If you’ve ever left the gym after practice thinking, “That could’ve gone better,” you’re not alone.

Every coach — from youth level to varsity — has had those days. Over my last 20 years and 1,000+ practices, I know I certainly have.

The drills dragged, the energy dipped, and nothing quite clicked.

But here’s the truth: great teams are built in practice, not game day. Championship coaches don’t just “wing it.” They structure, prepare, and compete every day — and it shows when the lights come on.

So how do you build that kind of practice culture?

Below are five proven strategies from top coaches that will help you run more organized, high-energy, and productive practices — the kind that2 actually move your team forward.

1) Pre-Build Your Practice Plan… and Your Lineups

You know the scene: you’re five minutes into practice and already counting off players, matching jerseys, or reorganizing groups. Multiply that by ten drills, and you’ve lost a big chunk of time.

Here’s the fix:
Plan your groups or teams on your practice plan before practice even starts.

How to do it:

• Add a column on your practice plan for each basketball drill.

• List the teams, jersey colors, and baskets ahead of time.

• Rotate groups based on purpose: top 5 v next 5, mixed matchups, etc.

• During practice, call out the next groups while players grab water. By the time they’re back, jerseys are on and the drill starts rolling — zero wasted minutes.

Why it works:

• No downtime between drills

• Intentional matchups and faster transitions

• No “buddy ball” — too many players only pair up with their friends on the team. This lets you control who learns from who.

Coach’s Cue: Write your groups drill-by-drill on the side of your practice plan. You’ll be amazed how much smoother your sessions run.

Source: How To Run Championship Practices With Nate Steege

2) Start With a 1–5 Minute “Off-Court Huddle”

Your players walk into the gym carrying everything from math tests to friend drama. Before you start teaching, you’ve got to get their heads right.

Take 1–3 minutes off the court before practice starts.

Try this simple formula:

• 1 sentence: What’s today’s focus?

  “Let’s sprint the first 3 steps of every drill.”

• 1 quick message: What’s the team mindset?

  “We control our energy. Leave the school day outside the lines.”

• 1 trust touch:

  “We coach you hard because we believe in you.”

It doesn’t need to be long — just intentional. You’re setting the tone for focus, energy, and trust.

Key Takeaway: When players walk into practice mentally clear and connected, your drills run sharper and your culture grows stronger.

Source: 20 Ball Screen Offense With Don Showalter

3) Give Assistants Real Jobs (and the Whistle)

If you’ve got assistant coaches, don’t let them just stand around with clipboards. They can be your biggest multiplier — if you give them ownership.

Assign meaningful roles:

• Position Leads: Guards and posts get their own skill work and leaders.

• Stats & Scoreboard Coach: Tracks shooting percentages, reps, or wins.

• Scout Team Lead: Runs opponent actions and prep sets.

• Rotation/Sub Coach: Handles substitutions to balance reps.

• Player of the Week: Recognizes effort, leadership, and consistency.

Keep the staff synced:

• Pre-practice: 60-second check-in on goals and responsibilities.

• Mid-practice: Quick pulse check — what’s working, what’s not.

• Post-practice: Two-minute recap and preview for tomorrow.

Pro Tip: Empower assistants to stop a drill if they see a teaching moment. The more eyes coaching, the more players improve.

Source: How To Run Championship Practices With Ryan Schultz

4) Kill the 3 L’s: Lines, Laps, Lectures

The fastest way to kill momentum in practice?
Lines. Laps. Lectures.

Kids get better by doing, not waiting.

Replace them with:

• Short lines: 3 or fewer players per hoop.

• Dynamic ball warm-ups: Ball-handling, pivots, finishes — always with a ball.

• Soundbite coaching: Keep instruction under 15 seconds. Stop only for shared corrections or safety.

Two non-negotiables:

1. More touches. One ball per player if possible.

2. More fun. Mini-games, races, or team challenges keep energy high.

Coach’s Corner: When players are moving, sweating, and smiling, they’re learning faster. Every drill should have motion, purpose, and joy.

Source: The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber

5) Make Everything Competitive (and Measured)

Competition changes everything. It builds toughness, focus, and communication — the heartbeat of winning basketball.

Try this simple system:

Create a “Win Chart.”

• Post it on the gym wall.

• Every drill = a W or L.

• Track win percentage weekly.

Players love it — it’s visible, motivating, and concrete.

Add scoring to everything:

• “3 in a row = 1 point”

• “Paint touch before a shot”

• “Weak-hand only finishes”

The key is to measure something. Because what gets scored, gets improved.

Key Takeaway: Competition isn’t chaos — it’s culture. Keep score, track wins, and let players climb the rankings through effort and execution.

Source: The CMC Practice System With Kevin Furtado

Quick Checklist (Print & Tape to Your Board)

• Practice plan lists teams/jerseys for every drill

• 1–5 min off-court huddle before warm-up

• Assistants have named roles (and authority to coach)

• No Lines, Laps, Lectures (short lines, dynamic ball warm-up, soundbyte coaching)

• Everything is scored

And if you’re looking for an easy practice plan template to use, we’ve got you covered!

Great Practices = Peak Performance

You don’t need a brand-new playbook or a bunch of new drills—just clean structure, shorter transitions, more touches, and measured competition. Those tactics turn ordinary practice minutes into championship habits.

And that means you’ll walk out of practice feeling great!

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Jim Blaskiewicz says: 10/29/2025 at 4:23:17 PM In any competitive drill in practice, we would have the winners validate their win by making one free throw. The losing team or a coach can pick the one person on the winning team to validate their win by win. If the win can’t be validated both teams pay the price( sprints, push ups etc.) Like     login   register

Leave a Comment Name : Email (not published) : Two plus fifteen is equal to?  (Prevents Spam) Answer :  Load New Question Comments : Leave this Blank :