Coaching middle school basketball presents some unique challenges because your players have SUCH a wide array of talent and experience...

Some players have very little experience and they need youth level drills and coaching. Other players have already played hundreds of games and might even be good enough to play high school basketball. So we'll be sure to provide you with a mix of tips geared for both youth and more advanced levels.

Before digging into the information below, be sure to pick up our free 72 Drills and 33 Plays PDF’s (if you haven't already done so). These PDF’s serve as a great resource for middle school coaches and all levels.

To get the 72 Drills & 33 Plays PDFs, just click the banner below!

Top Resources for Middle School Coaches

For your convenience, we have compiled our top drills, plays, tips, and resources for middle school basketball coaches. This should help you sift through the huge amount of material on this website and quickly find the best stuff that pertains to you.

• Top 15 Drills For Middle School Basketball

• 8 Best Pieces Of Advice For Middle School Coaches

• Top 10 Articles For Middle School Basketball Coaches

• Best Offenses & Plays For Middle School Coaches

• 3 Helpful Products For Middle School Coaches

Top 15 Basketball Drills for Middle School Teams

Here are some of the best basketball drills for middle school players. These drills are meant to address some of the most important skills that middle school basketball players need. They include:

• Ball security

• Finishing

• Attacking closeouts offensively and closing out under controls defensively

• Boxing out

• Spacing & cutting concepts

• Dribbling at speed with eyes up

• Understanding of help defense 

• Transition offense & defense skills

As players enter middle school, there should be a focus on both individual and team concepts. Players should continue to develop core individual skills (shooting, ball handling, finishing). At the same time, it’s important to understand how to utilize those skills within a team concept.

These drills will help bridge that gap for players in a way that accelerates their development!

You can also see video examples of each drill below.

Basketball Drill #1: 1 v 1 Face Up For Ball Security

The offensive player starts with the ball, while the defender stands directly behind them.The offensive player tosses the ball to themselves and catches it with a quick, controlled stop.

As soon as they catch it, the defender closes in and tries to knock the ball loose.The offensive player must use strong pivots and rips to protect the ball — no dribbling allowed.

After 4–5 seconds, switch roles.

Coaching Points:

• Rip the ball low (below knees) or high (above the head).

• Step into the defender to create space, not away from them.

Basketball Drill #2: Fill Cut & Rear Cut Drill For Passing & Finishing

The offensive player in the corner sprints up to fill the wing.

The top player passes to the wing as they fill.

The wing player immediately passes back to the top, then makes a sharp basket cut.

After cutting, they return to the corner, fill again, and when denied, perform a hard rear cut for a layup.

Coaching Points:

• Set up the defender before cutting.

• Basket cuts should go straight to the rim.

• Always show a target hand when cutting.

Basketball Drill #3: Fill Cuts - 1 v 1 For Attacking Closeouts

The defender starts in the slot, facing the block. The offensive player lines up on the wing, facing the corner.

Both loop around their cones as the coach passes to the offensive player.

From there, it’s live 1v1. The offensive player gets up to 3 dribbles to score.

Coaching Points:

• Catch ready to shoot; drive only if the defense takes away the shot.

• Scan the defender while running to the catch so you’re ready to react immediately.

Basketball Drill #4: 2 v 0 Offense For Spacing, Finishing, & Cutting 

Player 1 begins with the ball on the wing. Player 2 starts in the corner.

Player 1 passes to the coach and makes a basket cut, then fills out to the corner.

Player 2 fills up to the wing. The coach passes to Player 2, who then passes to Player 1 in the corner.

Player 2 cuts and finishes a layup off the return pass.

Coaching Points:

• Player 2 must be ready to finish immediately on the catch.

• Use pass fakes and game-like tempo, even without defenders.

Basketball Drill #5: 4 v 4 - 2 Dribbles For Team Offense

Play standard 4v4 half court. Each offensive player is limited to two dribbles per possession.

Coaching Points:

• Use the dribble only to attack or finish, not to hold the ball.

• Turn it over if a player fails to square up before dribbling.

