Fun Basketball Drills Every Young Player Will Enjoy
How many times can you repeat the same thing and not get bored of it? One of the greatest things about playing basketball is the variety of every game you play. Some games might call for more outside shooting. Others you’ll dominate inside. The flow of every game you play will be different, and that’s what makes basketball fun. If you’re going into every game already knowing how it’ll go, eventually it’ll become dull. Instead, make your basketball training, practices, and games a shiny new toy every time you lace up.
It’s also important that, as a coach or a parent, you recognize trends in your players’ game. If you have a player that’s a solid passer but is hesitant to shoot the ball, drills that focus on player weaknesses can open aspects of their game that have yet to be developed. If a player is enjoying practice and the variety that’s available with it, imagine what that can do to their overall enthusiasm when playing a game.
Warm-Up Drills to Get Started
Red Light, Green Light (Dribbling Version)
Your youth players might not know it yet, but one of the most debilitating features in basketball at a later age is the inability to dribble effectively with both hands. If a defense finds out that you’re weak while dribbling with one hand, they can force you to go that way and totally change your game. This drill helps in developing the coordination needed to feel comfortable using both hands.
You’ll use a half court and mark off both sidelines as “end zones” for where your players will go back and forth from. Have each player begin at the starting line. Then, when you call “green light,” every player begins to dribble at full speed to the end line. When you call “yellow light,” they’ll slow their dribbling down. On “red light,” the players will stop and bring the ball into triple threat position at the waist. Once they get to the end line, you can reset and start to tweak the game how you like. That could look like adding another color to the mix and assigning it a different task. For example, “orange light” can mean dropping the ball and doing jumping jacks. You can also have them switch hands next round, focusing on dribbling specifically with their non-dominant hand. Another twist would be having them work on crossing over while dribbling, effectively using both hands to dribble to the end line.
Dribbling Drills That Keep Kids Moving
Cone Dribble Relay
For the cone dribble relay, split your squad into two groups. From here, have them both start on the baseline at both sides of the block and have a cone for them to go to, preferably at the beginning of the adjacent three-point line. Have players from both groups begin by dribbling with their right hand to and around the cone and back. Once every player has gone, switch to the left hand. Lastly, you can add something different to the third round. That can be stopping at the cone, doing a crossover, and coming back, or anything of your choosing. If you want to make things sillier for the kids, incorporate something like a dance move, spin, or something of that nature on the third round when they get to the three-point line cone before coming back.
Musical Chairs with Basketballs
This one may require a bit more coordination, but it makes for a fast-paced fun drill. Let’s say you have 10 players on your team. Set up 10 chairs for them to sit at, all across from each other and starting at the three-point line behind the top of the key. Make sure they all have a basketball, too. On your mark, they’ll sprint and dribble for a shot. That can be a layup, jumper, whatever they personally think is best for them in the scenario. While they’re doing that, you’ll take away one chair, meaning that the last player to come back and get a chair wouldn’t have one, therefore being out of the game. Continue this process until there’s only one chair and two players left. The last player standing wins. You can alter this drill by having the players all work on a specific shot they need to make before sprinting back to the chair.
Dribble Knockout
Knockout is fast paced, putting you against everyone. There's not a specific number of players you’ll need, but it might be better to have more for this one (6+). For this, you’ll have everyone line up in a straight line beginning at the free throw line. The first two players in line will each have a basketball (we’ll call them Player A and Player B). Player A will shoot the ball, then Player B will shoot immediately after. If Player B makes a shot before Player A, Player A is eliminated. If Player A makes it first, they’ll pass the ball to the next player in line. If that player makes it before Player B, Player B is eliminated. So, if you make it before the player that begins in front of you, they’re eliminated. The game ends when there’s one left standing.
Shooting Drills Kids Love
The main objective of basketball? Score points and win. How do we score points? By shooting the basketball. Getting your players involved in shooting, having them see the ball go in, and watching how it contributes to success for the team? That’s every kids dream. Here’s some drills you can try in your next few practices to get them not only shooting from different spots on the floor, but in the rhythm of shooting off a pass and dribble, too.
Spot Shooting Challenge
A really fun one that anyone would enjoy at any age, this challenge requires you to set up multiple spots around the basket for your players to shoot from. Mark each spot with a point value, which could look like this:
1 point: Shot markers around the blocks and the painted area
2 points: Shot markers just outside of the painted area, like the low post
3 points: Shot markers at the elbows, free throw line, and short corners
4 points: Shot markers beyond or just at the three-point line
Each player will get a minute to shoot from whatever markers they’d like, while the players that are waiting will work on rebounding the ball and passing to the player doing the drill. Once the time is up, count how many points the player got on made shots from each marker. Run through this with all of your players, thus making a leaderboard of most points to least. You can do this twice through to give each player another shot at increasing their total.
Around the World Shooting
Here, there’s nine predetermined spots for which players will shoot the ball from. They'll shoot from both low blocks, both short corners, both wings, both elbows, and the free throw line. The goal here is to go through each set station. The first player to do so wins. Once you determine the order in which your players will go, the first will start at one of the low blocks.
