Free Basketball Practice Plan for Kids (With Videos)
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One practice plan isn’t going to be enough to change your team or season. The key is to create environments that will make your team make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and grow. This can be very challenging but when in doubt, try and make it fun. People do their best work when they're happy. A recent Oxford study showed that happy employees were more productive and achieved their goals 31% of the time more than unhappy employees. Your team should be learning and improving all while enjoying what they’re doing. As a kids basketball coach, your main goal should be to have all the players want to play the following season. Once you’re confident your team is having fun, now you can start to fine tune the skills you’re developing.

There are many ways to structure a practice and a lot of that should be up to you. These are a few building blocks that can get your creative juices flowing. The free basketball practice plan for kids below is built on these building blocks. Depending on the age, skill, and focus level, practices should range from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

Basketball Practice Plan

Here is what you can expect from this practice plan:

Mental Warm Up
Physical Warm Up
Ball Handling
Finishing
Passing
Shooting
Mini Games
Deep Dive/Scrimmage
Conditioning/Free Throws

Let’s dive in!

Mental Warm Up - Scrambled Eggs

This drill is from the legendary “Pistol” Pete Marovich, who revolutionized the game with his dribbling and passing style. The name scrambled eggs is very fitting as this drill will scramble your brain and make any following task seem simple.

Drill set up:

Each player will have a ball or players will partner up and have one ball between 2 players.
If every player has a ball, the coach will give the task. If partnered, the player without the ball will give the task.

Drill execution:

For advanced players, start by walking forward and with each step take a dribble between the legs. Go behind the legs instead of the traditional in front. For beginners, walk and cross the ball from side to side with a crossover dribble.
This is where the coach or players can improvise and add whatever they like to the drill. Start simple with every time you dribble with the right hand, you immediately touch your head with your right hand.
Now the ball is in your left hand. Immediately dribble with the left hand and touch your head with your left hand after you release the ball.
Walk down the court, touching your head with the hand that just dribbled the ball.
Add more difficult variations like touching your chest and head with the same time or touching the opposite hip with your hand after dribbling the ball.

Drill focus areas:

Using muscle memory and dribbling without focusing on the ball.
Turning the brain on and multitasking.
Eventually pounding the dribble into the ground with speed so the eggs get scrambled faster!

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Physical Warm Up + Ball Handling - Partner Drags

“Partner drags” isn’t as scary as it sounds. This ball handling and finishing drill will help improve grip strength and dribbling with contact. Use this drill as a physical warm up. It has slight contact but is not quite game speed, perfect to get your team ready to go. If looking for a shorter practice, the “frogger” drill below can also be used as a warm up.

Drill set up:

Split team into pairs with each player holding a ball
Both players will start five feet outside the three point line
Both players will be facing the basket, one player standing in front of the other.

Drill execution:

The player in front will be holding in one arm and the other hand will be dribbling.
The player behind them will be trying to pull the ball that the first player is holding.
The player in front is dribbling and “dragging” the player behind him to the basket.
Once the player in front reaches inside the three point line or a designated spot, the player behind lets go of the ball and the first player scores the ball they're dribbling.
The player in front is scoring the ball they’re dribbling while holding the other ball under their arm, creating a tougher finish. If the players are beginners, leave the other ball and just score the ball they’re dribbling.

Drill focus areas:

Dribbling while maintaining balance and posture.
Switching sides so both hands are dribbling along with resisting.
Finishing the drill with a score at the basket. Coaches can call for different finishes.

Finishing - Frogger

For those that don’t know “Frogger”, it was an 80s video game where a frog tries to cross from one end of the street to another, all while dodging cars. We are recreating this video game and turning it into a fun finishing and rim defense drill.

Drill set up:

One player will have a ball slightly outside the three point line, facing the basket.
Two other players will face the player outside the three point line and slide back and forth from lane line to lane line, all while holding their own ball.

Drill execution:

As two defensive players are sliding back and forth, the offensive player who is outside the three point line will drive to the basket.
Once the offensive player breaks the three point line, the defensive players can discontinue their slide and play defense on the offensive player.
The defensive players must always hold a ball while playing defense, giving the offensive player a slight advantage.
Rotate roles and positions after each rep and play to a target score of made baskets.

Drill focus areas:

Offensive players are reading the defense and analyzing when the best time to attack the basket.
Offensive players must score in a crowded area, very gamelike.
Defensive players are playing defense with a ball, making them have to slide their feet and not use their hands.
Coaches can change the types of finishes that are allowed (off of two feet, off hand, etc.)

Passing - Team Outlet Race

Now your team is warmed up and ready to start running the floor. This outlet race drill will get your team activated and ready for live competition. Outlet passing is often overlooked but it is one of the most important offensive skills.

Drill set up:

Divide your team into two teams, minimum of four players on each team.
Both teams will start on the same hoop with two balls for each team.
One player from each team starts under the basket, another player free throw line extended, and the last player at half court. Those three players start the drill, the other players are behind the player under the basket.

Drill execution:

The player under the basket will throw the ball off of the backboard to themself. Once they get the rebound, they will quickly step out of bounds on the baseline to throw an outlet pass.
The player free throw line extended will receive the outlet pass (backside to the sideline).
The player at halfcourt will make a cut to the opposite basket once the outlet pass has been received, replicating a fast break.
Once the player at the free throw line extended receives the outlet, they will advance the ball to the player who was at half court and is now cutting to the opposite basket. The player can take one or two dribbles to advance up the floor if needed.
Once the player who was at half court receives the ball, they must score a basket of the coaches choosing. For advanced teams, this can be a three point shot. For beginners, a layup.
Once the shot is taken, the shooter gets their rebound and runs back to the starting spot under the basket.
The player under the basket becomes the outlet receiver and the outlet receiver becomes the shooter at half court. The player who was waiting under the basket becomes the rebounder and starts the next cycle.
Teams play to a target score of made baskets and switch sides.

