You’ve got the whistle, a group of excited kids, and 45–60 minutes to make practice both fun and purposeful. If you’re coaching youth basketball for the first time (whether as a volunteer parent, new AAU or travel ball coach, or just stepping in to help), this is the exact plan you can follow today to run a smooth, confident practice. No fancy equipment. No overcomplicating it. These are just a few clear steps that build skill. And, hopefully, it'll leave every kid feeling proud.
Let's get straight to it.
What you need (minimal gear)
- Basketballs (about one per 2–3 kids is fine)
- Cones or any markers (water bottles, shoes, etc., get creative if you need to)
- A timer or phone (for pacing)
- Optional: printable checklist and practice plan (free download below)
Before practice: prep checklist
This may seem incredibly obvious, but it's worth mentioning:
- ✅ Confirm who’s coming (roster/parents)
- ✅ Decide length (45 minutes is ideal for 6–10 year olds)
- ✅ Pick the fundamental skill you want to teach (dribbling, passing, etc.)
- ✅ Print or have the plan handy (or load it in Elite Hoops)
- ✅ Have a one-sentence welcome ready for the team
- ✅ Set up your space (cones placed, balls accessible)
Example 45-minute practice schedule
Here's a basic outline that gives you work no matter the skill level of your players:
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0–5 min: Welcome & warm-up
- Quick greeting, explain what you’ll do.
- Light movement: jogging in place, arm circles, high knees.
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5–15 min: Fundamental drill
- Example: dribbling basics. Start stationary, then move. Keep it short—demonstrate, then let them try. Use the phrase: “Keep your head up, soft dribble.”
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15–25 min: Skill progression
- Build on the fundamental: e.g., dribble and pass in pairs, or dribble through cones. Make it feel like growth from drill to application.
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25–35 min: Fun embedded game
- Example: dribble knockout, passing relay, or “Simon Says” with the learned skill. Keep score light or just play for fun.
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35–40 min: Quick scrimmage or challenge
- Small-sided game that lets them use what they learned. Keep teams balanced and rotating.
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40–45 min: Cool down & wrap-up
- Ask: “What did we learn today?”
- Highlight one win for each kid. Send them off with energy.
Coaching tips for first-timers
- Keep instructions short. No more than 15 seconds before letting them try.
- Show, don’t just tell. Demonstrate before they do.
- Praise effort specifically. “I liked how you kept your eyes up on that dribble.”
- Rotate roles. Let every kid touch the ball and try something new.
- Stay calm on mistakes. Frame them as learning: “Cool, let’s try that again with this tweak.”
Common beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Over-explaining. Stop talking and let them move; they learn by doing.
- Skipping the wrap-up. Always end with something positive so they leave feeling good.
- Not having a visible structure. Kids notice if practice feels random; even a simple schedule keeps it grounded.
- Ignoring engagement. If attention drifts, switch the pace or add a quick mini-game.
Next step: make it repeatable with Elite Hoops
Want to save, reuse, or tweak this plan for next week? Import it into Elite Hoops and turn it into a recurring practice in seconds. You can assign age groups, set reminders, and build on the fundamentals automatically.
- Download the printable checklist
- Open this as a template in Elite Hoops (replace with actual deep link or instructions)
Bonus: variations you can quickly swap in
- Shorter practice (30 min): Drop the scrimmage and compress fundamental + embedded game.
- Older kids (10+): Add competitive elements like timed challenges or partner races.
- Skill focus weeks: Rotate the “fundamental drill” each session (dribbling, passing, defense, layups).
Call to action
If you found this helpful, link it to your team page, share it with other new coaches, and use Elite Hoops to turn it into a reusable habit.
Ready to go from plan to practice? Open Elite Hoops and load this as your first practice—then duplicate it for the season.
