
Some coaches hold a meeting with players and parents 15 to 30 minutes before the first
practice to go over expectations regarding practices and conduct during games (both kids
and adults), to have the parents sign the medical release forms, etc.
Be sure to verify the e-mail of each player before the season begins. Make sure that all
parents understand that they should notify the Head Coach if their son or daughter is
going to be absent from a practice or game. This is important to know when planning a
practice or creating the line up for the game.
3. Practice
It is important to have two adults at each practice, for safety and logistical reasons. If
you or your assistant coach cannot make a practice, you should find a parent to help that
night.
Planning
The key to an effective and fun practice is planning it ahead of time. Whether coaching
3rd graders or 8th graders, the key is to keep them moving from drill to drill limit “down
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time”, where they could lose interest. The best way to do this is to have a schedule of
what drills to run during the practice and adhere to it. Consider running drills with
similar set-ups together, i.e. if you’re doing half-court lay-ups and have all the players
starting underneath the basket, then do any other half-court dribbling drills right after.
This reduces transition time between drills, so the practice keeps moving and it’s more
interesting for the players. Well planned practices acclimate the players to the discipline
of non-game time, and help the coaches keep track of which skills have been covered.
This enhances the ability to plan drill sequences that build on one another from week to
week.
Be sure to factor into the practice plan the number of players you will have that night.
Keep in mind you may only have a ½ court to work with during practices, so keep drills
and skills contained.
Courtesy
If you are sharing a gym, please be courteous of the other coaches and team. Do your best
to keep the noise level down. Rarely is a whistle necessary to coach on the half court.
Counsel you team not to disturb or walk across the other team’s court during breaks.
While Players Arrive
Set up a sequence of specific INDIVIDUAL drills that your players can do when they
arrive at the gym, while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. The “waiter drill”
(shooting form) and the lay-up sequence (footwork for lay-ups) are excellent drills for
this purpose. At the very first practice, teach your players that these are the drills they are
supposed to do at the beginning of every practice on their own without being told: just get
a ball, go to a basket and start doing them. These are the same individual drills players
should be doing at home on their own.
Start of Practice
Some coaches start each practice by sitting the team down in a circle, and discussing
what happened at the last game or practice session. For Midget and Bantam, this is a
great teaching tool, and the players like to share their thoughts. Keep the session short; 5
or 10 minutes provides a good team listening moment.
Other coaches start each practice, regardless of level, with ball handling and skills
exercises, then move into other items as needed.
If your team usually shows up for practice high on energy and low on focus, try starting
the practice with some very active drills to burn off some of that energy. These can be
followed with less active skill demonstrations and reinforcing drills.
Maximize Touches
Practices should be designed to maximize ball touches for all skills and ages. This helps
move lower skilled players along more quickly. Make sure that every player has a ball
and that it is the correct size. All divisions use a 28.5” diameter ball with the exception of
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Cadet Boys, who use a 30” diameter ball. Using the appropriate size ball enhances skills
development of the players. Ask players to bring their own ball to practice, and use the
coach’s basketballs as extras. Remind players to put their name and phone number on
their ball.
Minimize Scrimmage
DO NOT SCRIMMAGE ALL PRACTICE. While scrimmaging can serve a valuable
purpose in giving the players some “game experience,” most of the skills your players
need to be successful during a game must be taught first in a non-game environment.
Scrimmaging greatly reduces the number of ball touches each player gets (you have 10
players and only 1 player has the ball at any given time) and limits necessary basic skills
training.
It’s recommended that (for the most part) you do not run scrimmages against another
team that may be practicing at the same time. Having your team play against themselves
allows all of your players to get used to each other, and understand their teammates’
strengths and weaknesses. This will help them play better team ball during games.
Resist the urge to constantly stop play to instruct - much of basketball is flow and getting
the kids to read the game and react. Allow players to make mistakes and learn, so that
they can develop the ability to think for themselves. Let them play, make notes, and
cover the areas for learning and improvement after they have worked up a sweat.
If you must run a scrimmage for a practice, try this alternative: divide the players into
teams of 3, play 3 versus 3, and rotate winners through short games. The losing overall
team runs. Or run a no dribble or 2 dribble scrimmage to emphasize passing.
Keep It Moving, Keep It Fun
Young players love games. At the Midget level, many drills can be run as competitions
by splitting the team in two or three. This is the best way to practice at this level. It can
be effective at Bantam level as well, but remember to make the drills more challenging.
Some drills mix passing, shooting, and footwork skills into a single drill. As the skill
level increases, this is typical. Emphasize which parts of a drill the players can practice
on their own. When the time you’ve allotted for a drill is up, move on. Players will not
achieve perfection the first time they try a new skill, and reinforcing it across multiple
practices for shorter time keeps the practices interesting.
Finish every practice with a short, fun competition amongst the players.
Example Practice Plan
Each practice should contain a mix of skills, drill and competitions, and should reinforce
or build on the skills taught in the last session. Section 8 of this manual describes drills
organized by skill type, and by age group, that coaches can use to build into each
practice. Suggested timing for practices is as follows:
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Ball Handling / Skills
30 minutes
Defense / Offense
30 minutes
Games / Competitions
30 minutes (could be 15 minutes of games, 15
minute scrimmage to end the practice)
Each 30 minute section may contain 3-5 drills run for 5-10 minutes each. The Appendix
to this manual contains an example of a detailed practice schedule for Midget, Bantam
and Cadet players. Keep in mind the age and skill level of the team when building
practice schedules; older players may need more focus on game strategy and
defense/offense, while younger players may need more basic skills training.
4. Game Day
Early In the Week
Be sure to get in touch with players/parents (usually via email) early in the week before
every game with information about game location, game time, desired arrival time
(usually about 15 to 20 minutes before actual game time), and whether you are the home
or away team.
Remind parents to get players to the game on time and to inform you if their son/daughter
will be absent on game day so you can plan your game rotations accordingly. This is a
good time to ask parents to help with running the clock and keeping the score book.
Creating a Rotation
Knowing which players will be at the game is important. The coach should create a
rotation before the game which abides by the rules of the league for playing times, yet
balances the sets the coach puts on the court. This can take some time, depending on the
number of players and their skills. Be prepared for changes that may be necessary due to
late players. A sample Game Player Rotation Template for Midgets is included in the
Appendix, and includes options for 8, 9 and 10 player rotations.
What to Bring
Bring your equipment bag for practices and games, a bag of balls, Player Information
Forms, and your player rotation sheet. If you are the Home Team (listed first on the game
schedule), you will also need to bring CASH to pay the referee(s).
Tell players to leave their own balls at home during games. The exchanges between
games are hectic and quite often balls “disappear.” Be sure that any balls your players
use to warm up are returned to the ball bag before the game starts so they are not lost.
What to Wear
While there is no dress code for coaches at a game, proper dress can add to the
experience for the players and emphasize the importance of game day. Coaches can
purchase an SYB polo shirt for about $30 at the beginning of the season (ask your
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Division Coordinator for more info). Wearing sneakers is highly recommended, and
required in the rare cases when a referee does not show up and the coaches must share the
referee duties (i.e. home team coach referees first half and away team coach referees
second half)
Before the Game
Some teams have a parent that comes to every game and consistently keeps the scorebook
or runs the clock. If not, as soon as you arrive, look for parents to run the clock and keep