• Cut hard after every pass to keep spacing and movement sharp.

To get FREE Youth Practice Plans & Bonus Drills, click the banner below

Basketball Drill #6: 1 v 1 - Closeout on the Touch For Individual Defense & Offense 13:50

Start with lines on both blocks and both wings; players on the blocks each have a basketball.

The first player passes to the wing and closes out. On the first rep, the defender must touch the offensive player before the play goes live. After that, it’s live on the catch.

The offense gets four dribbles to score (1 point for a paint touch, 2 for a basket).

The next group starts as soon as the first is done.

Coaching Points:

• Close out under control with hips low and weight back.

• Use footwork to cut off driving angles before they reach the paint.

Basketball Drill #7: 3v3 X Out Closeouts For Team Offense & Defense

Three defenders line up on the baseline facing three offensive players.

The defenders pass the ball along the baseline, and the last defender passes out to a wing.

The outside defenders “X” — switching and closing out to the opposite wings — while the middle defender closes to the top.

Once the ball is caught, play live 3v3.

Coaching Points:

• Close out with purpose based on ball location.

• Stay balanced and under control while contesting.

Basketball Drill #8: 2 v 2 Helpside Rebounding For Jumping To The Ball & Boxing Out 

Two offensive players line up at the elbows with two defenders guarding them.

The offense passes back and forth until the coach calls “shot.”

When the shot goes up, defenders box out and pursue the rebound.

Award 1 point for defensive rebounds, 2 for offensive.

Coaching Points:

• Move on the flight of the pass, not after the catch.

• Initiate contact early when boxing out.

• Offense works on rebounding moves (swim, spin, etc.) to fight for position.

Basketball Drill #9: 4 v 4 Shell Defense Stationary For Help Defense Rotations

The offense spaces around the perimeter; defenders position based on ball location.

The offense passes on the coach’s cue, and defenders adjust accordingly.

The coach can also call a baseline drive to test help rotations. The defense reacts and rotates appropriately.

Coaching Points:

• Move on the flight of the pass.

• Always see both your man and the ball.

• Communicate roles — “ball,” “help,” “gap,” etc.

Basketball Drill #10: Speed Dribbling Drill

Players dribble full court with one hand as fast as possible.

At the end, they stop quickly and under control.

Repeat with both hands equally.

Coaching Points:

• Push the ball out front with extended elbow.

• Keep a high dribble in open space.

• Avoid palming; sprint to catch up to your dribble.

Basketball Drill #11: Duke Speed Dribble For Eyes Up Speed Dribbling

Similar to the previous drill, but players perform a rolling crossover each time they push forward.

Switching hands on every dribble builds rhythm and prevents back taps from defenders.

Basketball Drill #12: 2 v 1 Break For Transition Offense & Defense

Two offensive players start outside the key; one defender starts under the basket.

All three run around cones in front of them, creating a live 2v1.

The offense gets only 1–2 passes to score.

Coaching Points:

• Attack to score first; pass only if the defender cuts off the lane.

• The defender’s goal: no layups allowed.

Basketball Drill #13: Tear Butt Drill For Transition Offense & Defense

Five defenders line up at the free throw line; five offensive players on the baseline.

The coach passes to any offensive player and calls 1–2 defenders’ names.

Those defenders must touch the baseline before recovering on defense.

The offense plays with an early numbers advantage.

Coaching Points:

• Push the ball ahead and attack before the defense sets.

• Defenders must communicate and protect the basket first.

• Returning defenders fill the weak side as they recover.

Basketball Drill #14: 1 v 1 Half Court Break For Attacking & Finishing

The offensive player starts in the corner with the ball; the defender starts on the baseline inside the paint.

Both sprint around their cones, and it’s live 1v1 from there.

Coaching Points:

• Attack with speed — don’t hesitate.

• Only change direction if the defender fully cuts you off.

Basketball Drill #15: Dematha Finishing For Scoring At The Rim

Players line up at both elbows; the coach stands in the middle with a ball.

The coach passes to one player (offense); the other becomes the defender.

