Practice plans
Basketball Practice Plan Template
A basketball practice plan is a timed list of blocks: warm-up, shooting, defense, offensive actions, live play, situations and free throws. For a 90 minute practice, use seven blocks of 10 to 15 minutes each. Write the plan before practice, share it with your staff, and adjust the clock as you go.
Updated 2026-10-12.
The blank practice plan template
Copy this table, print this page, or get the editable pack by email.
| Time | Block | Goal | Drill or activity | Coach notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic warm-up and ball handling | ||||
| Shooting | ||||
| Defensive fundamentals | ||||
| Offensive actions | ||||
| Live play (5 on 5 or 3 on 3) | ||||
| Situations | ||||
| Free throws and team talk |
Practice theme: ____________________ Date: __________ Staff on the floor: __________
How many minutes for each block
| Block | 60 min | 75 min | 90 min | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic warm-up and ball handling | 8 | 10 | 10 | Gets the body and the handle ready |
| Shooting | 8 | 10 | 10 | Players are fresh and can focus on form |
| Defensive fundamentals | 12 | 15 | 15 | Stance, closeouts and shell drill while legs are good |
| Offensive actions | 12 | 15 | 15 | Teach one screen, cut or set at a time |
| Live play (5 on 5 or 3 on 3) | 12 | 15 | 15 | Use what you taught against a defense |
| Situations | 0 | 5 | 15 | Late game, out of bounds, press break |
| Free throws and team talk | 8 | 5 | 10 | Shoot free throws when tired, then give the three takeaways |
| Total | 60 | 75 | 90 |
A 90 minute practice plan
| Time | Block | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | Dynamic warm-up and ball handling | Jog, lateral slides and high knees, then two-ball dribbling in lines |
| 10 to 20 | Shooting | Partner form shooting, then spot shooting and catch-and-shoot off a pass |
| 20 to 35 | Defensive fundamentals | Stance and closeouts, then a 4 on 4 shell drill |
| 35 to 50 | Offensive actions | Teach one action, such as a ball screen and roll in 3 on 3. Add a back screen for older teams: see the Spain pick and roll. |
| 50 to 65 | Live play | 5 on 5 half court. Run this week's plays against a scout team that plays your next opponent's defense. |
| 65 to 80 | Situations | Down 2 with 30 seconds left. Sideline and baseline out of bounds plays. A press break, 5 on 5. |
| 80 to 90 | Free throws and team talk | Two free throws each after a sprint. Finish with the three things to remember. |
Total: 90 minutes.
A 60 minute youth practice plan (ages 8 to 10)
Younger players need shorter blocks, more touches and more games.
| Time | Block | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 8 | Warm-up game | Dribble tag with a ball for everyone |
| 8 to 18 | Ball handling | Stationary dribbling with both hands, then moving |
| 18 to 28 | Layups | Right-hand and left-hand layup lines |
| 28 to 38 | Passing and cutting | Pass and cut, then give and go |
| 38 to 50 | Small-sided game | 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 with one simple rule, such as "everyone touches the ball before a shot" |
| 50 to 60 | Defense and wrap-up | Stance and closeouts, then a short team talk |
Total: 60 minutes.
How to build a practice plan in 5 steps
- Pick one theme. Use what cost you the last game or what you need for the next opponent.
- Set the length. Work back from the gym time you have, including the time to set up and clean up.
- Block the clock. Give every block a start time and an end time. Write the times on the plan.
- Order the blocks. Put skill work and teaching first while players are fresh. Put competition and free throws at the end.
- Share it and adjust. Give the plan to your staff before practice. If a block runs long, cut the next one, not the free throws.
Rules of thumb that many coaches use
These come from coaching practice, not research. Adjust them to your team.
- Teach one new thing per practice.
- Keep your explanations under two minutes.
- Use every basket you have so more players touch the ball.
- Do the hardest thinking early. Build conditioning into the drills.
- Finish with competition and free throws.
Plan the whole game week
A practice plan works best when it points at Saturday.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Scout the opponent. Use the scouting report template. |
| Tuesday | Install the plays you need |
| Wednesday | Practice built around Saturday |
| Thursday | Film |
| Saturday | Game day |
Run your plan in GOATED
Build the blocks once, then run the practice from your phone.
- Timed blocks. Build the plan from real drills, then run it live with a timer on your phone.
- This week's plays, linked in. Attach the plays you are teaching to the blocks they belong in.
- One plan for the whole staff. Every co-coach sees the same plan.
- A drill library to build from.
Practice plans are part of Coach Premium: $19.99 a month, with a 7-day free trial.
Basketball Practice Plan Template: questions
How long should a basketball practice be?
It depends on your level and your gym time. Many youth teams practice for 60 to 90 minutes, and many high school and AAU teams run 90 minutes or more. Plan for the time you actually have, and check your league or state rules for limits.
How do you plan a 90 minute basketball practice?
Split the 90 minutes into seven blocks: 10 minutes of warm-up, 10 of shooting, 15 each of defense, offensive actions and live play, 15 of situations, and 10 of free throws and a team talk. Teach new material early and end with competition.
How should a youth practice be different?
Use shorter blocks of 8 to 12 minutes, more games and fewer lines. Give every player a ball for ball handling, use every basket, and keep one simple rule in each small-sided game. At this age, touches teach more than long explanations.
What order should the drills go in?
Start with a warm-up, then skill work while players are fresh: shooting and defensive fundamentals. Move to offensive actions, then live play, then situations. End with free throws when players are tired, so they practice shooting under fatigue. Keep the order the same each week so players know what comes next.
Can I run my practice plan in GOATED?
Yes. Build your blocks from real drills, link the plays you are teaching, and run the practice live with a timer on your phone. Your whole staff sees the same plan. Practice plans are part of Coach Premium, $19.99 a month with a 7-day free trial.