the scorebook. Both of these can require some training, so the earlier you can find
someone, the better.
Have at least 1or 2 warm up drills ready to use before the game. Take 10 minutes at a
practice before your first game to run through these “pre-game warm-up” drills with the
team. Stop the drill 2 or 3 minutes before the game starts to announce the starting
lineup, discuss what offense & defense will be played and to provide any last minute
instructions.
During the Game
Code of Conduct
Remember that you represent SYB. The SYB Code of Conduct for coaches, players and
parents requires them to maintain the proper, positive perspective no matter what the
situation. This includes eliminating negative cheering or comments to the referee.
Everyone’s goal should be to have fun. If players or parents have any questions or
comments about the game, refereeing, or regulations, they should talk to directly to the
Coach (not the referees). Coaches with questions or comments should direct them to the
Division Coordinator after the game.
Let the Kids Play
There are as many different styles of coaching during a game as there are coaches. Some
coaches talk to the players in the huddle but say very little while the game is in progress.
Some coaches like to talk a lot to their players while the game is going on, yelling out
reminders & instructions as they run up and down the court. Some coaches are a mix of
both styles. While there is no right or wrong game coaching style, keep in mind that
games are the time for the kids to play and demonstrate what was taught at practice.
Relaying too much information in a game situation can confuse players, take their focus
off the game, and discourage them. If you must give a player (or players) specific
instructions of what to do during the game, then call a time-out, just wait until the player
is on the bench. You can get across your lesson much more effectively off the court than
on the court during the game.
In lopsided games when your team is beating the other team by 15 points or more, put
yourself in the position of the opposing players and coach. Blowouts do little for the
development of the players on either team. Call a timeout and set some guidelines that
will help both teams, i.e. ask your players to slow down the offense by working the ball
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more before shooting; ask them to stop running fast breaks; have the team complete at
least five passes before a shot can be taken, switch your players positions so that a lessskilled ballhandler gets the opportunity to bring the ball up the court on offense, etc.
After the Game
After the game, line your team up to shake hands with the opposing team. Get your team
off the court following the game in a swift and orderly fashion, particularly if there is
another game schedule immediately following yours. The winning coach should report
the final score to the division coordinator within 24 hours following the end of the game.
5. Skills Ladder
This section identifies the skills at each level that should be taught to players to aid in
their development. It is important for coaches to follow this ladder to ensure a smooth
year-to-year progression for players, such that ALL players are learning the same things,
regardless of coach.
A Midget coach might start with the drills that are best for the Midget level, but as the
season progresses, the coach may introduce some of the more advanced skills from the
Bantam level, especially if there are some players who are capable. Players will feel more
comfortable moving from one level to the next if they have a firm understanding of these
fundamental skills.
Bantam and Cadet coaches should run a few basic drills during the first practice or two in
order to assess the skill level of the individual players, and look for areas of improvement
on which to focus. It may also be appropriate to conduct a review session of basic skills
at this level, before moving on to the intermediate and advanced skills for these age
groups.
Midget
The Midget level covers grades 3 and 4. The skills of individual players can vary
significantly at this age. It is important at this level to keep the game fun, and encourage
passing, moving without the ball, proper spacing between teammates and unselfish team
play. This will help develop the young players’ court sense. Along the way, introduce
basic concepts and reinforce them through appropriate drills. Do your best to prevent
players from developing bad habits that will hurt them later.
Midget Level Skills
 triple threat position every time you get the ball
 dribbling with head up
 jump stop & stationary pivoting with the ball
 proper form for a basic bounce pass & chest pass
 lay-up footwork for dominant hand
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face the basket when shooting
basic defensive stance (stay low, slide)
basic defensive position (defensive triangle: back to basket, see your man/see the
ball)
moving without the ball & how to get open (i.e. v-cut)
knowledge of basketball court terminology (i.e. foul line, base line, elbow, etc)
knowledge of positions on the court (ie low post, high post, etc), and player
positions (1,2,3,4,5 or point guard, shooting guard, forward, center)
rules of the game
give & go
basic pick & roll
Bantam
The Bantam level covers grades 5 and 6. Continue to encourage team play, while
coaching more advanced concepts of the game. Take advantage of the fact that most
players will be stronger passers than at Midget level. Begin to introduce offensive
strategy while still focusing on strong defensive skills.
Bantam Level Skills
 all Midget level skills as listed above
 pivoting away from trouble
 dribble with non-dominant hand
 lay-up footwork for non-dominant side
 cross-over dribbling
 quick first step when driving to the basket
 pass while pivoting
 intermediate defensive concepts (help defense in key, switching on picks)
 boxing out on rebounds
 foul shot boxing out
 back door cut
 getting open (v-cut, etc.)
 advanced pick & roll (footwork to seal defender on your back, roll towards the
ball side, bounce pass)
 screening away
 shooting form (1 hand, use legs, square, finish “grabbing the rim”/”gooseneck”)
 fast breaks (outlet, fill the lanes, etc.)
 drop step / post moves for forwards/centers
 additional offensive concepts – basic plays
Cadet
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The Cadet level covers grades 7 and 8. Players are stronger and faster than those in the
other divisions, and capable of learning advanced skills. Teams at this level will
encounter the full court press, zone defenses, and trapping defenses. To counter, the
offense will learn to break the press, play zone offense, and beat the trap with quick
passing and movement.
Cadet Level Skills
 all Midget and Bantam skills listed above
 proficiently dribbling with non-dominant hand
 proficiently doing lay-up from both sides of basket
 dribble between the legs, behind the back
 reverse dribble
 overhead and baseball pass
 handoffs
 perimeter boxing out
 setting a press & breaking a press
 improving shooting form (1 handed)
 shooting on the move
 improving drop step
 additional high and low post moves for forwards/centers
 jab step & head fakes (offensive moves for perimeter players)
 pass and screen away
 2-3 and 1-2-2 zone defenses
 overloading zone offense
 reversing the ball
 screening the zone defender
 dribble penetrate the zone
 secondary break
6. Defensive Skills
Midget and Bantam divisions allow only man-to-man defense. Zone defense is allowed in
the Cadet division.
Midget
Midget players should be coached in the fundamentals of man-to-man defense. Shell
drills are a great way to coach defensive skills (see List of Drills for explanation of the
Shell drill). Here are some concepts to teach at the Midget level.
Defensive Stance and Footwork
Coach players in the proper defensive stance. They should have a wide stance (feet
underneath each shoulder), bend their knees and keep their butt low. They should not be
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bent over at the waist. Emphasize that Defense is played mostly with your feet in
combination with your hands. Also emphasize that the primary goal of defense is to keep
your opponent away from the basket, not necessarily getting the ball away from him/her
each time. Focus on footwork, i.e. they should slide their feet (do not cross them) when
they move on defense and beat the dribble to the spot.
Defensive Triangle
The defensive triangle is the principle of playing defense with your back to the basket
and being able to see your man and see the ball at all times. This forces a player to remain
between their man and the basket. Require your players to point 1 hand at their opponent
and 1 hand at the ball while keeping his/her back to the basket at all times.
Basic Help Defense
Teach players the concept of help defense INSIDE THE KEY AREA. At the Midget
level, focus on having players recognize that when their opponent is far from the ball,
they stay 2-3 steps away from their opponent while staying in the defensive triangle
position. If they are inside the key, they should try to stop any opponent from taking a
shot if their teammate gets beat on defense. At all levels, it is important to teach team
defense and make sure players understand that their top priority is to prevent the other
team from scoring. You can leave the person you are covering to help a teammate that
has gotten beat but only inside the key.
Aggressive Defense
At the Midget level, there is a balance between preventing constant fouls and teaching
