Basketball practice plan for 10 and 11 year olds (60 minutes)

🏀 Basketball · ages 10–11 · 60 minutes · 10 players · 5 balls

1. 0:008 min

   Warm-up Warm-up

   Jog on the spot, Arm circles, Skipping, Gallop. About a minute each, easy first, then a little bigger.

2. 0:0812 min

   Drill Pass and follow triangle

   X playerO partner or defender— run- - pass∿ dribble

   Set up. Three cones in a triangle, four big steps on a side. A player at each cone; one has the ball. Gear: a ball a group, three cones a group. With your players that is 4 groups of about 3.

   1. Pass to the next cone, then jog after your pass to that cone.
   2. The player who caught it passes on and follows.
   3. Change the way round after a minute.

   Say: “Pass, then go” · “Call a name” · “Hands ready”

   Easier: Roll or bounce the ball instead of the chest pass. Harder: Add a second ball, or catch on the move without stopping.

3. 0:2012 min

   Drill Mirror slides

   Set up. Partners face each other between two cones four big steps apart. One leads, one is the mirror. Gear: nothing, two cones a pair. With your players that is 5 groups of about 2.

   1. The leader shuffles sideways, stops and changes direction.
   2. The mirror slides to stay right in front: feet wide, never crossing.
   3. Hands up and wide, never reaching for anything.
   4. Swap after twenty seconds.

   Say: “Stay low” · “Feet never cross” · “Hands up”

   Easier: Walk the slides and say the direction out loud. Harder: The leader dribbles a ball; the mirror still never reaches.

4. 0:322 min

   Water Water break

   Everybody drinks, in the shade if there is some.

5. 0:3412 min

   Drill Partner passing

   Set up. Partners face each other three big steps apart, all the pairs side by side. Gear: a ball a pair. With your players that is 5 groups of about 2.

   1. Chest pass: thumbs behind the ball, step toward your partner and push.
   2. Ten chest passes, then ten bounce passes that land two thirds of the way.
   3. Take one step back after every ten.

   Say: “Step in” · “Thumbs down” · “Show a target”

   Easier: Two steps apart, and catch with the ball hugged to your chest. Harder: Pass with your weaker hand only, or with a second ball going the other way.

6. 0:4610 min

   Game 3-on-3 half court

   Set up. Games of three against three to one hoop. With more than six, run a game at every hoop, or two games across a court. Gear: a ball and a hoop a game, pinnies. With your players that is 2 groups of about 6.

   1. Play to one hoop. After a basket or a defensive catch, take the ball back past the cone before you score.
   2. Player-to-player defense only: everyone guards one player.
   3. Every three minutes, a new mix of teams, so everybody plays everybody.
   4. Coaches keep the score on paper or don't keep it at all.

   Say: “Pass and cut” · “Find your player” · “Talk”

   Easier: Two passes before a shot, and defenders keep their hands behind their backs. Harder: Every player must touch the ball before a shot.

7. 0:564 min

   Cool-down Cool-down

   Reach for your toes, Butterfly, Calf stretch. About a minute each, easy first, then a little bigger.

Every plan here has a water break, two in practices over an hour (our rule). On hot days the CDC says to drink more water than usual without waiting to be thirsty, to start slowly and build up, and to practice when it is cooler. cdc.gov: Heat and Athletes. Head knocks and concussion: read CDC HEADS UP, the CDC's page for coaches and parents. cdc.gov/heads-up