I won’t tell you my age… but I will tell you I was born in the ’70s, and I’ll let you do the math.

When I was growing up, a lot of our basketball development happened without a coach standing nearby.

It wasn’t because I wanted it that way, but it was out of necessity.

We didn’t have organized teams until 7th grade. And even then, the season was 7-8 weeks long.

That was basketball for the year.

When we wanted to play basketball in 3rd or 4th grade, we often had to do it on our own.

Most of the year, that meant shooting on old hoops.

Ball handling on dirt courts at times.

Sometimes we played pickup. Other times we shot, worked on moves, or made up our own drills.

And while it may not have been the perfect development system, it gave us benefits that many young players today don’t always get.

Why Independent Practice Has Faded

Today, young players have access to more coaching, teams, training, and competition than ever before. Much of that can be positive.

But there is also a potential downside.

As organized seasons become longer and players begin joining teams at younger ages, practicing independently can become a lost art.

Most players attend their scheduled practice, go home, and don’t touch a basketball again until the next team activity.

That may be enough to participate. But it’s rarely enough for a player who wants to become very good.

Why Independent Work Matters

Team practices are important, but coaches only have 60 to 90 minutes and an entire roster to develop. They cannot give every player unlimited repetitions or allow each player to spend 20 minutes working on the specific skill they need most.

And often, team practices focus on team offense, defense, transition, etc… not skill development.

That’s where individual practice becomes so valuable.

When players work on their own, they can repeat a move until it feels comfortable. They can spend extra time on their weak hand. They can experiment with different finishes, footwork, and shots without worrying about making a mistake in front of everyone.

Practicing alone provides a freedom that structured team practices can’t always offer.

Give Players Freedom With Direction

From a coaching standpoint, I understand the hesitation of telling players, “Go practice on your own.”

While we want kids to practice independently and experiment, we also want them to get quality reps that make their time productive.

There’s always a concern that, without instruction, players may repeat poor shooting mechanics, use sloppy footwork, or develop habits that become harder to correct later.

That’s why independent practice works best when players are given some direction.

Instead of sending them out with no plan, coaches can provide a handful of drills, teaching points, and workout progressions that players have already learned.

Players still have the freedom to choose when they practice, how long they work, and which areas of their game need the most attention. A well-designed workout plan simply gives them a productive place to begin.

It’s a good compromise between completely unstructured play and another coach-led workout. Players can move at their own pace, repeat a skill as often as needed, and gradually progress when they’re ready, all while taking more ownership of their development.

Encourage Players To Work Out When No One Is Watching

Players should be encouraged to work out on their own or, better yet, grab a buddy or two.

As a coach, you’ll see hidden benefits when kids organize themselves, like leadership, communication, teamwork, and camaraderie.

All of this can be developed with the absence of a coach to lead and organize every drill.

Youth coaches should encourage players to rediscover that freedom. It doesn’t need to mean a demanding 90-minute workout every day. Ten or 20 focused minutes can make a difference when a player has a ball, a little space, and a clear idea of what to practice.

High school players should be doing the same thing. Structured practices alone won’t allow them to reach their full potential. They have to learn how to work when no one else is watching and take responsibility for their own development.

The best players don’t improve only when a coach schedules a workout. They develop the habit of picking up a basketball and finding ways to get better on their own.

If you agree, pass this along to your players. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Good Luck!

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