How to Run Basketball Practice for Kids

Go to each practice with a written plan.

You volunteered to coach your son's basketball team. Now it's time to plan practices. Kids on your team will enjoy playing, and hopefully succeed, if you run an efficient, organized practice that allows for little down time, a lot of learning and some fun and games. Make running a basketball practice that kids leave feeling excited and improved your first priority.

Things You'll Need

• One basketball for every two players on the team

Instructions

1. Design a practice schedule that guides you throughout the season, incorporating consistent elements in each practice. Go to the gym with your schedule on paper, listing the drills and how many minutes to devote to each. Time the practice so that you accomplish everything you need to do. An hour-long practice is typical for young children; practices for older children often run 90 minutes.

2. 

   Work on shooting skills each practice.

   Include in your practice schedule: running exercises to increase stamina; layup drills that stress using both left and right hands and learning to jump off the proper leg; dribbling and ball handling skills; shooting and play calling; passing techniques; defense, such as one-on-one or three-on-two drills, or defensive slides; and scrimmage games. Keep the practice moving since your time together is short and you have much to accomplish. End with encouraging words, such as, "Good practice tonight, girls. Keep working on what we learned tonight, and I'll see you on Wednesday."

3. 

   End practice with a short contest, such as free-throw shooting.

   Incorporate contests into practice that break the routine and increase the learning. Free-throw shooting contests and a game of knockout, where a player is eliminated if the player behind him in line makes a basket first, are favorites of players.

4. Alter your practice plan slightly if you need to work on certain things you noticed in a game or to prepare for an upcoming game.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask players to arrive 15 minutes before practice to put on their basketball shoes and practice jerseys. Conversely, end practice on time. Parents appreciate not waiting for practice to end.

• Communicate with players' parents and give them a schedule for practices and games. If you don't know the schedule at the start of the season, inform them by email as soon as you do know for planning and carpool purposes.

• Involve every player, from the best to the least used, in every aspect of practice.

• Bring a first-aid kit to each practice.

• Make sure players stay active, even if they're not involved in a drill; their muscles will tighten if they sit down.

References

• Basketball TIps: Youth Basketball Practice Plan
• Breakthrough Basketball: Coaching Youth Basketball - What Should You Teach?
• The Coach's ClipboardL Basketball Drills, Selecting and Using Drills