It’s live 1v1 to the rim.

Run it from different floor spots (elbow, block, corner).

Coaching Points:

• Offense should get eyes up immediately after catching.

• If ahead, finish off one foot; if side-by-side, finish strong off two.

Here's the thing, if you use just one of these practice drills, you're gonna see improvements in your players today. But the real power comes from stacking them up - slowly, but consistently over time.

Of course, you won’t use all 15 drills in each practice. With that in mind, follow these considerations:

• Pick a combination of individual & team drills (2-3 each)

• Choose drills based on what your team needs. If you need to work on finishing, try DeMatha Finishing. If you need work in transition, try the Tear Butt Drill.

• Remember that you don’t have to choose new drills each practice. You can come back to the same drills and add constraints. Those drills become your platform drills. Keep evolving them to the needs of your players (for example, you might limit your players to weak hand finishing in a finishing drill). That saves valuable time over the course of a season!

We're confident that when you use these simple basketball drills for your middle school students, you're going to see results you wouldn't believe right now. Give them a try today!

If you want more tips and cutting edge techniques to get the best out of your middle school basketball players, check out The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber!

8 Best Pieces Of Advice for Middle School Basketball Coaches

1) Keep things fun!
Don't forget that your young players are there and want to have fun. Don't make the all too common mistake of getting caught up in the pressure of winning.

To keep things fun, young players like to be active and keep moving. So be sure to plan out practices that keep things fast paced and fun. You should minimize standing in lines and use fun drills. (For more ideas, check out this eBook for fun basketball drills and tips to make practice fun.)

2) Allow your players to be successful!
Sometimes competition is not a motivator for young kids. However ALL kids need to taste success (and hopefully lots of it). Now this doesn't mean winning. It means getting better and succeeding in practice. Allow your players to run drills that they can succeed at and feel good about. Celebrate small accomplishments and successes with your players.

3) Don't neglect the inexperienced kids.
You'd be surprised how good some players can become if they just get a chance. I was one of those late bloomers that didn't get interested in basketball until late in school. Many kids just need an opportunity, confidence, and someone that believes in them.

I know it seems that some kids are hopeless, but at this level you should implement a program that gives everyone an equal opportunity to learn fundamentals and skills.

4) Teach life lessons in your practices.
A good reminder of what's important and we can all do a better job with this...

5) Make sure your players have a solid foundation!
This is a critical time in most player's lives where they really start getting lots of experience and develop habits. This point and time can have a HUGE effect on your player's success when they get into high school and college.

You should teach basic fundamentals and skills that these players can use no matter who is coaching them in the future. You must build a SOLID foundation for these kids to build on. This is better for your players in the long run.

6) Avoid the 3 L's
Players come to practice to play basketball. Laps, lines, and lectures make practice boring and monotonous. Make sure your players and moving and doing throughout practice. The extra reps will make them better. The focus on playing will increase their enjoyment. That’s a win-win!

7) Focus on the fundamentals.
Enough said! Don’t get caught up trying to be fancy.

8) Work with your high school coach (even if you don't like him/her!).
It amazed me how few middle schools run a system that complements the high school program. Swallow your pride and do what's best for your players. You should run a program that complements the high school coach's system and prepares your players for maximum success.

Arrange some meetings with the school coach. Learn about their system and teach your players fundamentals that will benefit them when they get into high school. Why in the world should players have to learn a whole new style of play every single year? That doesn't help them. Working with the high school coaches is the right thing to do.

Top 10 Articles for Middle School Basketball Coaches

Here are some of the more important articles we think you should read.

1. The Easy Way To Teach Basketball Offense

2. IMPORTANT: Focusing on the Fundamentals

3. 16 Best Set Play/Offense Tips (This is a Must Read)

4. Why Coaching Youth Basketball Is Like Popping Popcorn

5. Coach Smarter, Not Harder: How Coaches Can Develop Players’ Basketball IQ to Dominate the Court

6. A Coach's Guide To The Constraints-Led Approach

7. Why You Should Used Games-Based Coaching

8. 10 Tips to Motivate Players

9. The Foundation for Success: Your Coaching Philosophy

10. How to Establish Control and Discipline

For more Basketball Tips & Articles, click here.

