Here is a sample structure of a practice schedule for a youth team. It may not be exactly what you would do every practice. For example, some days you may
spend more work on athletic skill work and spend 15 minutes at the beginning of practice to do so. Some days, you may play games to teach skills half of the practice (which I highly recommend).
Here is a template of the basic structure of every practice:
Dynamic Warm Up & Athletic Work - 10 to 15 minutes
This is probably the #1 thing missing from most youth practices. It helps prevent injury, improves performance, and improve athletic ability. What good is a
basketball player who is injured or is not athletic enough to utilize the basketball skills developed? The better the player moves, the better
the player performs. Why not spend time on it?
There are a lot of players who have tremendous SKILLS, but lacked the ATHLETIC ability to make it to the next level.
Because it is the game of basketball, I do try to include a basketball in the warm up as much as possible. I am going to present two different dynamic warm ups.
If you are fortunate enough to have enough basketballs for everybody, we have a basketball-related warm up. For those of you who do not have very many basketballs, we include a warm up that does not require a basketball.
Teaching Skills and Using Fun Drills to Improve Skills - 25 to 30 minutes
The #1 reason kids quit sports is because it's not fun anymore. Youth coaches primary focus should be to teach skills and make it an enjoyable experience!
This isn't high school, college, or even PRO basketball, so don't treat your practices like it.
Try the skill-fun drill technique. This means that you teach a skill, then follow up that skill with a fun game or drill to work on the skill. It helps break
up the monotomy of practice.
Games to Practice Offense and Defense (Plenty of 2 on 2 & 3 on 3 work to teach skills)- 20 to 25 minutes
You'll notice in the sample practice that I did not include any 5 on 5 games. If it were up to me, I would only have kids under the age of 10 play 3 on 3 tournaments. It gets them more touches and gives them enough space to utilize skills.
If you are in a 5 on 5 league, you can incorporate some 5 on 5 time. Although, I would not recommend to do it every practice. Skill work is much more important at this age level.
Cool Down - 5 minutes
AVOID STATIC (held) stretching & YOGA with kids under the age of 10. At this age, the child's nervous system has not developed to the extent that they can properly use
static stretching. As a result, this will decrease safety and effectiveness of the stretch. Yoga can also negatively affect a child's movement patterns and coordination.
Yoga is not bad for everybody. It's just bad for this AGE GROUP. Instead, use dynamic flexibility and full range of motion exercises.
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Sample Practice Schedule
Dynamic Warm Up & Athletic Work - 10 minutes
Warmup #1 - With Basketball:
Stationary Ball Handling:
Around the World - 30 sec
Figure 8 - 30 sec
Stationary Crossover - 30 sec
Figure 8 Dribble - 30 sec
Full Court Ball handling: (Incorporate Lay Ups if you want)
Some teams do this after practice. You could do some dynamic flexibility exercises. Avoid static stretching & yoga under the age of 10 for development purposes. Reasons are mentioned at the beginning of the article.
this is gonna be really helpful. I have known about all of these but I forgot to include them into my kids warm ups. also I'm gonna use these for other sports that I am starting to teach. thank you.
Teresa Gibbons says:
12/9/2008 at 12:28:31 PM
Thanks! This is very helpful. I am new to coaching.
Trey says:
12/12/2008 at 5:31:28 PM
Thanks A Lot!
Ricky Thomas says:
12/13/2008 at 8:16:02 PM
thank you I have only two ball players out of 12 that have played aau basketball or any basketball at all
David Morrow says:
1/22/2009 at 10:22:11 AM
Great tips. I am new coach and need some tips to get the kids going.
Thank you thank you
rene ilogon says:
9/23/2009 at 9:32:39 AM
thanks a lot!its a great help to my team.again,thank you and GODBLESS!
Mark P. says:
10/14/2009 at 12:22:31 PM
Thanks a million. I'm teaching middle school girls for the first time ever, and this was a HUGE help. Keep the site up please!!!!
