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Basketball drills for technique warming-up

  • The entire group is lined up behind a line on the side of the field.
  • On signal they walk over to the other side.
  • Variation Starting Positions:
    • Squat,
    • knee,
    • prone or supine,
    • sit with the back to the walking direction.
  • The group is lined up on the short side of the field in a few relays.
  • On a sign, they all walk to the other side at the same time and sit back to back in a random order.
  • Which group sits first?
  • Variation
  • Varying the starting and finishing poses.
  • At the other side touch a line, return and sit in a row again.
  • From the group, a scapegoat is appointed.
  • The game is played all over the field.
  • The group is lined up on one side of the field.
  • On sign the children cross the field.
  • One of the catchers tries to catch as many children crossing the road as possible.
  • Variation
  • The children walk to and fro on a signal.
  • Back and forth without waiting for a signal.
  • The children are not free on the other side.
  • With two tappers.
  • With boxes where there is one ticker in each box.
  • The children can be tagged in every cell.
  • Who has not been tagged on the way out and on the way back?
  • Or which group of tickers has managed to tick the most children?
  • The group stands on one side behind these hoops.
  • When told to do so, the children steal objects from the other side and place them in the hoops on their own side.
  • If they are caught by a ticker, they have to put the object back.

2 teams, 1 ball.

  • Depending on the size of the teams a half field or quarter field.
  • Dribbling allowed, players must pass to avoid being tapped with ball.
  • Tapping the player with the ball is a point, out of bounds/ or run point for the other side, 30 seconds without being tapped is a point.


Divide group into pairs.
Passing to the other side:

  • At the halfway line: player on the inside dribbles to the head of the bucket and passes to the player on the outside who scores with a layup/ shot (variation)
  • Player who has passed runs to the other sideline and receives outlet, passes back to the center line and again shot/layup
  • Important that they do not run during the pass and that the players change (inside and outside)

Wave for U12:

  • Three teams, 1 ball: pass and cross behind the player.
  • Do this slowly at first, U12 kids find this a difficult exercise. Focus on passing and running. Start together (half field lengthwise) and build up when it goes well.
  • Depending on the size of the group, divide the field.


Variant for when it goes well:

  • Finish with score and play 2x1 (the one who scores will defend),
  • Pay attention to outlet pass (ask for the ball on the sideline).


Depending on the size of the group choose an area (bucket for max 6)

  • Everyone a ball, dribble and tap the ball away from other players.
  • Ball away means pushing into the centre circle and back again.
  • If necessary, make it difficult with a second dribble (keep the ball alive!)

Divide the group into pairs.

Passing to the other side:

  • First 2-groups fit around the whole field.
  • 3 meter distance, no running
  • Variant: at the halfway line:
    • Player on the inside dribbles to the head of the bucket and passes to the player on the outside who scores with lay-up/shot.
  • Player who has passed runs to the other sideline and receives outlet, passes back to the center line and again shot/layup
  • Left and right side


Important that they do not run during the pass and that the players change (inside and outside).


Players start at the bottom of the ring in 2 lines.

1) On the right side of the ring, players make a zig-zag run with the ball, changing direction at each cone (cross, behind the back, through the legs and spin move).

  • Once at the center line, the player dribbles with the left hand towards the cones #1 here you do a backup dribble and go with a cross-over past the cones and finish with a lay-up.


2) On the left side of the ring, players do a short/explosive zig-zag and sprint from the last pawn to the center line.

  • Once at the center line, they dribble right-handed to cones #2, here they do a backup dribble and crossover past the cones and finish with lay-up.


  • At cones #1 and #2 you can vary with crossover, behind the back, through the legs and spin move
  • Finish with lay-up or short distance shot

drawing Warm-up 1 (Zig-Zag half-court)
  • Ball leaves the baseline
  • pass to player on mid-line-sideline -> player follows ball and runs up the field
  • player returns the pass and cuts through towards the ring
  • the pass is given to the 2nd player on the half way line
  • player gives the pass to the player that is cutting towards the ring
  • finishing with a lay-up
drawing Warming up 4
  • The player on the baseline runs to the wing position, gets the pass and turns towards the goal to look for a shot.
  • The winger with the ball does 2 cross dribbles between the cones and then finishes with a lay-up or shot
drawing Warming up 2