aggressive defense. The main area where players should be taught to be aggressive is
rebounding and going for loose balls.
Stay in Tight
Teach players not to chase their man outside the 3-point circle, even if they have the ball.
Defenders should not chase their man around other players, getting one step behind. They
should slide behind the players remaining between their man and the basket.
Transition Defense
Even at this early age, players should be coached that when the other team wins the ball
through a steal or a rebound, that the defense now should run straight down the middle of
the court and immediately prepare to defend their own basket, picking up their player for
man-to-man defense after they have crossed half-court.
Bantam
Intermediate man-to-man concepts should be coached at the Bantam level. These build
on the Midget fundamentals. Here are some concepts to teach at the Bantam level.
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Defense on the Ball
The defender on the ball should be at one arms length if his opponent has not dribbled.
This allows the defender to move either way quickly when the opponent dribbles. Hands
should be up with one hand mirroring the ball. The defender may cheat to the opponent’s
strong side, forcing them to go to their weak hand. If the opponent has “used” their
dribble, then the defender should move in closer making it more difficult for the
opponent to pass or protect the ball.
Defense When One Pass Away
When the defender’s man is one pass away, the defender should be in the deny position.
Help Defense or When Two Passes Away
When the defender’s man is two or more passes away, the defender should be playing
help defense in the paint and staying in Defensive Triangle position
Closing Out
The defender should close out quickly when their man gets the ball, dropping low and
into proper stance a couple of steps before getting to their man.
Defending Against the Screen
Teach players how to defend against the screen. The most common is to switch when
picked. Or the defender can push through the screen. The best defense against the screen
is to not get stuck by one. The defender whose opponent is executing the screen should
call out “screen”, providing an opportunity for the defender being screened to move out
of the screen. The defender who calls out the screen may also choose to “show” himself
to reduce the effectiveness of the screen.
Aggressive Defense
This is a good level to teach players to be more aggressive on defense. They should go
for the ball if they have a chance, while being careful not to reach in on the ball handler
and cause un-necessary fouls.
Rebounding
Solid rebounding skills should be coached at this level. Players should learn proper
boxing out technique. They should get low, make contact with their butt, and maintain
position. Another area to point out for good rebounding is position under the basket. Too
often, players end up directly under the basket where very few rebounds ever fall.
Defending the Low Post
The low post can be tricky to defend against a good post player. When the post player
moves down low, you no longer want to play behind the player. The defender should be
able to deny the pass into the low post, either by fronting the post or getting into a deny
position. Should the post player get the ball down low with their back to the basket, don’t
make contact, but instead allow some space to move based on the post player’s
movement.
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Defending the Fast Break
Teach defenders to chase down the ball handler and steal the ball or knock it away, being
careful to avoid contact with the arm or body against the offensive player.
Man Press
Some time can be devoted to practicing a man-to-man press. The defender on the
inbounder should prevent the inbound to the middle and allow it to the corners, where a
steal is more likely. Players should be able to use their man-to-man defensive skills. The
object of the press is to steal the ball, so take more risks to do so. As soon as the press is
broken, hustle back to defend the basket.
Cadet
At the Cadet level, zone defense is allowed. This is an opportunity to introduce basic
zone defense concepts. Start with a match-up zone that builds on man-to-man defensive
skills. Then move to a conservative 2-3 zone, and later a trapping 1-2-2 zone. Following
are some concepts to teach at the Cadet level.
Weakside Help
Most zones depend on the weak side (ie the side of the court without the ball) defender
moving into the paint to help out. Make sure players in the zone know their assignments
as the ball moves around the court.
Zone Press
The 1-2-1-1 zone press can be an effective press that allows for trapping in the corners.
Have the player on the inbounder prevent the pass to the middle. The corner defenders
should stop the dribble allowing for the trap to be executed on the ball handler. Once the
press is broken, sprint back to play defense.
7. Offensive Skills
Midget
Midget players should learn very basic offensive skills. The focus at this level should be
passing, good spacing, and team play. Coach players to look for open spots on the court,
and shoot the ball within close range to the basket, while not attempting to dribble into
traffic inside the block to force a score. As the season progresses, some Midget teams are
ready to introduce basic pick plays on offense, and during in bounds plays, particularly
when close to the basket.
Face the Basket
A player with the ball and their back to the basket can really shut down an offense.
Players should face the basket in triple threat position and look for cutters, or make a
move on their defender.
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Movement Without the Ball
Players one pass away should move to get open using a v-cut, curl, or another move. If
players are being effectively defended and can’t get open, they should screen away. Do
not allow your offense to stand still.
Bantam
Bantam players can grasp and execute more advanced man-to-man offensive principles.
It’s a good idea to have a few plays that reinforce the pick & roll, backdoor cutting, and
screening away from the ball.
Go over the positions for a basic 1-2-2 offense with a point guard, 2 wings, and 2
forwards. Set up simple plays where the forwards screen for each other (screen away), the
forwards screen for the wings (pick & roll), the wings screen for the forwards (down
screen), and the point runs a give and go. All of these can be triggered by the wing entry.
Pick and Roll
Train players to use good technique when setting a screen. The proper screen position
should be taken with a wide stance. Practice the screen followed by an immediate pivot
and seal, then break toward the basket for the pass. With proper pivoting, the screener
sees the ball at all times. Make sure the screener executes the seal, and the player with the
ball waits for the screen to develop, then drives his defender into the screen.
Read the Defense
Coach players to read the defense before they begin dribbling. Effective moves like a jab
step, rip’n’go, waiting for a screen, etc. should be practiced. Players without the ball
should fill the voids in the defense. They should also open the layup lanes when the wing
begins his dribble.
Wing Entry
Work on wing entry, i.e. getting the ball to the wing either by passing or dribbling.
Fast Break
Focus on players taking and running their lanes during the fast break.
Inbounding
Simple stack and box plays are effective to inbound the ball. Practice the plays from both
under the basket and from the sideline.
Cadet
The Cadet division introduces zone defense. Players should be coached in the basic
offensive principles to beat the zone. These include ball reversal, dribble penetration, skip
passes, overloading, and effective screening.
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Breaking the Press
Practice breaking the press. The key is to not panic. The inbound pass is usually allowed
by the defense. Work on making sure the player who receives the inbound pass, first
looks to pass the ball down court or to the middle. It is this second pass that breaks the
press.
Secondary Break
When the defense gets the rebound and quickly gets the ball out to the outlet, the rest of
the team should transition to their secondary break. This is geared at getting the ball
down court to the wing position where a cutter can get open for the pass and a quick shot
before the defense is set up.
Reading the Trap
Practice handling the trap. Do not dribble into the trap and if trapped, do not pass over the
trap.
8. Skills and Drills
This section outlines a number of drills to improve player and team skills in the
fundamentals of the game, at each level. During the course of the season, coaches should
expect to teach and then run/practice at least one or two new skills and drills per practice
session. Keep in mind the age group of the players with whom you are working, and do
not attempt to overload younger players with too many new skills/drills in a single
practice. Also, be prepared to take some time during the beginning of each practice for
refreshers on already taught skills (and to teach players who may have missed a practice).
To help coaches determine which drills are most suited for each age level, the skills
below are graded by suggested level: Midget, Bantam, or Cadet. Older players will still
benefit from re-running drills they may have learned the previous year. As the season
progresses, some teams may be ready to step up a level for some of the drills.
Warm Up Exercises and Quickness Drills (ALL levels):