Drill focus areas:

Crisp outlet passes that do not float or are lazy.
Strong verbal communication between teammates to verbalize drill flow and timing.
Competitive and game speed reps that simulate a fast break after a made basket.

Shooting - Over the Head Closeouts

Now it's time to start shooting. This drill is a fun intro to “mini games”, where players will compete in a closed environment that looks and feels like a game situation but it’s not quite a game. This environment is where players will feel more comfortable to make mistakes and allow them to grow their skills.

Drill set up:

Divide the team into groups of three with one ball per group.
One player will start with the ball behind the three point line, one player under the basket, and one player standing in between them and facing the player with the ball.

Drill execution:

The player with the ball and the player facing them will pass the ball back and forth. The players can move laterally as much as they would like.
At any point in time, the player in the middle will throw the ball over their head to the player standing underneath the basket. This triggers the live part of the drill.
Once the player tosses the ball over their head, they will immediately sprint to the three point line to receive a pass from the player under the basket. They can shoot or shot fake and drive, reading the closeout defender.
The player who is behind the three point line has to sprint and touch a foot in the lane and immediately run out and contest the shot.
Play to a target score and rotate spots on every rep.

Drill focus area:

Quick reactions from offense to defense, sprinting to proper spots.
Offensive closeout reads, shooting the open shot or shot faking.
Defensive closeouts under control and making the shooter make a tough decision.
Crisp passes from the player under the basket to make the defensive closeout difficult.

Mini game - Advantage Drill

This mini game is for the entire team. Just like it sounds, we are giving the offense an advantage and putting the defense in a scramble. Creating the advantage is difficult and should be prioritized, but you also need to practice what happens after an advantage is created. You don’t want a selfish team that creates advantages and doesn’t make the right play afterwards.

Drill set up:

Split the team into two teams. 5v5 is great but you can also play 4v4, 3v3, or even 2v2.
The offensive team is spaced in whatever formation they would like.
The defensive team is matched up man to man guarding the offense.
One player on offense starts with the ball. That defender who is guarding the ballhandler will turn around and face the basket.
The offensive player will place the ball on the defender's back.

Drill execution:

The offensive player will take the ball off of the defenders back and attack the basket. From there, it is regular basketball rules.
The defense must prevent the team from scoring, they can play any defense they would like.
This alignment will cause the defense to have to rotate and the offense must find an opening to score.
If the offense scores, they stay on offense. If the defense gets a stop, they move to offense. Play to a target score or time.

Drill focus areas:

The offensive ball handler must read the defense and make the right read to score or pass.
The surrounding offensive players must cut or relocate to find space for the ballhandler to score or find them with a pass.
The defense has to scramble and make multiple efforts to stop the team from scoring. It will not look pretty at times but the ultimate goal is to force a miss and secure a rebound.

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Scrimmage - 5v4 Get Back

Now that your team has been competing in closed environments, now is the time to scrimmage or deep dive into something that needs attention. Most teams will choose to scrimmage but if your team is fatigued or struggling to grasp a certain concept, this is a great time to deep dive into fixing the problem. This drill is similar to the advantage drill but we are moving it into the full court.

Drill set up:

Split the team into two teams. The offensive team will line up on the baseline and the defensive team will line up facing them, free throw line extended.
One player on the defensive team will have a ball.

Drill execution:

The defender with the ball will throw the ball to any of the offensive players who are on the baseline.
Whoever catches the ball, the defender who is facing them must run and touch the baseline before playing defense. This creates a slight fast break for the offense.
The player who caught the ball can advance with the dribble or pass. The coach can decide if they want the point guard to call for the outlet and advance or have any player advance.
The offense will execute a fast break, using the skills they practiced in the advantage drill.
After a stop by the defense or a score by the offense, the game stops and roles are flipped.
Play to a target score or by time.

Drill focus areas:

The offense reacts quickly to the change in role and advances the ball up the court.
The defense, at a disadvantage, must communicate and stop the ball and force the defense to make multiple passes.
The trail defender must run opposite the ball and flow back into the play on the weakside.

Free Throws - 9 Hole Golf

Here you can focus on some skill work, free throws, or if the team needs a little extra push, mix in some conditioning drills. This drill is a fun and light way to work on free throws with a slight competition. Simulating a quick round of golf, players will compete to have the lowest score possible.

Drill set up:

All players can play on one basket or split teams into two baskets if available.
Each player can hold a ball or you can use one ball per hoop.

Drill execution:

Each player will shoot two free throws and rotate. They will rotate nine times for 18 shots. If time is limited, play less rotations.
If the shot is missed, the player adds one to their score. If the shot is made but hits the rim at all, the score remains the same. If the shot is made and is a swish and does not hit the rim at all, subtract one from your score.
The player with the lowest score after all nine rotations is the winner.

Drill focus areas:

Making free throws under pressure.
Working on a “next play” mentality. When you miss a shot or make a mistake, you must have a short memory and make the next play.
Precision to not only make free throws but make them with the constraint of hitting nothing but net.

This free basketball practice plan for youth is just a sample!

“Practice makes permanent” is what my grandfather always told me. He is absolutely right, what you do in practice will show up in a game. Every game of basketball is different from the next, your practice should be too. This practice plan will hopefully get your creative juices flowing to build your own. Pracko does all the heavy lifting for you and can create your practice plan in seconds. Just type what you’re looking for and Pracko searches through our massive drill library to give you the right plan.