Basketball practice plan for 12 and 13 year olds (60 minutes)

🏀 Basketball · ages 12–13 · 60 minutes · 10 players · 5 balls

1. 0:008 min

   Warm-up Warm-up

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

2. 0:0812 min

   Drill Shooting spots

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

   Set up. Five cones in an arc a few steps from the hoop. A pair at each cone, one ball. Gear: a ball a pair, five cones a hoop. With your players that is 5 groups of about 2.

   1. The shooter shoots from the cone; the partner rebounds and passes back.
   2. Three shots, then swap.
   3. On the whistle, every pair moves one cone round.

   Say: “Catch ready” · “Square up” · “Follow your shot”

   Easier: Cones closer in; any shot that touches the rim counts as a good one. Harder: Shoot off a pass, a quick jump stop, then the shot.

3. 0:2012 min

   Drill Zig-zag stay in front

   Set up. Pairs at the baseline. The dribbler zig-zags slowly up the court; the defender stays in front. Gear: a ball a pair. With your players that is 5 groups of about 2.

   1. The dribbler changes direction every three dribbles, at half speed.
   2. The defender slides, keeping their chest in front of the ball.
   3. No reaching: the job is to stay in front, not to take the ball.
   4. Swap on the way back.

   Say: “Chest in front” · “Slide, don't cross” · “Hands up”

   Easier: The dribbler walks; the defender's hands stay behind their back. Harder: The dribbler goes at three-quarter speed; the defender turns and runs when beaten, then slides again.

4. 0:322 min

   Water Water break

   Everybody drinks, in the shade if there is some.

5. 0:3412 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.

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