Various stretching and isometrics for legs, arms, tendons
MACHINE GUN - 3 lines. At whistle, players move both of their legs up and down
as rapidly as possible at the same time - KNEES HIGH
LINE JUMPS - 15 to 30 seconds. With feet together, how many times can they jump
over a line in allotted time. Keep track of personal best times.
LANE SLIDES - go back and forth across the lane. Both feet must leave the lane
before starting back across. Do for 30 seconds and keep track of personal best.
High knees (full length)
Butt Kicks (full length)
½ court – turn & run backwards (up & back)
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

A.
Lunges – top of key – come back with reverse lunge
Jump Rope
BALL HANDLING
Objectives:




Dribbling ball low & hard
Dribbling with head-up, not looking at ball
Develop proficiency with both Left & Right hand – high / low / swing / front & back /
different rhythms
Crossover / Hesitation / Stutter / Inside-Out / Inside-Out Crossover / Between legs /
Behind back
Ball Handling Drills:

Stationary Ball Motion– One Ball: Slaps and Taps back and forth between hands;
move ball around, emphasize Fast hands; Left and right swing; change tempo of
motion and begin dribbling, one hand, then the other; end with “V” dribble, bounce
on floor between one hand and the other (Midget)

Moving Dribble: Serpentine, will all players in a line following each other – walk /
jog / run (use to get kids moving); as a team -- Snake drill with one hand or doing
crossovers or between the legs dribbles (Midget)

Knock-out or Tag: inside the paint or within 3 point line; each player dribbles ball,
tries to tap other player’s ball out of paint while still dribbling and defending ball
from other players (Midget)

Cone Ladder: dribble around cones or chairs placed 3 to 5 feet apart; Crossover /
between legs / behind back / Marquette dribble; then speed dribble to back of line, or
in for a lay-up (Midget)

Lie Down: stand, dribble with one hand, kneel, sit, lie down and reverse, all with
continuous dribbling; 5 dribbles in each position; switch hands and repeat. (Bantam)

Ball Tap: with ball above head, straight out, or down low, tap ball back and forth on
fingertips (Midget)

Body Circles: rotate ball around head, waist, knees, and ankles while looking
straight ahead. Reverse direction and repeat. Do 20 times each way. (Bantam)
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
FIGURE 8 DRIBBLE - “palming” OK - keep control. Reverse direction. Look up.
(Cadet)

HI-LOW - each player has ball, dribble high or low as coach calls out; variation: 2
balls at once, 1 high,1 low (Midget)

FAST & SLOW - dribble both balls low, but one fast and the other slow. Switch
hands.(Cadet)

SIDE TO SIDE – slide feet from side to side, moving with both balls at the same
time. (Cadet)

FORWARD AND BACKWARD – move feet forward and back, dribbling both
balls at the same time. (Cadet)

4 STEPS UP & BACK - dribble both balls low. (Cadet)

MACHINE GUN – dribble two balls quickly, both balls low or 1 high and 1 low.
Alternate hands. (Cadet)

MACHINE GUN UP AND BACK - dribble both balls low, quickly walking up 4
steps and then back (Cadet)

DRIBBLE WEAVE - 3 man weave, but each player has a ball and dribbles;
Emphasize talking and watching to keep in synch. Speed is secondary, at least in the
beginning. (Bantam)

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE / STUTTER STEP DRILL - coach is defender. Players
dribble up, crossover or stutter step and drive to basket. Coach gets increasingly
aggressive trying to knock ball away. (Bantam)

Suicide Sprints WHILE dribbling the ball: Each player has a ball, and entire team
lines up on baseline; run suicides (to foul line, half court, ¾ court and full court base
line) touching each line while dribbling. This drill encourages players to keep their
heads up while dribbling, sometimes avoiding other players, since all the other
players are running with them. (Cadet)

Dribble the lines: each player with a ball, dribble along base lines; alternate hands,
perform crossover / behind back / spin / between legs moves (Bantam)

Corners: Players speed dribble to corner or elbow, perform crossovers, between
legs, behind back, or spin move; can end in lay-ups or pull up jumpers. Variation:
transition from move at elbow into an outlet and fill drill, or a breakaway passing drill
(Cadet)
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B.
PASSING & CATCHING
Objectives:

Getting comfortable with passing and catching passes while stationary, in motion,
and as part of designed offensive moves with multiple players.
Drills:

Passing Drills with Groups of two Players:
 Partner Passing – Chest / Bounce / Overhead / Baseball / “J” pass
(Midget)
 Partner passing while shuffling side to side (Midget)
 Pair up in 3 point area – chest & bounce passes while stationary / moving /
or moving behind a teammate (Bantam)
 Bad Pass catching – in pairs, facing each other (Bantam)
 Two lines (1 ball) – pass and fill behind; variation: add contesting the pass
(Bantam)
 X drill from the 4 corners of the court (Cadet)
 Pair up for ball handling type passing, such as around the back, figure 8’s,
bounce cross pass, etc. (Cadet)

BACK & FORTH - pair up. Each player has a ball. Throw 10 passes each, then
widen distance. Vary passes (bounce, chest, one hand, baseball); Variation - do it
on the move, while running laps. Do 2 laps, then reverse direction. (Midget)

Circle Jerk: 1 player in middle, whole team around him/her in a circle. Use 2
balls; go clockwise and then counterclockwise around the whole circle, passing
the ball in to center and out to next player; alternate balls on the passes. (Midget)

3 Man Weave: 3 players across court with one ball; players pass and go behind
while line moves forward – no dribbling allowed (Bantam)

Four Corners Passing Drill: set up 4 lines, one in each corner of half court. Use
2 balls; pass and follow pass to next line. Do for 4 minutes without ball touching
the floor. (Cadet)

Poker Face: Groups of 4, with 1 passer, 2 receivers in a triangle with passer, and
1 defender between the passer and the receivers. Passer must try to get ball to
either receiver; defender should try to steal it; Narrower triangle is harder. (Cadet)
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
BEHIND THE BACK: players face opposite direction about 10 feet apart. Each
player has a ball. Throw a behind the back pass to each other. Switch hands after
10 (Cadet)

