Helena Frye
Planning a basketball practice session is crucial for success on the court. A good practice session should be structured with a clear plan and specific drills, and should always begin with stretching to avoid injuries. For coaches, this means spending time before each session to plan the drills, skills, and tactics that will be covered. This could include shooting drills, fast-break drills, free throws, and more. The first official non-summer practice usually takes place 42 days before the start of the season, which typically starts on the Monday of the second Friday in November.
When does basketball practice start?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First official non-summer practice | 42 days before the start of the season |
| Season start date | The Monday of the second Friday in November |
| First official practice date | Around Monday or Tuesday, September 23/24 |
| Non-conference portion of the college basketball season | First week of November to the last week of December |
| Conference tournaments | End of February or beginning of March |
| Planning | Each practice must be planned |
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What You'll Learn
College basketball practice start dates
The start of the college basketball season and, therefore, the official practice dates vary. The season typically starts on the Monday of the second Friday in November, with the first official non-summer practice 42 days before the season begins.
For many years, the first official practice date for Division I NCAA basketball was the Friday closest to October 15. However, in 2013, a new NCAA rule allowed men's practices to begin two weeks earlier than this traditional date, as long as teams held no more than 30 days of practice in the six weeks before the first game of the regular season. This rule change also gave teams flexibility in opening their practice sessions, and the date of their Midnight Madness celebrations, which often mark the first official practice.
Midnight Madness is an annual event that celebrates the upcoming college basketball season. Teams open their first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities. The tradition began with Maryland Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell, who started the Midnight Madness tradition at 12:03 am and continued the annual midnight practice throughout his tenure. In 1982, coach Joe B. Hall and the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team officially promoted a celebration called "Midnight Madness" as a school event with entertainment acts and an invited student audience.
While some schools continue to hold their first practice at midnight on the first day regular practice is allowed, others have moved their Midnight Madness celebrations later in the six-week practice window to allow for more publicity and exposure.
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Planning a basketball practice
Warm-up and Stretching
Begin each practice session with a dynamic warm-up routine to get everyone's heart rate up and muscles loose. This can include simple exercises like jogging, jumping jacks, or even light dribbling exercises. Follow this with some basic stretching to prevent injuries and improve flexibility.
Fundamental Skill Drills
Focus on honing the players' fundamental skills, such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. For dribbling, you can use the "mirror drill," where players pair up and mirror each other's dribbling movements. For passing, you can set up simple passing patterns that emphasize chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes. For shooting, have the players practice their form and accuracy with various shots like layups, jump shots, and free throws.
Defensive Strategies
Teaching defensive strategies is crucial in basketball. Start with basic defensive positioning and then introduce the concept of zone defense, which is easier for newer teams to grasp. Teach them how to trap, help, and collapse for rebounds. As the team improves, you can introduce man-to-man defense and pressing strategies.
Offensive Plays and Tactics
Introduce offensive plays and tactics that encourage teamwork and court awareness. Start with basic motion offenses to get everyone moving without the ball. Then, you can introduce more complex plays, such as the pick-and-roll or various screening actions. Ensure players understand the purpose of each play and their individual roles within them.
Scrimmaging
Scrimmaging allows players to apply what they've learned in a game-like setting. Start with controlled 2v2 or 3v3 scrimmages, focusing on specific offensive or defensive concepts. Gradually increase the player count and intensity as the team improves.
Cool-down and Reflection
End each practice session with a cool-down routine to help players' bodies recover. This can include light jogging or stretching. Also, take a few minutes to reflect on the practice, emphasizing the importance of trust and teamwork. Encourage players to share their insights and provide constructive feedback to each other.
Remember, when planning your basketball practices, it's important to adapt to the team's needs and learning pace. Be prepared to make real-time adjustments and always emphasize the positive aspects of the game.
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Sample practice plans
Warm-up
Warming up is an extremely important part of basketball. Players should make sure to get their muscles loose and their body temperature up. A good way to do this is by having players bend their knees and begin dribbling back and forth, swinging the ball from right to left below the knees. After 20 seconds, have them dribble at knee level for another 20 seconds, and then for the last 20 seconds, have them dribble the ball higher, swinging it from side to side.
Pivoting
Players should practice pivoting in the following sequence: forward pivot left, forward pivot right, reverse pivot left, reverse pivot right. They must stay low and balanced throughout the drill.
