Coaching beginning players is challenging! Some players come to you with some experience. Others have none. Some move well. Others are awkward. Some listen and focus throughout practice. Others have their heads in the clouds.

Coaching such a diverse group of players can make it challenging to find drills that work for everyone.

Jim Huber Beginner Basketball Ages 5-9 does exactly that. Actually, it does more. It provides an entire blueprint for coaching beginner players and making their experience fun and educational.

Beginner Basketball Drill #1 - Rock Paper Scissors 1v1 (:36)

• Players partner up and face each other with a ball on the ground at their feet

• Players play rock/paper/scissors

• Whoever wins picks up the ball and tries to score (in the diagram above player 2 won so they picked up the ball)

• The defense attempts to get in front and prevent the offense from scoring 

Beginner Basketball Drill #2 - Dribbling With Hand Signals (2:07)

• Every player has a ball and lines up on the baseline

• The coach stands somewhere in front of the players

• As the players dribble down the floor, the coach uses hand signals to cue actions by the dribblers, forcing them to keep their heads up

• Option 1: hand signs

• Hand up - stop
• Point forward - dribble ahead
• Point back - dribble behind
• Point to the right - dribble right
• Point to the left - dribble left

• Option 2: number

• Coach holds up a number of fingers and players must call out that number as they dribble

Beginner Basketball Drill #3 - Monkey In The Middle (7:02)

• Put one defensive player in between 2 offensive players
• Start by making the player in the middle touch the other player before they are allowed to pass

• The person passing becomes the defender 

• In this example, 1 passes to 3 then becomes the defender

Variations & Tips:

• Keep 1 defensive player in the middle and count the number of deflections they are able to get in 30 seconds
• This is a good drill to show players the importance of pass fakes
• The goal is to teach offensive players how to pass through pressure

Beginner Basketball Drill #4 - Circle Layups (12:30)

• This teaches players proper layup form
• Players can focus on proper footwork and not worry about making a layup with this drill
• Put players in a semicircle around the paint. Have players run in a circle without a ball, pretending to shoot a layup every couple steps
• You can then add a ball, which players will shoot a couple feet in the air when simulating their layup
• When circling right, players plant their left foot and jump up with the right foot
• Switch directions that players go and have them jump off the opposite foot
• When going left, plan with the right foot and jump up with the left foot
• Always start without a ball. This takes away the pressure of making the shot and allows players to focus on their technique

Beginner Basketball Drill #5 - 1v1 With A Chaser (15:58)

The purpose of this drill is for the offensive player to beat the defensive player to the basket and make a speed layup.

This drill is typically done in the half court but can be done in the full court.

• The defender starts at half court 
• The offensive player starts a few steps closer to the basket

• 1’s goal is to beat x1 to the basket and score a layup
• X1’s goal is to cut off 1’s drive and prevent them from scoring

Coaching Tips:

• Players should be spaced enough so that the ball handler can have success (especially so with younger players)
• Decrease the distance between the players as they do the drill more to increase difficulty 
• The drill should be done on both sides
• To maximize efficiency, coaches can run the drill on both sides at the same time

Beginner Basketball Drill #6 - Form Shooting (17:59)

• Tell each player to put their head right in front of the rim and then take 1 big step back
• They should all form a semicircle about 3 feet away from the hoop
• Players shoot one at a time

Coaching Tips:

• Kids will focus on the ball going in, but try to have them focus on technique
• Don’t let them shoot too far away or they will start to lose their form
• Tell kids to go through BEEF (balance, eyes, elbow, follow through) every time they shoot as a mental checklist
• Young kids should use a smaller ball and lower hoop if possible
• Don’t try to correct everything at once or kids will be frustrated - help them improve one shooting component at a time
• Keep reminding kids that they should focus more on their form and technique right now rather than simply if the ball goes in

Beginner Basketball Drill #7 - Ball Handling With Defense (21:18)

• Create 3 lines as shown in the diagram. You can have more than 3 lines if necessary.
• Every player has a ball

• Each player dribbles at the person directly ahead of them (1 dribbles at 1, 2 dribbles at 2, etc.)
• Each player stops right around the midway point between the two lines
• Switch to the left side going back

Move Options:

• Stop & go
• Stutter 
• Crossover
• Control dribble 
• Retreat dribble with crossover

For advanced players:

• Between the legs
• Behind the back
• Using the hip swivel to dribble out of traps

Beginner Basketball Drill #8 - Rip & Go (23:14)

• Start in a good athletic stance
• Grab the basketball and “rip” the ball from one side to the other
• Swing the ball below your knees
• Players should step with their outside foot and get by the defender
• Right to left = left step/left dribble
• Left to right = right step/right dribble
• Remind kids that they need to dribble before their pivot foot comes off the floor

Coaching Tips:

• Keep the ball on the side of your body, not in front of where the defense can grab it easier
• The rip should be low or high but not at waist level
• The rip should be very kind and quick
• Slow it down and let kids gradually build up to full speed

Beginner Basketball Drill #9 - 1v1 Closeouts (27:49)

• Line players up on the blocks and wings
• The defensive players (1 & 3) are on defense
• The offensive players (2 & 4) are on the wing

• 1 starts the drill by passing to 2

• 1 closes out on 2
• 2 passes to coach

• 2 passes to coach as 1 slides over to help position 

• Coach drives middle
• 1 cuts off the drive
• Coach passes to 2

• 1 closes out on 2
• 1 & 2 play 1 v 1 on the right side of the court
• Make sure players don’t open up too much and give up a straight line to the basket

Beginner Basketball Drill #10 - Ladder Shooting (30:20)

• Tell each player to put their head right in front of the rim and then take 1 big step back
• They should all form a semicircle about 3 feet away from the hoop
• Players shoot one at a time
• On every make, players take a small step back
• On every miss, players take a small step closer to the hoop
• 5 steps back = 1 ladder
• After completing a ladder, plays move to a new angle and start a new ladder
• Make sure players don’t compromise their form as they move further from the hoop

Looking For More Great Drills?

These drills are just a taste of what is covered in Jim Huber Beginner Basketball Ages 5-9.

The product is full of drills, games, and coaching strategies sure to make your season a success!

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