PASSARAMA: 3 passers, 1 at each foul line and 1 at midcourt; 1 line with 2
balls; pass to each passer and get immediate return pass - take layup at each end.
2nd ball goes after first has taken first layup (Cadet)

ACROSS PASSING DRILL: line up like a 3 man weave (above); Use 2 balls,
and pass them back and forth all the way down the court and back; Ball should
not touch the ground; Switch lines when done. (Cadet)

BAD PASS DRILL: player makes V cut, gets bad pass from coach, must catch
and shoot. (Bantam)

TAP DRILL: pass is a one-handed tap between two players; each team of two
attempts to complete 3 to 5 in a row without ball touching the floor, or first team
to 5 to 10. (Cadet)

FAST BREAK: 2 wing lines, and 1 rebound line under the basket; Rebounder
shoots to miss, yells “BALL” and pitches to wing for fast break; Wing hits
opposite wing with long chest pass for layup. ONLY 2 PASSES (pitch and long
pass to other side breaking). Shooter plays defense on the way back. Switch sides.
(Cadet)

3 LINE FULL COURT PASSING DRILL - 3 lines, with 1 under basket and
one on each wing; All players on 1 wing have a ball; Wing passes to under basket,
and sprints downcourt for layup; Receiver passes to other wing, who hits original
passer for layup on the move; All players must touch the end line and then run
back, switching lines when they return. (Cadet)

CROSSCOURT “N” PASS DRILL: players perform chest passes crosscourt in
“N” pattern; Get 3 or 4 balls going at the same time. (Cadet)
C
LAY-UPS
Objectives:


Teach players to dribble in at an angle, come in over the block, and use the
backboard.
Improve skills at both left hand and right hand layups, using proper shooting form
Drills:
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D

Basic Lay-up sequence: start with a player close in to basket on dominant hand
side; begin with no steps, then 1 step, 2 steps, etc; followed by 1 dribble from
elbow; coach or player can pass to elbow, and players dribble out (Midget)

“Waiter Drill”: player shoots layup with ball in one hand; shoot without help of
other hand; switch sides and shoot with non-dominant hand without help of other
hand; alternate left and right layups (Midget)

Regular 2 line lay-up drill: one line with balls, other line without; player with
ball dribbles in for layup, other line rebounds and passes back to lay-up line;
players switch lines with each shot; (Midget) Variation: layups with moves such
as crossover dribble, or with outlet pass; use player or coach to box out (Bantam)

LAYUPS WITH A MOVE - Use 2 ends of court (coach at each end); Chair or
cone at foul line; dribble to chair; coach calls crossover, stutter, rocker, behind the
back etc just before player reaches chair; player performs move and takes layup or
jumper off the move. (Bantam)

PRESSURE LAYUPS: 2 lines- player with ball dribbles full court for layup.
Second line goes after him after coach blows the whistle. On the way back,
reverse roles- shooter becomes defender. (Bantam)

2 Line Bump: players in 2 lines at elbows; everyone has a ball; players dribble in
and using both sides of backboard, put the ball up on board & put back in, while
second person bumps in back with the ball (Cadet)

Dribble chase drills: done in pairs; coaches govern spacing and timing; players
make full speed lay-up under pressure (Bantam)

2 lines at the elbows: each line with a ball; players with back to basket, perform
pivot, rip and go moves. (Bantam)

2 lines both ends (everyone with a ball): after lay up, fill to back of other line;
perform straight dribble moves at elbows; add baseline power move (first person
out with arm up – drive low along baseline – square for power move; Variation:–
moves at elbows – lay-up / reverse lay-up / jumper for each move – stay at same
basket (Cadet)
SHOOTING
Objectives:
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


Feet “square” to the basket; good form with shooting hand under the ball, elbow
tucked in and help hand to side of ball; avoid “pushing” with both hands
Key Phrase: “BEEF”– Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow thru
Foul Shooting: focus on form; progress from 10 feet
Drills:

Waiter’s Drill: do with a shooting buddy; shoot one-handed and rotate spots;
focus on release, arc, feet square to basket, and eye on the basket. (Midget)

"Mikan" drill: Place a towel (or a pinney) under your non shooting arm in the
armpit. Stand directly under the hoop. Make a power step to one side of the hoop,
shoot the ball in, grab the rebound and move to the other side of the hoop all the
while making sure that the towel never hits the floor. After shooter becomes
proficient with primary shooting arm, move the towel should under the shooting
arm to force development of the off hand. Players may use both hands, but the
towel can not hit the ground. This encourages lead hand development. (Bantam)

Rapid Fire Shooting Drill: 2-person shooting buddies. One is the rebounder,
one is shooter; shooter MUST make V-cut and go take shot from corner, foul line
extended, foul line, extended, corner, then back around. Focus on the rim and
quick-release; coach should watch for good form and release. Do at least 2 or 3
loops for each player. (Midget)

V-Cut drill: 1 passer, 1 cutter. Emphasize “setting up” defender with change of
direction and speed. Do drill from different spots and angles, including out of
bounds/inbounds plays. Can do 2 baskets at a time. Change from layup to
jumper and back. (Midget)

Crossover Dribble/Stutter Step Drill: coach is defender; players must dribble
up to coach, perform crossover or stutter step and drive to the basket. Coach gets
increasingly aggressive trying to knock ball away. (Bantam)

PRESSURE FOUL SHOTS: players get in line and take 3 shots, if they don’t
make 2, whole team has to run a sprint up and back, and same player must shoot
again. If a player makes, all 3, team has “one in the bank”.
- Variations - if a player misses all 3, team runs 2 sprints
- for younger kids, 1 out of 2, or occasionally 1 out of 1 (Bantam)

PRINCETON: 2 lines. Each player in the shooting line has a ball. One at a time
they pass to teammate in the other line, make a shallow v-cut (from corner, wing,
top of key, then other side wing and corner) and come back for a pass. They
square up and shoot WITHOUT dribbling. Shooter gets her own rebound and
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goes to the end of the other line. Passing line moves to shooting line. Do it for 2
minutes from each of 5 shooting spots. (Bantam)

Sitting Pairs: players sitting feet to feet, practice proper shot form (one hand
control, nice ball spin), drop ball down on partners knees; variation: add a third
person standing between them, and shoot up and over. (Midget)

Flip square: players form arc around basket on left and right; flip ball around arc
and shoot on 4th flip – focus on form and step with inside foot (Midget)

Rocker step: players position for shot at elbow or post, and practice heel to toe
movement on shots (Midget)

NU Drill: players form lines under basket at foul lanes with two balls in each line;
make lay ups / shots; extend distance from basket as kids get older (Midget)

Two person shooting: one player shoots, the other rebounds; shooter practices
step ins / elbow shots (block for younger players) and shot-rebound-shot
repetitions (Midget)

Three person shooting : one shooter, one passer, and one rebounder per basket,
with 2 balls in play; do on time with 2 foul shots at the end (Bantam)

Four person shooting: one each – rebounder, wing, point, wing; rotate ball
around outside for a shot; follow the pass; after shot, the shooter goes to
rebounder position, and each remaining position rotates as well; Variation: can
use as a competition, most baskets wins. (Bantam)

