If you're coaching youth basketball for the first time (or even the 10th), you know the first practice goes a long way towards setting the tone for your entire season.

It can be exciting. It can also be a little overwhelming.

You’ve got 10 or 12 kids staring at you, parents hovering nearby, and your clipboard filled with drills you may or may not have time for.

A great 1st practice leaves players excited, parents impressed, and you energized.

A bad 1st practice leaves players confused, parents doubting, and you feeling discouraged.

So where do you start?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to plan your first practice – step by step – to help you build structure, earn trust, and create a positive learning environment that sets your players (and you) up for success.

Step 1: Define Your Practice Goals

Don’t try to do too much. If you do, you’ll frustrate yourself and your players.

Your first practice isn’t about running plays or teaching full-court press. It’s about building the foundation:

• Teach your core expectations: effort, attitude, listening

• Introduce basic skills: passing, dribbling, footwork

• Set the tone: upbeat, organized, supportive

• Begin learning names and building relationships

Here’s 3 goals you can have for yourself: Keep it simple. Keep it fun. Keep it moving.

Step 2: Structure Your Practice Plan

A great first practice has a clear rhythm. Here's a sample structure you can build from:

Total Time: 60–90 minutes (depending on age)

1. Warm-Up (5–10 min)
   Light jogging, dynamic stretches, and ball-handling to get moving. I’d recommend you do this with a basketball or do an athletic development warmup.

2. Fun Icebreaker Game (5–10 min)
   Quick game of tag, relay races, or dribble knockout to build engagement.

3. Station-Based Skills Work (20–25 min)
   Break into 2-3 small groups (if possible) and rotate through skills:

   • Station 1: Dribbling (dominant & weak hand)

   • Station 2: Passing technique

   • Station 3: Layups or footwork basics

   These can be a combination of block & random practice depending on the level of your players. Introduce guided defenders as soon as possible.

4. Team Fundamentals (15–20 min)
   Practice basic spacing, playing “North/South”, and defensive stance. Keep it simple and interactive.

5. Short Scrimmage or Small-Sided Games (10–15 min)
   Use 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 to introduce game flow without overwhelming players.

6. Huddle & Wrap-Up (5 min)
   Reinforce effort, highlight what went well, and end with energy.

Step 3: Teach 2–3 Core Team Concepts

Pick just a few key points to teach in your first practice. Any more than 3 and you will overwhelm your players.

Continually come back to these concepts until players start to master them. Then, you can add a new one. For youth teams, I recommend:

• Playing “North/South” – squared up, eyes to the rim, dribbling towards the basket

• Defensive stance – low, wide, and active hands

• Pass and move – introduce the idea of spacing

Keep your explanations short. Demonstrate, then get them moving.

Tip: “Kids learn more by doing than listening. Keep lines short and reps high.” As Jim Huber says below, avoid the 3 L's - laps, lines, & lectures!

Step 4: Plan for Transitions & Attention

Your biggest challenge might not be basketball — it might be keeping attention and managing transitions, especially with young players.

Here’s how to stay in control:

• Use a whistle or verbal cue to quickly gather attention

• Have clear, quick transitions between drills - establish procedures (for example, sprint to the center circle on the whistle)

• Use platform drills to save time

• Know your gym layout and how you’ll rotate groups (how many hoops you have, how many coaches you’ll have, etc.) As Nate Steege shares below, it's a great idea to plan this out ahead of time.

• Over-plan — you can always cut if needed, but don’t run out of things to do

Step 5: Build Relationships from Day One

What you say in the first 10 minutes matters more than any drill.

Use names, high-fives, and encouragement. Praise effort, not just results.

You’re not just building basketball players — you’re building confidence, connection, and character.

First Practice Checklist

Before you walk into the gym, make sure you’ve got:

• ✓ A written practice plan (with times)

• ✓ Basketballs (1 per kid is ideal - remind parents to send their child with a ball to each practice if you already have contact info)

• ✓ Cones or markers

• ✓ Whistle

• ✓ A couple of icebreaker/fun activities

• ✓ Your player list + any medical info/emergency contacts

• ✓ A plan to collect parent contact info

• ✓ A smile, a positive attitude, and PATIENCE (both with yourself & your team)!

Final Thoughts On A First Impression

Your first practice isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being prepared, positive, and present with your team.

Kids don’t remember perfect drills — they remember how you made them feel, whether they had fun, and if they started to believe in themselves.

If you can set that tone early, your players will be excited to come back for more. That alone is a HUGE accomplishment.

Youth Coaching Resources

If you’re looking for an all-in-1 solution for your youth coaching needs, check out:

• For those coaching true beginners, consider Jim Huber Beginner Basketball Ages 5-9. This is a great resource to help those new to the game. Coach Huber provides a number of games and age-appropriate drills that result in rapid improvement and a good experience for young players.

• The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huberprovides an entire blueprint for coaching a youth team between ages 9-14. It’s a one stop shop for all youth coaching needs. If you’re looking for a proven system to get the most from your team, this is the resource for you!

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