When beginning basketball at a young age, it is much more important to focus on the fundamentals rather than complex drills. Since you may be introducing many of the young players to basketball for the first time, choosing drills and practices that allow them to work on the fundamentals will allow them to practice the skills necessary for basketball.
Dribble Tag
You want the beginners to be comfortable handling the basketball before progressing to passing or shooting. One way to do this is by playing a game called dribble tag. It is much like regular tag, but each player has a ball. Remind the players to keep their eyes up so they do not run into the other players. Once the players get a hold of dribble tag, add a wrinkle, such as any player who loses control of their ball needs to complete five push-ups or run a lap before returning to the drill.
Three-Man Weave
The three-man weave is a drill used at all levels of basketball, but it can be especially beneficial for younger players to get them used to moving and passing up and down the court. Start with three lines spread out on one baseline with the balls in the center line. The first player in each line begins to move forward, with the player in the center making a chest pass to the player on his right. The center player then runs behind the player he just passed to, as the player from the right moves to the center. The new center player then passes to the player on the left, and then those players flip positions. The drill continues up and down the court, at which point the next three players in line take their turn.
Team Around World
Since the players are beginners, there is no need for you to focus on three-pointers and difficult shots. Start by practicing layups and free throws, and then when the players get the hang of those a little bit, try playing around the world with teams. Divide the players into two teams, with one team at each basket, and a designated spot close to the basket for each player to shoot from. The players alternate taking shots from their spot, gathering their own rebound when they are done. To add a little competitive nature, you can see how many each team can make in a minute or have the teams race to 10 baskets made.
Defense Drill
In a drill that practices passing and defense, line up two to six players facing each other about 10 feet apart; form a line with two players, a triangle with three, a square with four and a circle with any more. These players are on offense, and then you can add a player or two on defense. The offensive players try to pass each other the ball without moving, while the defensive players try to intercept or deflect the ball that is being passed. When a passer makes a mistake and the pass is deflected or intercepted, the passer and the defender switch places and the drill continues.
References
- Hoop Skills: Basketball Drills for Beginner Coaches
- Coaches Clipboard: Basketball Drills - Weave Passing Drills
- Langhorne Athletic Association: Practice Organization & Coaching the Beginning Player
- Coaching Basketball for Beginners: Teach Your Players How To Become Accurate Passers With These Highly Effective Basketball Passing Drills
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