Shooting on the Move: Players with ball, practice high knee step-ins, curl cuts
around cones with step in for shots; coaches can add various pre-shot movements
to vary the drill (i.e. cones at elbows and top of key – player slides from one
elbow to opposite, then around the top of the key to a step in shot at 17’ or so;
Cuts around obstacle cone course to final curl cut shot; Fade around cones, etc.
(Cadet)

Shooting off the fast break: coach at mid court or top of key with ball, tosses
ball to wing, player catches up and shoots; Variation: player cuts under and
breaks back out for a baseline jumper (Cadet)

2 vs 2 Shooting: can play ½ or full court; rebounder gets to shoot on next basket;
defense allows shot, but goes for rebound (Bantam)
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E

Shooting off the dribble / triple: start line under basket at short corner (Left &
Right); player takes pass, dribbles to elbow and shoots jump shot (Cadet)

Dribble dual setup: one line under basket, second line at half court; coach passes
to half court line, or player dribbles to foul line for jump shot; defender under
basket gives light defense, then goes for rebound, and switches lines (Cadet)

Miscellaneous Shooting Drills: 2 players leaning into each other, one with ball
facing basket; (a) on whistle shooter side steps defender and moves to jump shot;
or (b) perform crossover dribble, and pull up to shot; or (c) dribble between legs,
pull up to shot (Bantam)

Jab, Fake, Shoot: Players pair up with offense with back to basket at elbows;
defense is passive (not aggressive); teach offense to turn to triple threat, then jab
up to shot or jab to quick step back shot; do on both Left & Right sides (Bantam)
FAST BREAK & TRANSITION
Objectives:



Ball handler learns to look for outlet, cross to middle, create weak side, and kick
ball up to wings
Learning to run the lanes – ball handler can pass & go behind; release on
possession change; wings stay WIDE and hold up unless breaking for layup
Forwards learn to come off rebound and immediately look for outlet and move
immediately to offensive block
Drills:

Corners: Ball handler takes rebound or in-bounds pass; looks for outlet;
forwards run wings in lanes and accept outlet pass; drive in for lay-up or jumper
from elbow. (Cadet)

3 PERSON WEAVE - pass and go behind the player you just passed to; no
dribbling allowed; variation: after first layup, shooter becomes defender and other
2 run a “2 on 1” fast break to far basket. (Bantam)

3 offense vs 2 defense on fast break: controlled speed to begin drill; 3 offensive
players with ball, two on defense under the basket; after shot, move to 2 offense
vs 1 defense; Variation: with 8-9 players, coaches can design a continuous 3 vs 2
drill to increase aerobic benefit for the players (Cadet)

“Countries” Transition drill: players pair up with numbers for each team; call
out two teams by number -- even number plays offense, odd number touches wall
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before playing defense (Midget)

F
5 PERSON WEAVE: same as 3 man weave- passer goes behind 2 players on
that side: Variation: 2 ends become defensive players and stop 3 on 2 at other end
(Cadet)
DEFENSE
Objectives:




Understanding stance & movement on the ball; watch ball handler’s hand position
and ball; don’t cross feet when shuffling to maintain defensive position between
ball and basket
Learn proper defensive positioning when on the ball, away from the ball and on
the low post
Boxing out on rebounds, going for the ball AFTER the box out is complete
For older players – defending against against screens and trapping (in zone or
press defenses)
Drills:

“Get the Ball”: ball is placed on the ground inside the paint; defensive
rebounder is placed with inside position on offensive player (“butt in gut”). At
whistle, defender tries to box out other player and keep him/her from the ball.
Coach counts to 5-6-7 or so seconds out loud. Defense wins if offensive player
cannot touch the ball. Variation – play with 2 or 3 sets of two players at a time in
a circle (Midget)

“Animal Rebound Drill”: coach is shooter; 2 or 3 players under basket –
whoever gets rebound immediately goes back up with ball (shoots); other players
defend; rebounds/play continues until basket is scored.; limited/no dribbling;
Loser(s) stay on. (Midget)
Defensive drill: 3 lines spread out facing the coach; get in defensive position and
SLIDE sideways, forward and back as coach dribbles in that direction – do for 30
second intervals to simulate shot clock. (Midget)


Deny the Ball: coach is the passer (can be out of bounds as well); one player
denies the ball , the other tries to get free for pass (v-cut or other moves); if player
gets the pass, the two play 1-1 until shot is taken. (Midget)

3 VS 3 REBOUND: Split into two teams. Each team puts three players out under
the basket. The coach shoots and the teams fight for the rebound. Each rebound
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counts as a point. There are no out of bounds. First team to 10 wins. Loser runs.
Focus on proper boxing out, and good position to get a rebound. (Bantam)

BOX OUT: one shooter, one offensive rebounder, one defensive rebounder;
Shooter can pass back and forth to offensive teammate; when he shoots, other 2
go for the rebound. Emphasize boxing out. Variation: 2 on each team,
rebounder(s) go up for score, keep playing till one team scores, loser(s) stay on
court till they score (Bantam)

Shuffle & Footwork drills: (a) Players on corner line, in defensive stance; move
to elbow/half/elbow/corner/slide baseline then sprint up sideline; (b) players on
corner line, run to half & jump stop, pivot, slide to center line, backpedal, slide to
baseline, then sprint back up sideline; (c) One line under basket; close out on
coach, slide to sideline, backpedal to baseline, slide along baseline – talking as
you pass the line – to opposite corner, then return to end of line (close out on L &
R shooters) (Cadet)

Zigzag drill: offensive player with ball, defender keeps “nose to ball” and
attempts to turn offense to one side or the other; defender does not steal (move at
¾ speed or full speed); offense uses crossovers to beat defense (Midget)

Deny Pass to Post: teach defensive footwork to deny pass to low post; defender
slides behind (younger) or step over the top (older) (Midget)

Combo Defensive drill: setup line at wing with offensive & defensive players;
player in corner, coach at point; defense prevents flash cut or deny low post;
players go 1 on 1 when offense gets the ball near the low post (Cadet)

Rebounding Drills: (a) pair up in circle, one player on offense, one on defense
box out when ball tossed up in middle; play to 5 points and losing team runs; (b) 1
vs 1 rebounding; players stay until one makes 2 or 3 in a row; same with 2 v 2
rebounding; (c) foul shot rebounding, with teams in proper game time position,
run as a team competition (Midget)
G
FOOTWORK AND MOVING WITHOUT THE BALL
Objectives:
 Teaching players to see open spots on the court, move without the ball to fill open
spots, and avoid defenders
 Making moves to specific positions on the court, anticipate receiving the pass, and
moving to help team-mates get open.
Drills:
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
Pivoting: (a) circle around court – jump stops; 1-2 stops & pivots; (b) player
dribbles to corner with double team, then executes a pass out; (c) player performs
a dribble with jump stop, then executes a pivot & pass (Midget or Bantam)

Getting Open for Passes: in pairs, players practice V Cuts, L Cuts, Face Cuts,
Belly up and turn out; switch roles and repeat (Midget)

Triple Threat: Players with ball; show correct form – all kids on sidelines with
ball – flip & jump stop into triple threat -- emphasize this position in all other
drills. (Midget)

