How to Do Basketball Drills and Warm ups

Fundamentals are the essence of basketball skills. Practice does make perfect when play in a game the way you perform at practice. Drills and warm ups break down the various parts of the game to the basics. The systematic workout allows the players to build their skills.

Instructions

1. Run and stretch to warm up before the practice session. Include light running and floor stretches. Encourage focus and communication.

2. Start with ball handling to warm up the hands. Practice with both hands and at various dribbling heights and speeds. Add Figure 8, Spider Dribble, V-dribbling, Between the Legs, Behind the Back, Windmill, Zig-Zags and Butterfly as skills progress.

3. Assign each player to a basket. Instruct the players to shoot close range shots. Use offensive and defensive shooting to warm up the arms. Encourage use of backboard in close range shooting.

4. Practice lay-ups. Divide the players into two lines: a shooting line and a rebound line. As one players shoots for the lay-up, another player takes the rebound and passes it to the next shooter. The rebounder then gets in the shooting line and the shooter goes to the rebounding line.

5. Assign partners for passing drills. Work on basic chest, bounce and overhead passing without a defender. Add a third player to each pair as a defender and play "Monkey in the Middle," in which the passer becomes the defender and the defender takes the place of the first passer.

6. Remind players that perfecting simple skills at practice makes for the best players during competition. Conclude the practice session with stretching and cool down.