Give players a heads up of what you'll cover this practice. Emphasize focus areas and set expectations.

Players jog forward to the opposite baseline, then backpedal to the starting position. This helps to gradually warm up the legs and improve coordination.

All players dribble within a confined area while trying to knock others' balls away without losing control of their own. The last player remaining wins.

Players stand in one spot and work through a series of ball-handling moves: crossovers, between the legs, behind the back, and in-and-out dribbles. Focus on keeping the head up and controlling the ball.

Players pair up and stand 10 feet apart, practicing chest, bounce, and overhead passes. Focus on stepping into each pass and using proper form.

Allow players to hydrate and rest at predetermined times during practice to prevent fatigue and dehydration.

Players start stationary and practice the footwork for layups, progressing to full-speed layups from both sides of the basket.

Players compete to see who can hold the defensive stance the longest while moving laterally. Focus on maintaining proper technique.

Reaction and lateral footwork before there is a ball to worry about, which is why Jr. NBA uses the mirror as a first defensive drill and why I warm up with it at every level. Setup: pairs of similar speed facing each other four or five feet apart on a line, the sideline or a lane line, with cones marking a lane about ten feet wide for each pair. No balls in the base version; the leader is drawn holding one here only because the dribbling version is the progression. The leader moves laterally, plants and reverses, fakes, stutters, and changes speed; the defender slides to stay nose to nose without crossing his feet. Thirty seconds, switch roles, three or four rounds starting slow and speeding up. Common mistakes: hopping instead of sliding, popping up out of the stance, and watching the leader's feet instead of his hips. Progressions: the leader adds forward and back so the defender closes and backpedals, then the leader dribbles, then cones squeeze the width. Youth especially, six to twelve. I picked it up from Basketball Manitoba's defend-the-mirror page and the Jr. NBA defensive mirror drill video; give them a look for the thirty-second round structure.

Allow players to hydrate and rest at predetermined times during practice to prevent fatigue and dehydration.

Small-sided games with three players on each team. This format encourages teamwork, communication, and competitive play in a controlled setting.

Coach reviews key points from the practice, highlighting areas of improvement and success.

End practice with a team chant or cheer to build camaraderie and end on a positive note.