Post Move Footwork Drills:
H

Moves: player with ball demonstrates: drop step, reverse pivot
shot, reverse pivot step thru , quick spin to baseline for a shot,
quick spin to middle and shot, opposite side lay-up, etc. Coach
may need to teach undersized posts to step back on the quick spin
jump shots. (Bantam)

Basic Footwork Drill Sequence : all players with a ball –
demonstrate: (a) rebound & put back up (add shot fake / add
pressure bump), (b) rebound, fake outlet pass, put back up, (c) flip
out to low post – drop step, etc (getting the basic moves), (d)
elbow shot – spin to middle to follow shot for rebound. (Bantam)
PRACTICE ENDING GAMES
Objectives:

Help players practice and make a habit of the skills taught during the practice

Simulate game-time situations with time constraints, multiple players, and actual
court time.
Drills:

Team competitions: (a) dribbling races – can be teams of 2 or more; (b) spot
shooting – teams of three (baseline, middle, baseline) – rotate spots after 3 makes
(group or individual) – go to each spot, then step back. Can also add ball fakes
and two dribbles, etc.; (c) half court suicides, each player with a ball; fastest
player wins (Bantam)

Knockout: players line up behind each other, starting at foul line; two balls; first
player takes foul shot followed by lay-up; if second player scores basket before
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first player gets foul shot or lay-up, then first player is out; pass ball to next
person in line as soon as shot is made; do not allow traveling. (Midget)

One-on-One, Defender In The Box: develops the ability to score in a one on one
situation. Put one player under the hoop as defender. Place your remaining players
in two lines at opposite ends of the foul line extending back towards half court.
Throw a ball to the first player in either line to start the drill; they have THREE
DRIBBLES to score. If they score, the player goes to the back of the opposite
line. If the defender is successful in stopping the shot AND getting the rebound,
they get to play offence and the player that didn't score is now on defense. Teach
each player on offense to develop a move they are comfortable with to score in a
one on one situation...either by using their speed, size, or ball handling ability.
Teach the player on defense to box the player and don't not to chase the ball when
the shot goes up. This is a very valuable defensive mindset as virtually all players
tend to chase the ball first, rather than box the shooter. (Bantam)

“Football” : Split into two teams. Set up two end zones, typically the paint under
each basket. The teams must pass the ball without dribbling (or, only 1 dribble
allowed to make space) to a teammate in the paint to score a touchdown, which is
one point. Play to 3. Loser runs. (Bantam)

1 v 1 or 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 : ½ court ; game to first basket; winner stays; loser runs
(Midget)

Two Line Shooting Contest: This is a fun contest for younger players. Split
your players into two lines, one at each elbow. The first person in each line has a
ball. At the coach’s signal, the players start shooting the ball. They must get their
rebound and continue shooting until they make a basket. They must shoot from
wherever they get the rebound. Emphasize the importance of hustling after the
ball, getting set to take a good shot, and making a good pass to their next
teammate in line. Helps younger players learn to shoot in a lot of commotion.
(Midget)

Foul shooting: Player retrieves ball on rebound; runs to far foul line, takes foul
shot (practice proper form) (Midget)

