Basketball Practice Plans: Beginner to Advanced Teams

Whether you’re coaching a beginner, intermediate, or advanced basketball team, we have created a basketball practice plan for each level. These plans come complete with a variety of basketball drills that target the key fundamentals—from dribbling and shooting to defense. 

Keep your players engaged, refine their technique, and ensure each practice is fun! Now let’s dribble our way into these basketball practice plans.

Basketball Practice Plan #1: Beginner

Dribbling

Cone dribbling. Set up cones in a “Z” formation on the court, and line up your players at the baseline. One at a time, players will dribble through the cones in a zig-zag pattern, switching between their dominant and non-dominant hands.

Shooting

Around the world shooting. Place 4 players at different areas along the arc of the court. One at a time, players will take a shot from each spot (while staying still). After each player has taken a shot, they will rotate spots counter-clockwise.

Around the world shooting drill

Passing

Partner passing. Pair up players anywhere on the court standing 6 feet apart. Each pair will pass the ball back and forth. Ensure players rotate between chest, bounce, and overhead passes.

Defense

Mirror drill. One player will assume the leader and the other will assume the follower. The leader will move laterally, in a low stance and quick movements. The follower must mirror the actions that the leader takes. Players can then switch roles.

Conditioning

Shuffle runs. Place 5 cones on the court in a straight line, 3 feet apart. Players will run to 1^st cone, touch the cone, and then run back to the line. They will repeat the process with the remaining cones.

Coaching tip: Time players and have a scoreboard to make it competitive.

Game-situation

3-on-2 drill. Defense (2 players) and offense (3 players) will start on the baseline at one end of the court. The coach will set a timer for 5 minutes. During this time, offensive players will try to score as many points as possible on the other end of the court, while defense tries to beat the clock.

Basketball Practice Plan #2: Intermediate

Dribbling

Square cone dribbling. 4 cones will be placed in a square position on the court. Line up players. The first player in line will dribble laterally to the first cone, backward to the second cone, laterally to the third cone, and forward to the last cone.

Shooting

Speed shooting. Group your players into 3-4, having them start on the baseline. (This drill will be conducted with one group at a time). The first player will sprint to the three-point or mid-range point, attempt to make a shot, and run back to the baseline, tossing the ball to the next player in their group.

Passing

Pass & pivot. Pair up players to face each other 20 feet apart. (Mark this by placing two pylons on the court). One player will have possession of the ball. Players will then navigate to the opposite pylon simultaneously. Once players have reached their respective pylons, they will both pivot. The player with the ball will then make a pass to their opponent.

Coaching tip: Have players alternate between chest, bounce, and overhead passes.

Defense

Box-out partner drill. Have three pairs line up along the arc of the court. One player in the pair will assume defense and the other will assume offense. On your whistle, defensive players will attempt to “box out” the offensive players.

Conditioning

Dribble & sprint. Line up players in two lines. Each player will have a basketball. The first two players in each line will dribble the ball down the court simultaneously. Once they reach the net, they will dribble behind the net and back down the court on the opposite side.

Dribble and sprint drill

Game-situation

3 vs. 3 fastbreak. On your call, toss the ball to a player on the offense team. Once they gain possession, the offense team will quickly transition to a fast break. The defense players will need to sprint down the court, keeping up with the offense team to prevent any scoring.

Basketball Practice Plan #3: Advanced

Dribbling

Weave wall balls. Players will stand 10 feet away from a wall. Set up a target on the wall that simulates the basket. Players will dribble the basketball through their legs (in an in-and-out weave motion) and then throw it toward the wall, trying to hit the target.

Shooting

Dribble pull-ups. Line up your players 15 feet behind the basket. On your whistle, the first player will dribble towards the basket and attempt to make a jump shot. Rotate through players for 3-5 minutes.

Note: The jump shot should occur at mid-range.

Passing

Two-line partner passing. Two lines of players will be formed at the baseline. One player in each line will have possession of the ball. The first pair will take turns passing the ball to each other as they run to the other end of the court. When they reach the three-point or mid-range point, one player will attempt to make a shot.

Defense

1-on-1 full court. The offensive player will stand on the arc and the defense player will stand slightly ahead of them. On your whistle, both players will run to the other side of the court. The offensive player will try to advance the ball down the court, beating the defender. 

1-on-1 full-court drill

Conditioning

Dribble the court. Players will form a single line at the baseline. Cones will be placed in a “Z” formation along the court. The coach will state a type of dribble they want their players to execute (i.e., crossover, behind back, through legs). Run through each type of dribble until all players have had a turn before switching the type of dribble.

Game-situation

Beat-the-clock. This drill simulates the last three minutes of a close game when the offense team is down by 4 points. The offensive team must try to score quickly (free throws and three-pointers become critical here) while the defense must work together to beat the clock.

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