Want to Make Youth Practices More
Fun and WIN MORE GAMES

Coach Huber's Youth Coaching System gives you all the tried and true practice plans, drills, skills and concepts you'll ever need. Inside you'll get:

• 64 Interactive Practice Plans for all levels of youth basketball

• Exactly What to Teach - Offense, Zone Offense, Defense, Press Breakers, Out of Bounds

• Age-Apropriate Skill Development - for ages 9-14

• Drill Progressions From Beginner to Advanced

• Step-By-Step Instructions

SEE THE YOUTH COACHING SYSTEM

Top Offenses & Plays For Middle School Coaches

1. 3 Easy and Effective Basketball Plays

2. 4 End of Game Special Situations Plays- This article gives you everything you need to cover end of game situations.

3. Illinois - A highly effective baseline out of bounds play against zone. Many teams zone these situations in middle school, so having a go-to play is critical!

4. The Hybrid Attack Offense With Ryan Schultz- the Hybrid Attack Offense merges 2 proven systems - the Dribble Drive & Motion - seamlessly into 1 offense. Beyond being hard to guard, it is an excellent offense for player development. Players are taught how to play with & without the ball, making them well-rounded players.

5. 5 Plays To Punish A 2-3 Zone - while we don’t recommend zones at the middle school level, you will see them. Having a couple ‘go-to’ plays for those situations gives your players confidence.

6. The Simplified Zoom Offense For Middle School Teams - the Zoom Offense is highly effective. The zoom action is ideal for middle school teams.

7. Early Attack Offense With Ryan Schultz - playing fast AND organized can be challenging. Coach Schultz covers how to get your team to play at a rapid pace with poise. He goes over a number of actions your team can flow into at the end of the break to immediately put pressure on the defense. It gives your players just the right amount of structure. If you like secondary breaks, this is a great product for you. 

8. 5 Baseline Out Of Bounds Plays That Get Buckets - BLOB’s are scoring opportunities. At the middle school level, good BLOB execution can get you an extra 6-8 points a game. These plays are proven winners at every level.

9. 5 Best Small-Sided Games For Youth Offense - no matter what offense you run, your players must understand sound offensive principles. These drill accomplish that. Make them a staple of your practice plans.

10. Line - Press Breaker- This press breaker works extremely well against teams that pressure the inbounds pass. Your players will start to view pressure as something to be attacked, rather than feared!

For More Basketball Plays, click here:

Fore more on Basketball Offenses, click here:

3 Recommended Products for Middle School Coaches

Here are a few additional products that we highly recommend for middle school coaches. These products will help you accelerate your teaching of fundamentals and your team's success. Pick the ones that best align with your needs!

1. The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber - This is the one-stop shop for a middle school coach. From practice design to offense to defense to special situations, this product has you covered! It has a heavy emphasis on skill development and team concepts for players in grades 5-8. It uses a combination of drills and games to teach players the skills needed to thrive as they continue on in their careers. It comes with ready-made practice plans that you can start using today!

2. 3v3 Drills For Offense And Defense - 3v3 is the best way to teach basketball. It combines the best of 1v1 and 5v5 . This video shows 3v3 drills for every part of the game. Coach Nick LoGalbo covers offensive actions, defensive rotations, rebounding, & advantage/disadvantage drills in this video. With these drills, your players get extensive decision-making reps, speeding up their improvement. If you make 3v3 the basis of most of your practice drills, you’ll be pleased with the results.

3. Cody Roberts Athletic Development Program - there’s no substitute for athleticism. D1 trainer Cody Roberts will help your team and players develop that with this high level program. The program consists of multiple workouts programs for players of varying levels. Each program comes with detailed explanations and videos, as well as tracking sheets, allowing players to see their progress. This is more than a weightlifting program - it’s an all in one system to develop athleticism that translates to the court.

To get the 72 Drills & 33 Plays PDFs, just click the banner below!