Step1
DEVELOP A PRACTICE AGENDA. List all of the drills, instruction, and scrimage time that you would like to accomplish. Put a specific start/end time for each item.
Step2
START PRACTICE ON TIME. By starting on time, you are sending a clear message to the players that practice time is sacred and not a moment should be wasted. In addition, the players will start games more effectively as they become accustomed to immediate focus.
Step3
BEGIN PRACTICE WITH A HIGH ENERGY ACTIVITY. It is important to get the players' engines revving right from the start. By starting with a high energy activity, the central nervous system is highly stimulated which leads to greater mental capacity and quicker warm-up time. Starting with a full court drill that incorporates rebounding, dribbling, passing, and shooting works very well. Break up into smaller groups so there is very little queue time in lines.
Step4
LIMIT DRILLS TO 10 MINUTES. The maximum attention span for a high intensity drill is about 10 minutes. You can expect to have players maintain game speed intensity within a drill for that period of time. Be sure that the objectives of the drill are accomplished within that timeframe.
Step5
ALL ACTIVITY IS DONE AT GAME SPEED. Coaches and captains must be very clear with the team that all practice activities must be done at full speed. Practicing at full speed best prepares mind and body for the rigors of a game.
Step6
SCATTER SHOOTING DRILLS THROUGHOUT PRACTICE. Shooting the basketball is the culmination of several parts of the body working in harmony to produce an end result of launching the ball a specific height and distance. As a game progresses, adjustments must be made in order to compensate for the fatigued muscles. This is an adjustment that you want your players to make without having to think about it. The most effective way to get this to happen is to scatter shooting drills throughout practice so they can be shooting with the various levels of fatigue. For instance, a shooting drill after 1 hour of practice would be similar to shooting in the third quarter of a game.
You will also want to scatter free throw shooting throughout the practice as well.
Step7
KEEP SCORE OF DRILLS. Basketball is a competitive game. The best players are very competitive by nature. In order to build the competitive edge and maximize the effectiveness of practice drills, keep score of the drills. For instance, if the drill is a one-on-one drill...give 2 points to the offense for scoring a basket and 1 point to the defense for stopping the offensive player and securing the rebound. At the end of the drill, reward the higher point scorers by relieving them of some conditioning exercises.
In addition, have team drills where you are counting team outputs. This will not only improve intensity, but also build team unity.
Step8
ALWAYS END ON A POSITIVE NOTE. A team and the individual players must feel positive and confident about what they are doing. Since they will most remember that last thing that happens at practice, give them a positive or uplifting message. This can be anything that you feel will provide them with a lift and look forward to having a great next practice.
Step9
REVIEW PRACTICE WITH COACHES. With each practice, you want to review "What Worked/What Didn't Work" so you can continually improve the practice sessions. There may have been certain drills that were effective or certain players that seemed lost....make note of these and build changes into the next practice agenda while they are fresh in your head. It is the goal to improve each and every practice...this also includes the coaches improving as well.
Comments
Hyguy said
on 12/5/2007 Well thought out and well written. Good stuff to think about when thinking about a practice session.