Twenty one: 3 person cut throat (each player for himself); player who makes
basket gets free throw; first player to 21 points wins (Cadet)
9. Additional Drills
SCREEN DRILL - Need 4 + 1 passer (can be the coach). 2 on defense, 2 on offense.
One waits for screen, other sets it. Emphasize good wide screen at an angle that will free
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up teammate in a good spot. Emphasize that recipient of screen must read defense and
use screen wisely- she can go either side and needs to “set up” her defender. Vary spot
where screen is set (on wing, down low, across, upscreen). Insist that after screen is set
and cut is made, screener must turn to ball and become a receiver (for jumper or roll to
basket). Patience is key. Player must wait for screen to be set – don’t leave too soon.
(Bantam)
TRANSITION - line up 2, 3, or 4 defensive players across the foul line. Give each a
number. Line 2, 3, or 4 offensive players across the baseline opposite the defense.
Simultaneously throw a ball to one of the offensive players to start a fast break while
calling out one of the numbers of the defensive team. That player must run to the baseline
and touch it before getting back to stop the break. Reverse at the other end. Can call out 2
numbers, or have 1 less defender than offense to start. Emphasize need of defenders to
TALK to each other as they cover the break. (Bantam)
3 ON 3 FULL COURT DEATH MATCH - 3 teams of 3 each- play full court game,
first team to 1 basket wins - winners keep playing. (Midget)
CATERPILLAR WEAVE - line up along sideline. One ball in front of line, one in
back. Ball in front of line is passed backwards over players’ heads while ball at rear is
dribbled up toward front of line “weave style” in and out of each player. When ball
reaches front it is passed back- when it gets to rear it is dribbled forward. Good for warmup. Variation: use 3 balls at one time VARIATION: all players dribble, 1 or 2 weave at a
time, or 2 lines in opposite direction. (Bantam)
V-CUT DRILL - 1 passer, 1 cutter. Emphasize “setting up” defender with change of
speed. Do drill from different spots and angles. Can do 2 baskets at a time. Change from
layup to jumper and back. (Midget)
FOUL SHOT FAST BREAK - Line up for foul shot in game conditions. Shooter must
touch wall before getting back on defense. Other team should look to fast break off of
miss or make. Reverse at other end. (Bantam)
GETTING OPEN - Split into two teams, one ball. The offense must keep the defense
from getting the ball. No dribbling is allowed and the area is confined to the three point
semi-circle, or the half court depending on the age and the size of the space. (Gyms vary
in size). Count the passes until the defense gets the ball, or the ball leaves the designated
area. Swap offense and defense. Loser runs.
Variations – allow one dribble, score 2 points for a pass into the paint, score 5 points for
receiving a pass off a screen. (Bantam)
REVERSE AND GO – This drill works on ball reversal, and adds a move at the end for
fun. Set up with a point, two wings, two forwards, one ball. The remaining players form a
line behind the baseline on the side where the ball starts. One forward starts the reversal
by passing to the nearest wing. The ball continues quickly around the perimeter until it
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gets to the other forward. At this point, the wing cuts to the basket for a pass and layup or
short jumper. The perimeter players rotate to fill the hole made by the cutter. Next in line
steps in to fill the forward spot vacated due to the rotation. The shooter replaces the
passing forward. The passing forward gets the rebound, passes to the new forward that
stepped in, then goes to the back of the line. This drill requires 5 players. With a full team
run it at two baskets. (Cadet)
FOUR CORNER ZIG ZAG – Split the team into 4 lines, two at each short corner, and
two at each foul line extended (FLE). One short corner is the starting line that passes the
ball to the opposite FLE, who passes down to the same side short corner, who passes
across to the cutting player from the opposite FLE, who does a layup or takes a short
jumper. Players move to the line they passed to. Shooter gets his own rebound and gets
back in starting line. (Cadet)
PASS AND SCREEN AWAY – This should be run with 5 players, one ball. Set up the
players with a point, two wings, and two forwards. One player passes the ball to any
other player. The two players that are now one pass away, screen away for the players
closest to them that are two passes away. Then the player with the ball makes another
pass. If you have 10 players, set up two teams and count the number of passes in a set
time (30 seconds).Team with the fewest passes runs. (Cadet)
POST DRILL – This drill helps post players learn to read the defense and make good
decisions. The drill is run with a passer at the wing, a post player near the middle of the
lane, and a defender. The passer passes away from the defender, to the post player, who
must read the coverage and move to the basket. Teach the post player to make contact
with their butt, look over their shoulder and pivot away from the side the defender is
covering. Variations – teach all post moves, drop step, up and under, etc. Also, can have
the defender front the post, at which post should seal the defender on their back and the
pass should go up and over. (Cadet)
AGGRESSIVE DRILL – One of the hardest things to instill is to get young players to
be aggressive going for the ball. This drill should help. Split your players into two equal
teams. Assign each team member a number from 1 to the number on the team. Make sure
the players on each team with the same number are good matchups. Put the players on the
midcourt line with their backs to the basket. Place the ball on the court, then call out 1 or
2 numbers that correspond to the team members. These players must sprint for the ball
and pick it up. The team that gets the ball is on offense and the other team is on defense.
Give one point to the team on offense if they score. Give one point to the defense if they
get the ball back. Play until someone gets a point. Teach the importance of getting
position while going for the ball. (Bantam)
LAYUP CHASE – Form two lines at one end of the court. Each player in the offense
line has a ball. The defense line starts 2-3 steps behind the first. At the coach’s signal, the
first offensive player speed dribbles to the far basket to make a layup. The first defensive
player must chase down the dribbler and get in front to defend or knock the ball away.
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Teach the defender to take the inside and force the dribbler to their weak hand. Teach the
dribbler to use their body to block the defender, crossing over to do so. (Bantam)
BALL HANDLING BUTTERFLY – The player bounces the ball through their legs
from front to back, catching the ball and bringing it around to the front on the other side,
where it is bounced again through their legs, creating a figure eight motion. Can be
reversed to go from back to front. (Cadet)
BALL HANDLING SPIDER – Player dribbles the ball between their legs by alternating
front and back with each hand and alternating between hands. (Bantam, Cadet)
4v1 DEFENSIVE SHELL – This is a shell drill that can be run with fewer players. Set
up four players as a point, two wings and a forward with a ball. Have a fifth player play
defense on the forward. As the ball moves from the forward to the wing, and around the
perimeter, coach the defender to move from defense on the ball, to denial, to help. When
the ball gets to the second wing they take a shot. The defender must box out and rebound.
Rotate the players. (Bantam)
2 MAN REBOUNDING – Set up two lines of shooters at the elbows. Place two
defenders in the paint each with a ball. They each pass the ball to the first shooter in line
then close out to play defense. The shooter must shoot and try to get the rebound while
the defender boxes them out. (Bantam)
CRASH THE BOARDS – Set up two lines at the wings; coach at point with a ball.
Place a defender on each wing. Point and wings pass the ball around. Coach shoots and
wings must crash the boards for the rebound. The defenders should call out shot and box
out to get the rebound. Rotate wings to defenders, defenders to back of lines. (Bantam)
BUTT WARS – Split your players into pairs, matching them up equally in size and
strength. Have them line up butt to butt down the center of the paint. On the coach’s
signal, the players are to use their butts to push the other player out of the paint. Players
should learn to keep their weight low, and balanced so they don’t fall over. (Midget)
1v1 BOXING OUT - Split your players into pairs, matching them up equally in size and
strength. Designate one the inside player, and the other the outside player. Place a ball
down and have the inside player stand about 3 feet from the ball, facing it. Have the
outside player start with their butt against the inside players, facing away from the ball.
On the coach’s signal, the outside player should try to get to the ball while the inside
player boxes them out. Count to 5 to determine winner. (Midget)
SECOND EFFORT ZONE – Set up with two zone defenders in the lane on one side.
Have a third player dribble into the seam, causing the two defenders to pinch closed the
gap and stop the dribble. The third player pivots quickly and hands off the ball to a fourth
player for a quick drive to the basket. (Cadet)
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10. Some Closing Thoughts
Throughout the season, keep the original goal in perspective: the program is designed for
the enjoyment and education of the children! Continue to reinforce the four key
objectives mentioned above, with both parents and players:
(1) foster environments for players to have fun and learn to be good sports;
(2) help players learn something new each week;
(3) encourage all players to do their best and play as a team, regardless of skill
level;
(4) after the first 3 objectives are met, then winning will come naturally.
Stress the importance of maintaining a high level of energy and enthusiasm. It’s a critical
component of any sports program, and any sportsman! Promote the continued
development of skills and the advantages of this approach:
o Good footwork and understanding of basics/technique can overcome less
athleticism;
o Skills drills provide players who want to develop on their own some ideas of
what they can work on;
o Encourage players to practice on their own time, between practices and
between seasons. Many of the drills in this guide can be done individually.
Be careful not to make commitments about “keeping the team intact” for next season.
End of season evaluations are used to help keep the next year’s teams even in terms of
the skills level and ages of the players. Educate both parents and players to be open to
new teams, coaches and styles.
Make all the players feel like they have accomplished something with the effort they have
put out for the season; find reasons to compliment and encourage! A sure “sign” of a
successful season and a good coach is when you continue to have most or all of the
players showing up for practices at the end of the season.
And finally, thank you for volunteering your time, energy and expertise with the children
of Sudbury. Your efforts will continue to pay big dividends as our children grow into
young adults, translate the values of the game passed on by you into lasting values for
their individual lives, and at some point may become volunteers themselves to pass on
these values to the next generation.
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11. Appendix
SAMPLE Midget Practice Schedule
SAMPLE Midget Practice Schedule
A)
TEAM MEETING (5)
7:40-7:45
1)
Last week’s game
2)
Great passing
3)
Great offense, good defense
B)
WARM-UPS (5)
7:45-7:50
1)
2 lap – dribble with easy run
2)
2 lap –dribble right & left
3)
Stretch legs, arms, necks
C)
DRIBBLING (15)
7:50-8:05
1)
Technique: fingertips, head up, arm out
2)
Drill: dribbling full court – coach holds up # & kids yell out
3)
Drill: zig zag in front of cones
4)
Drill: Dribble face-off
D)
DEFENSE (15)
7:50-8:15
1)
Review proper defensive stance (triangle concept, pointing at
man & ball)
2)
Drill: “Shell Drill”
WATER BREAK (5)
8:15-8:20
E)
OFFENSE (15)
1)
Positions
2)
Move without the ball
3)
Move b/w wing & forward
4)
Screens
8:20-8:35
F)
SCRIMMAGE? (10)
8:35-9:00
G)
CONCLUSION (1)
9:00
1)
Reminders: Game 11:30 NIXON
2)
Practice next Fri night 12/20????
3)
Sun 12/22 game 4:30 Haynes ???
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SAMPLE Bantam Practice Schedule
(download from “Hey Coach” section of SYB web site at www.SudburyBasketball.com)
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SAMPLE Cadet Practice Schedule
(download from “Hey Coach” section of SYB web site at www.SudburyBasketball.com)
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SAMPLE Game Player Rotations Template (Midgets)
(download from “Hey Coach” section of SYB web site at www.SudburyBasketball.com)
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