Components of a Good Practice

October 15th (17th for Division I) is the date that Coaches have been looking forward to for a long time. After weeks of preparation through skill development, conditioning and lifting weights, it is finally time to practice. Coaches have already begun to plan their team’s first practice. Listed below are 13 of my components of a good practice.

1. A good practice is always planned. Stick to the practice plan
2. Competitive Drills: Keep score. It helps players learn about winning and losing
3. Skill Development: No substitute for getting up shots. Tailor to offense
4. Conditioning: Use a ball for conditioning
5. Keep Drills under 12 minutes: Players lose focus. Go harder, more intense, shorter
6. Play 5 on 5
7. Breakdown Drills: For example, closeouts on one end/ball screens on the other
8. Quote of the Day
9. Offensive and Defensive emphasis: Remember, you are what you emphasize
10. Be creative with Dummy Offense. While it is sometimes necessary, players hate it!
11. Don’t forget to Teach
12. Work on special situations
13. End practice on a good note

Mike Dunlap on Practice: The more things you try to do in practice the worse you get. Write out your practice plan 3 times. Each time you write it, don’t add anything but take something away. That will make your emphasis clear