Passing
Players should partner up and stand on the sideline, either with a basketball each or sharing. They will then take turns passing to one another, making sure to call out the name of the person they are passing to and making eye contact before releasing the ball. The receiver should show their hands as a target. After an overhead pass, the passer must run to the closest wall or designated line before returning to their position.
Shooting
Have players stand within a few feet of the basket, either with a basketball each or sharing. They should put the ball in their dominant hand in front of them, with their elbow underneath and palm facing up. When ready, they should simultaneously extend their knees and arm to shoot for the basket. They should hold their follow-through until the shot goes in or misses. For the next shot, they should start with their knees bent and elbow in, and then extend their follow-through with their elbow high and wrist flipped, so the ball has a good arc and rotation.
Tagging
Each player keeps track of how many times they have caught and tagged another player during the game. The top four "catchers" then form a new team for the next game.
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Drills and skills
Dribbling Drills
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and there are various drills to improve this. For example, players can work on their ball control by dribbling through cones or obstacles, or they can practice changing directions and speeds to improve their agility.
Footwork Drills
Footwork is crucial in basketball, and drills can help players improve their balance, agility, and quickness. Players can work on their pivoting, lunging, and jumping, ensuring they maintain proper form and technique.
Lay-Up and Finishing Drills
Finishing at the basket is an important skill, and players can work on their lay-ups through various drills. They can practice different types of lay-ups, such as the reverse lay-up, the Euro step, or the floater, focusing on accuracy and technique.
Passing Drills
Passing drills are essential for improving ball movement and teamwork. Players can work on chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes. Drills can involve passing in motion, passing to a target, or even playing small-sided games that emphasize passing before scoring.
Shooting Drills
Shooting is a critical skill, and players can work on their form, technique, and accuracy through various drills. They can practice shooting from different spots on the court, work on their jump shots, or focus on shooting off the dribble.
Defensive and Offensive Drills
In addition to individual skills, players should also work on team defense and offense. Defensive drills can involve practising different types of defences, such as man-to-man or zone defence. Offensive drills can focus on half-court or transition offence, with players working on spacing, cutting, and executing plays.
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Stretching before practice
Stretching and warming up are extremely important before basketball practice to avoid injury and help you perform at your best. A combination of dynamic and static stretches is highly recommended, with dynamic stretches being used as part of your warm-up routine and static stretches being used after practice as part of your cool-down routine.
Dynamic stretches are controlled movements that prepare your body mentally and physically for performance while increasing blood flow and oxygen to your body. These should be performed right before hitting the court. Some examples of dynamic stretches include:
- Hands and palms up, toes pointed up with heels planted on the ground, reach down and up, making a scooping motion with each step while keeping your back flat. This helps stretch your hamstrings and calves.
- Pull up from the knee and ankle, hugging the knee and coming up on your toes. Alternate each leg to stretch your glutes and activate your calves.
- Extend your arms out in front, lunge forward, and twist to the side with your knee up. This stretches and activates the hip flexors, improves knee stability, and reduces knee pain.
Static stretches are those in which you hold a single position without movement for a period of time, typically 20-30 seconds. These are effective after workouts to help your body cool down and recover. Some examples of static stretches include:
- Bend both legs at a 90-degree angle and lean toward your front leg, bringing your chest down to your knee. Rest your forearms on the ground and hold for 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side. This helps lengthen the muscles responsible for stride length and speed.
- Lift one leg and grab your foot, pulling your heel to your hip. This stretches the quad and the front of your thigh.
- Using a pad or pillow, get into a half-kneeling position with one knee on the cushion and the other foot on the ground in front. Pull your foot towards your hip with your hand. This stretch helps to re-lengthen the glutes, which get a big workout during basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The first official non-summer basketball practice is 42 days before the start of the season. The season usually starts on the Monday of the second Friday in November, so the first practice should be around the beginning of September.
It is important to plan each practice. John Wooden and his assistants would often spend more time planning a practice than the actual practice lasted. It is recommended to keep a notebook of each practice that you can refer back to. You can also use an online program to plan and access your practice stats.
Some examples of basketball drills include shooting drills, fast-break drills, free throws, half-court man-to-man defense, and match-up press vs. opponent's press-breaker.
Stretching at the start of practice is important to avoid injuries, although recent studies have shown that it may not be very effective in reducing injuries.