When a player makes their shot, they will move on to the next spot. If they miss, they’ll have two options:
You can “take a chance” and shoot from the spot again, but if you miss, you must start from the beginning when it’s your turn again.
You can forego the “take a chance” option and start where you missed your shot when your next round comes.
Here’s a scenario: Let’s say there’s three players. Player A makes three shots, uses a “take a chance” and misses. Player B then begins their turn from the first shot and ends up making all nine before Player C even gets a chance to go. It’s unfortunate for Player C, but in this case, the game’s over since Player B went Around the World.
Partner Pass-and-Shoot
This one will include two players. Both can start at the baseline, while Player B runs out to a pre-determined spot, let’s just say the left elbow. Player A (the one still at the baseline) passes the ball to Player B once they get there, having them shoot it in-rhythm right off a pass. After they shoot, Player A will get the rebound and Player B will sprint to the right elbow and do the same. Both players will switch, and you’ll be able to change where either player passes or shoots from. This helps players get in the rhythm of passing more accurately to a spot, as well as shooting off a pass.
Passing & Teamwork Drills
Passing Tag
This drill is fast-paced, helping players practice pivoting and moving without the ball. Start by having your players in a half court setting, with the space inside the three-point line being the playing area. Make two teams, one of Runners and one of Passers. Make sure that your Runners outnumber your Passers.
Passers will, you guessed it, pass the ball to each other, not being allowed to dribble. Once they have the ball, they can pivot, they just can’t dribble. The goal? Passers try to tag Runners with the basketball to get them out. Runners can move all along the playing area, while Passers without the basketball are free to move for a pass as well. This encourages movement without the ball and accurate passing.
Three-Person Weave
This drill can be more of an advanced drill for youth basketball players. Here, you’ll start with three players along the baseline; one in the middle, one all the way to the left, and one all the way to the right. The player in the middle starts with the ball and the drill begins when both players on each side start to run forward. The player in the middle passes to either side, for the sake of this example let’s pick the right side. After passing to the right player, they will “follow” them, running behind them. Then, the right player will pass to the left side player who will then cut towards the middle to receive the ball, creating a weave motion that will repeat itself until the final pass is made for a layup. This drill works on communication, passing, and finishing your open layups.
Game-Like Drills That Build Confidence
1-on-1 Mini Matches
With 1-on-1 mini match youth basketball drills, you’re giving your players the chance to put themselves up against each other individually, seeing where their skills play in a 1-on-1 setting. An example of a 1-on-1 mini match would be placing a ball on the free throw line with one player facing the hoop (the offensive player) and one player facing them (the defensive player). Have the offensive player sprint to the sideline of their choice. Once the defensive player sees this, they’ll sprint to the opposite sideline. If the offensive player makes it back to the ball first, they can take the ball and try and score immediately. If the defensive player makes it back first, they’ll swap spots and redo the race, this time as the offensive player.
King/Queen of the Court
Let’s get the competitive juices flowing a bit. Here, one player will start on offense while another tries to defend them. If the player on offense scores, they get one point and stay on the court, while the defender moves to the back of the line and the next player comes up to defend. If the player on defense makes a stop, they become the offensive player and the line continues with the next player taking on the defensive role. Players should keep track of their total points and play until someone reaches a set point total.
Fast Break Layup Race
Some of the easiest points you’ll score in basketball are off a successful fast break. Get your players used to controlling the ball in the open court and scoring a layup with this drill. Set up two teams, one on each baseline. Each player will have to take the ball, score on the opposite basket, and come back to score on their basket. Once completed, they’ll pass the ball to the next player. Whichever team gets through all players first wins. You can break this drill into four teams as well, by putting a team in each corner of the court and having them go through the same process.
Equipment and Gear Tips for Youth Basketball
Choosing the right youth basketball shoes can make or break your experience in the sport. The wrong shoe can have you slipping and sliding around the court. The right shoe should have plenty of traction and grip on it to let you start, stop, crossover, and move comfortably on the hardwood without sliding around. The last thing you want is to be running a fast break and fall all over the court because your shoes aren’t grippy enough to the surface. You’ll also want the kind of kids’ basketball shoes that are breathable, so your feet aren’t sweating and slipping inside. Seriously, there’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a game with hot feet that keep moving around on you when you’re trying to play. And, of course, cushioning plays a huge role in your basketball shoes, too. It should be responsive, letting you jump for rebounds and run baseline to baseline without feeling the impact of the court. Instead, good, cushioned basketball shoes will absorb that impact and return it to you to keep you moving forward.
Lightweight, flexible, sweat-wicking basketball gear like shirts and shorts are super important to keep you comfortable when the heat of the game picks up. Look for fast-drying basketball clothes that’ll keep sweat from building up and slowing you down on the court. Lightweight baselayers that sit close to your skin to keep you cool are a good option, too, as they let you feel your body in space and can prevent annoying pinching and chafing.
Youth basketball is a time for kids to understand the game in a more advanced way other than shooting and dribbling. With the right drills in your practices, your team can develop positive shooting, passing, dribbling, and defensive habits that not only help their games, but are constructed in a fun manner that keeps them engaged throughout the entire season.